Focus on the Big

We know God is a God who cares about things big and small right?  So let’s just put this out there right away. Especially remember this when we get to the end.  But I was hit with this reading and commentary and wanted to share.

I dove into Roman’s 9 today.  Our pastor preached on it and I’m not going to lie; my head was spinning and I realized I was lost.  I wasn’t familiar with this passage at all.  But Roman’s 9 addressed God’s sovereign choice and selection of Israel. He uses their history past in the OT to explain.  But what hit me most was Paul’s intro into this hard passage and it challenged me.  Let me explain.

Roman’s 8 is one of the greatest passages ever written.  Not in just my mind but in many.  One commentator wrote.  “Paul left us at the summit of glory, assuring us that nothing can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. So why has Paul now become so somber in his tone?”

As our pastor explained.  It’s a lament.  Paul finishes Roman’s 8 in a high of highs declaring the sovereign glory but then realizes his brethren is not there to share in this glory.  He speaks of Israel as a whole rejecting salvation but it’s personal too.  The ones he grew up with in synagogue school.  His teachers.  Friends.  Maybe even his family.  His beloved Israelites are not there to share in this beautiful glory of salvation. So he speaks with great love.  He even declares that he would give up his life so they could be saved.  This great sorrow is Israel’s salvation was on Paul’s heart as he continues to write.  It was a big problem. 

Which brings me to my challenge.  Charles Spurgeon’s quote.

“This great passion for souls gave Paul perspective. Lesser things did not trouble him because he was troubled by a great thing – the souls of men. “Get love for the souls of men – then you will not be whining about a dead dog, or a sick cat, or about the crotchets of a family, and the little disturbances that John and Mary may make by their idle talk. You will be delivered from petty worries (I need not further describe them) if you are concerned about the souls of men... Get your soul full of a great grief, and your little griefs will be driven out.” (Spurgeon)

I realize pets have taken a greater value in families so take out that part and look at the overall challenge.  Then think about today’s world.  Do we have petty worries?  Petty arguments and grieves?  I can think of so many that our world has made into big issues.  What if we did exactly what Paul did? - Let the big issue “souls of our friends” trouble us rather than lesser worries. 

Take out your NLT Bible or pull that version up on your phone and reread just verses 1-3. Are we speaking of lost souls in the same deep sorrow and grief?  Are we willing to give up our life as Paul offers to do so his people would be saved?  Let’s put it another way.  Are we willing to lay down our life as Jesus did for US?

Set the petty worries aside and let the big worries like lost souls consume you this week and motivate you in your actions.  For when we tackle the big troubles like salvation… I’m pretty positive the little worries become less and less.

Change Someone’s World

I loved this quote from Andy Stanley that you see in the image below. It reminded me of what my pastor often talks about with the Ripple Effect. Our actions good and bad may only affect a small circle around us. But that small circle impacts more people and those people impact more people.

Think about this super simple example, if someone does a simple and kind gesture like open the door for you at the coffee shop and greets you with a friendly hello, you’re more likely to take the time to greet the worker at the cash register with a friendly hello and a how do you do, But, if the person opens the door in your face, catches you off guard and doesn’t even notice you and is too busy looking at their phone, you’re more likely to just walk up to the cash register taken back, look directly at the menu, order and not even make eye contact with the worker. Then think about the individual taking your order in each scenario… how are they effected? How do they react?

You guys! This is so true. Your actions have a ripple effect. Let’s make this Friday and into the weekend a weekend of small, beautiful, ripple effects of good. Because as you know, ripples become waves and we want waves of sheer good and awesomeness.

My past will remind me

So many times we want to forget our past. Put it out of our mind. Move beyond and never look back. Maybe it’s hurt. Maybe it’s shame. It could be lots of thing. But what if we shifted our focus and not see our past has something to hold us back or keep us down, but something to spring us forward and specifically spring us forth into God’s goodness and faithfulness.

Dealing with our past is not easy. It’s vulnerable. But you are here. You are standing. God is either bringing or brought you through. He is fulfilling his promise to never leave you nor forsake you. He is good and he is and always proves his faithfulness. Even if our wait sometimes feels so much longer than the person’s next to you.

So shift that focus. See your past as a reminder of his strength in you. His goodness shining through.

Personally speaking, my past took me ten years to not define me. But when I was ready, the healing came and now my past reminds me with heart full that I am forgiven. That I’m a new creation. That Jesus took all my shame upon that cross. He died so I could live life to the full and living anything less than that takes away from what he did that day on Good Friday so many years ago.

The Battle Is Won

A quick reminder for you this Monday to say on repeat as you start the week.

I know who I am

Identity is a thing. Whether we think we are one of the most confident people out there, there are always moments of self doubt. The world sends constant subtle messages to say you are not enough.

But you know what, we aren’t enough.

Yep, you heard me say that. We are not enough. Without Jesus.

We were born sinners. It’s just the way it is. It’s what happens when you are born into a fallen world. But we have a Savior who overcame this fallen world. And he has redeemed you and MADE you enough. You are enough because you are His. You are redeemed.