Archive for Scripture
Who’s Got the Problem?
Posted by: | CommentsWhen Elijah and I are at the sink and I am rushing him along to wash his hands, because I think he is moving too slow, I have to ask myself the question: “Is the problem really with him, or with me?”
I suppose it could go either way at times, but more times than not, I am probably the one with the problem. Sure, he might seem to be moving slow, but maybe that is because I am moving too fast.
While at the sink today, I couldn’t help but think that life is more enjoyable when lived at Elijah’s pace. For he even enjoys and soaks in the process of washing his hands.
It’s not the whole story, I know, but there is certainly something to it that is worth our reflection. We have a lot to learn from the little ones.
At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, i say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:3)
Endurance Through Focus
Posted by: | CommentsSo tonight I was on ’snack’ duty with the kids, and I made the mistake of giving Elijah a small glass to eat peanuts out of before he sat down at the table. Naturally, (since I am making a post about it), he dropped the glass and it shattered into pieces. To which he cried out immediately,
Oh Daddy, my peanuts, I need some more peanuts!
I thought it was hilarious, because the glass shattering took me back a bit. But not Elijah. It was as if nothing happened to the glass. He was too focused on his peanuts.
This reminded me of the time when Abigail was writing on the concrete with chalk by my in-laws’ pool. She fell in to the bottom. Erin was right there so she reached down quick and pulled her right out, only to have Abigail cry out with tears, “Oh Mommy, my chalk, my chalk!” (For it had gotten all wet and may have still been at the bottom of the pool.)
I’m not sure what to attribute this kind of thing to. I suppose it could be some sort of weirdness my kids got from me. But it is interesting that in both instances, my kids were concerned about the thing they were most focused on prior to their ’surprise.’ In Abby’s case, she slipped into the pool because she was so focused on her chalk. And Elijah, well, naturally he was focused on his peanuts.
At the very least, this leads me to believe that we are wise to focus on realities that will enable us to endure any amount of difficulty. For when our day of difficulty comes, our focus will determine our response. Of course, we should probably at least be aware of the difficulty. That is, we shouldn’t be like Elijah and keep crying over our peanuts without even mentioning the broken glass (he did this for real).
From a Christian perspective, the promises in the Word of God serve as a wise focus. For they will enable us to endure any sort of difficulty that comes our way. Provided we focus on those promises consistently before that day of difficulty comes. That is a definitely worth taking note of.
By the way, if you have any other ideas on the chalk or peanut focus phenomenon, I am all ears.
Positive Discomfort
Posted by: | CommentsIf you are even remotely alive, you cannot read the Bible honestly without getting a bit uncomfortable. Here’s an example:
And [Jesus] sat down opposite the treasure and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. And he called his disciples to him and said to them, ‘Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.’
It doesn’t matter what socio-economic class you find yourself in, these words are bound to make you uncomfortable (if you take them for real). For it shows you God’s perspective on our giving, and encourages a sort of riskiness that is very uncomfortable to personally consider (at least for me). And so it is with almost anything Jesus has to say about money…or anything else for that matter. The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) serves as ample evidence to support such a statement.
But in the end, this discomfort is good for us, provided we embrace it and allow it to lead us towards riskier and more God-centered waters. Just another reason to keep reading with the Bible and allowing God, through His Word, to deal with us.
