"Love never fails; Joy cometh; Peace rules; Patience waits;"
As I mentioned last week, I love the comparison of "hupomone" and "makrothumia". I wish I'd had the time last week to watch a second video before posting. It does seem that it would be best to change things up a bit, at least for me anyway. So, I'll touch briefly on the "patience video" before moving on to the "kindness/goodness" homework.
"I need you to frustrate the devil out of me!"
That was one of my favorite quotes from that video and I will tell you, I got to live it this past weekend. I don't care what kind of relationship you have with your mother and your mother-in-law, there aren't too many people who would find spending an entire weekend with them under the same roof a barrel of fun. I'm sure much of my frustration was really the realization that I wouldn't get much "one on one" with Erik but I did reach a point where I became "peopled out". I wanted everyone to vanish for just a few moments so I could experience a little peace. I didn't want to be working on my patience....at all. Beth proceeded to tell us we were called to deal with frustrating people. I know each of us can think of people who really test us. I ran into a few over the last week but I had to remember that "Patience waits when it wants to whack!"
Kindness tenders and Goodness does
"By this time you have already discovered that each quality of the fruit of the Spirit is absolutely divine. They are impossible goals for the unbeliever, yet attainable - but not automatic - graces for the true believer."
You know, I often wondered why these two were listed separately as characteristics of the fruit of the Spirit. I'll be honest, I saw them as very similar in my naive little head. Well, imagine my surprise at how very different they truly are!
Kindness (chrestotes) "is the grace which pervades the whole nature, mellowing all which would be harsh and austere." Now, I must admit that I have never really liked the story of Sarai (Sarah) and Hagar. It stirs up some icky feelings within me and I just want to shake Sarah and say "are you crazy woman?!" I don't like to share my dessert, no way I'd be up for sharing my hubby! Anyway, I'd never viewed the story from the perspective of God's kindness toward Hagar and Ishmael. I've typically felt sorry for Hagar but I think the picture of our merciful God extending kindness to this woman is beautiful.
"Notice that after all the scheming and resulting repercussions, Sarai still did not achieve the son she desired."
It's funny but I've never thought of it like that lol. How true though! I've always jumped to the "promise fulfilled" and skipped over Sarah's obvious lack of submission to God's plan for her life. She decided to make it happen herself. I don't know if you're like me but anytime I do this, I know I miss out on "the best" God had for me originally. I might end up with the blessing but typically have "resulting repercussions" also. It's sad isn't it? I love how Beth says, "God-sized problems don't fit women-sized hands." That's hard for most of us women to grasp (ha! no pun intended).
Did anyone else catch the visual in day two when we studied Isaiah 49:16 before Beth elaborated? When I read it I immediately thought of the cross and our redemption through the sacrifice of Christ. I want that parent/child relationship Beth spoke of at the end of day two. I often forget to go straight to God with my concerns. I gripe to Erik or someone else and then act grumpy with the kids. I need to just lay it at the feet of my Father and let Him take care of it.
I've mentioned before the preciousness of the "let the little children" verses to me. They are inscribed on my son's headstone and were intended as an ongoing witness to anyone who might pass by. I've studied these passages in the past and so what Beth had to say about them weren't necessarily revolutionary to me but a marvelous reminder.
"Get rid of the things in your life which are causing you to sin BEFORE you take a chance on causing someone to stumble!"
So I asked myself..."what things are causing me to sin?" I didn't know so I asked God. Oddly, He didn't answer me in the way I expected. I thought I'd get a list (like I do when I ask for my sin to be revealed) but all He said was "be filled with Me." So, I guess I could surmise that I'm attempting to fill myself with something other than Him. I need to ask for more clarification. I'm prayerful that He'll continue to reveal the answer to me.
"Oddly enough, Thomas never doubted Christ would die. He doubted the most important part of all - that He would rise from the dead and live again!"
We've all heard of "doubting Thomas" but I kind of saw it a bit differently this time reading through the account of his doubt. Maybe it's because what I'm about to reveal has been at the top of my "pour out sin" list lately but I saw him as more "negative" than doubtful. Perhaps it's the same thing, I don't know. I know I've battled a negative attitude and it looked to me like Thomas was afflicted with the same. I wrote out to the side of that quote, "I'm not necessarily a 'doubting Thomas'....I'm a 'negative Thomas' lately".
Goodness (agathosune) is "character energized, expressing itself in...benevolence, active good." In day four as I was going through the part about us being "dead in our transgressions" another Newsboys song came to mind. If you've never heard In Christ Alone, it's a very powerful piece. I love how Beth makes sure we understand that we aren't saved by good works but rather saved to do good works. Isn't it so personal to hear that we were created with a purpose in mind? It astounds me really.
"We receive gifts not based on our abilities, but abilities based on the common good - just as the Master chooses." From there we moved on to the quantity of things we're doing based on the quality or "goodness" of them. I began to think about the "good deposit" entrusted to me. Two things popped into my mind almost instantly. They were, Erik and the kids. Initially I thought, I was being very basic in my thinking but I really felt the Spirit prodding me toward marriage and parenting. God has entrusted me with a marriage relationship AND kids. While this truly is a blessing, it is also a "good deposit" for the future. At the place I'm at with young children, my doing good needs to focus primarily on nurturing and caring for them. They've been entrusted to me to raise in the wisdom and knowledge of God. I am to show them kindness and goodness so that in turn, they will convey that to others as well. It doesn't seem as glorious as so many other "volunteer" opportunities do. We do offer ourselves in other capacities to the community and such but I believe my purpose at this point in time (for the glory of God) is my husband and kids. Of course....
"that which is good, profitable, or beneficial is not always fun, easy, or pleasant." I thought it interesting that Beth referenced doing that which is beneficial as sometimes being "unpopular". I enjoyed reading through the scripture contrasts of incidences of pleasure and pain in regard to that which is profitable. I also liked the notion that good works are "appointed". I think so often we see burned out Christians doing "so much good" but they've failed to realize they aren't doing what they were appointed to do. I believe we can grow weary in well doing but if we are doing what we are appointed to do, God will strengthen us and carry us through. If we are being like Sarah and trying to create our own "good" plan we'll find ourselves weary without relief.
The way in which she ended Day five's homework was perfect and a word I needed to hear:
"If we cannot accept the teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training of God's Word in our lives, then we cannot be vessels of teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in other lives. Oh God, help us to know the difference."
And then, unlike week's past, I decided to view the next video prior to posting (and will do this from here on out I think). Wasn't it neat to move through creation and see that God deemed it "good". I really had fun with that. Oh and what about when she was speaking of the enemy working against us and then when we cave he mocks us. He mocks us because he "knows God is believable!" Did anyone else get goose-bumps over that?
Well, I'd best get this posted as I am actually taking a meal to a gal tonight. She miscarried last week and I signed up to take dinner to her family. If the Lord lays her on your heart, please lift her up in prayer.
So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good. 1 Peter 4:19