Saturday, June 11, 2011
The trusting game
It's been a while since I've posted a note from my quiet time, but I liked today's message so, here goes.
I'm still on my personal study of the concept of "Trusting in God." Today it took me to Psalm 22.
"He trusts in the Lord, let the Lord rescue him.
Let him deliver him since he delights in him.
Yet you brought me out of the womb;
you made me trust in you even at my mother's breast."
- Psalm 22: 8-9
Much of Psalm 22 is the prophecy of Jesus' death on the cross. What he cries out to God, the guards casting lots for his clothes, his bones being knocked out of joint, etc. But I think this verse is both of David and perhaps of Christ.
We sometimes forget the story of Herod, who after the wise men visited him, he had all the boys Jesus' age killed for fear that they would proclaim the child king and cast him out - even though the Romans would soon take care of that themselves. It was a very Macbethian moment for scripture. But Mary, Joseph, and Jesus - possibly still nursing - had to flee to Egypt for a time. They had to trust God and GO.
David, like all of us, was born and nursed. AS a baby, we can do nothing for ourselves - our very lives are in the hands of our guardians, should they be gone, we would perish. So in a true sense, as a newborn we have no choice but to trust God through our parents.
Likewise in our adulthood we come to times where we are stuck, placed in a position where it feels like all we can do is throw our hands in the air and cry out "I don't know what to do!" A mother's breast moment where our own devices have failed us and we have to trust in God to get us to the next step. Unlike a child, however, as talented, capable, and decision making adults, our true trust in God comes as we step forward and make considered choices. We don't trust in God to bring money to our door, or to magically fix our car - unless you are a truly called missionary or God has made you the first auto magician.
For the majority of us, God places trust in you to make a move, to look to him and go where he gently directs. The game of being a follower of Christ is both in trusting where God moves us, and trusting in the talents and mind he gave us.
It's been a while since I've posted a note from my quiet time, but I liked today's message so, here goes.
I'm still on my personal study of the concept of "Trusting in God." Today it took me to Psalm 22.
"He trusts in the Lord, let the Lord rescue him.
Let him deliver him since he delights in him.
Yet you brought me out of the womb;
you made me trust in you even at my mother's breast."
- Psalm 22: 8-9
Much of Psalm 22 is the prophecy of Jesus' death on the cross. What he cries out to God, the guards casting lots for his clothes, his bones being knocked out of joint, etc. But I think this verse is both of David and perhaps of Christ.
We sometimes forget the story of Herod, who after the wise men visited him, he had all the boys Jesus' age killed for fear that they would proclaim the child king and cast him out - even though the Romans would soon take care of that themselves. It was a very Macbethian moment for scripture. But Mary, Joseph, and Jesus - possibly still nursing - had to flee to Egypt for a time. They had to trust God and GO.
David, like all of us, was born and nursed. AS a baby, we can do nothing for ourselves - our very lives are in the hands of our guardians, should they be gone, we would perish. So in a true sense, as a newborn we have no choice but to trust God through our parents.
Likewise in our adulthood we come to times where we are stuck, placed in a position where it feels like all we can do is throw our hands in the air and cry out "I don't know what to do!" A mother's breast moment where our own devices have failed us and we have to trust in God to get us to the next step. Unlike a child, however, as talented, capable, and decision making adults, our true trust in God comes as we step forward and make considered choices. We don't trust in God to bring money to our door, or to magically fix our car - unless you are a truly called missionary or God has made you the first auto magician.
For the majority of us, God places trust in you to make a move, to look to him and go where he gently directs. The game of being a follower of Christ is both in trusting where God moves us, and trusting in the talents and mind he gave us.
Labels: Trust in God
