Disciples part 4
I think sometimes we have unrealistic expectations. Even for ourselves. Especially for ourselves. Like, we think that being a "disciple of Christ" means we're going to just get it. And that's why it's so frustrating so much of the time when we, you know, don't. But look at John 12:16 (NLT), "His disciples didn't understand at the time that this was a fulfillment of prophecy. But after Jesus endtered into his glory, they remembered what had happened and realized that these things had been written about him." Guys. Jesus' actually, literally, physical disciples that He spoke to and travelled with and lived with on the daily NEVER understood what the man was talking about! And He didn't cast them away. He didn't disqualify them or shame them. He just continued to teach them. And love them. Because that's what a disciple is: A student. And that's what a disciple of Christ is: A student of love. Learning how to love by learning how we are loved. John--the disciple Jesus loved--and Peter are great examples. To sum up their career as students, "I don't know much! But I know He loves me!" And they made quite a few mistakes along the way. Which is fine. You can't learn from your mistakes if you never make any. You can't move forward if you're too afraid to move at all. You have to give yourself--and those around you--grace to grow. When we slam someone every time they mess up... I think most people know when they mess up. So at that point it's just piling on. And that doesn't help anybody. Every time my kid messes us he tries to punish himself. And I always tell him, "I'm the decider on that one. If we have this situation back on track then we're good." I don't really understand why everybody seems to caught up on the idea of punishing people. It doesn't do anything for me. And I don't see in the Scriptures where it did anything for God, either. He chastens and corrects--as any good Father would--but He's not in the punishment business. In fact, He lavishes His mercy and grace on us just when we deserve it the least. Which, of course, makes it all the more powerful. When you get something you think you have no chance or no realistic shot of getting... man, that'll knock your socks off. And, as unbelieve as it may seem in the moment, it'll build your faith like nothing else. When God comes through in the clutch... you can trust that He will again. And then you can start to trust that He'll come in even when it's not an emergency. You'll be able to, you know, include Him all the time. And then you won't have as many emergencies. And isn't that the goal? To be able to operate from a place of rest? Rest, of course, not being inactivity, but simply Holy Spirit directed activity. Which brings us back to being students. Abrahamic faith is God saying, "Go," and you saying, "Yes, sir." That was what God accounted to Abraham as righteousness. Point being--you don't have to understand right away in order to learn. And I'm not exactly talking about blind faith. Because God always shows Himself faithful. He always gives us reasons to trust Him. And that's all faith really is--trusting in the Lord and the power of HIS might. Not by what I can do, but by what Jesus is doing in me, and through me, and for me, and as me. So what I'm trying to say is: It's ok if you don't get it. You don't have to have it all figured out. You can hold Daddy's hand. Trust Him. He knows the way. "I don't know what tomorrow holds... but I'm ok because I know who holds tomorrow!"