I just recently had to have a long conversation with my teenage son. He has been making some poor decisions lately, and as someone who loves him and wants to see the best for him, I felt compelled to set him straight on things about life. For instance, it is not okay to say some of the things he said as a small child anymore. He is maturing physically as well as mentally. So he has to think about the things that he is going to say before he just blurts them out. As a child, the self-control that it takes to converse with others is just not there yet. But as he grows older and experiences more of life’s situations, he needs to learn from various interactions and mature. This is something that he is not doing well yet. However, I am hopeful that he will learn sooner rather than later.
On that same thought, we all have something that God is showing us where we are immature in His Kingdom. We are learning with each interaction we have with Him and others. Some of those interactions are immature, and we need His guidance to direct us to maturity. He loves us so much, more than we can love anyone. He wants to see the best for us, just as I do for my son. So as Our Father, He talks to us and lets us know what we are doing right and what we are not doing right.
The direction we are to be going is toward Christ Jesus. If we hold in mind the thought of Christ’s perfect life, if we see Him as the end of all desire, if we realize that what He is He longs to make us, then we can accept that He is imparting to us His trust in God the Father. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, fully man and fully God, lived the absolute perfect life. This serves as an example for us to follow and teach. He shows us compassion and love in perfect balance with God and others. He did not morbidly compare Himself to others, but rather looked to God for answers. This is something that I struggle with. I look at what others are doing to see if I am doing the right thing. However, God redirects me to Jesus. As I read the Bible, the Holy Spirit highlights things for me to meditate on. Today so happened to be Psalm 19: 1-4a.
"The heavens declare the glory of God, and the expanse proclaims the work of his hands. Day after day they pour out speech; night after night they communicate knowledge. There is no speech; there are no words; their voice is not heard. Their message has gone out to the whole earth, and their words to the ends of the world. (Ps. 19:1-4a, CSB)"
His work is perfect, and by its very existence it declares its Maker. This is what is known as “natural revelation”. In the first chapter of Romans, Paul (the author of this letter to the Romans), taught that no one can claim ignorance of God’s existence and power. God has clearly revealed many of His attributes in the natural world, giving enough information about Himself for people to respond to Him in some manner. Of course, people cannot know all there is to know about the Creator from observing nature. However, they can know enough to be held accountable for responding to the knowledge they receive from this natural revelation.
“For God’s wrath is revealed from heaven against all godlessness and unrighteousness of people who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth, since what can be known about God is evident among them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, that is, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood through what he has made. As a result, people are without excuse. (Rom. 1:18-20, CSB)”
Just living and interacting with nature and people is enough to know that God exists. This is natural revelation. When we pray and read the Bible, we receive special revelation. The relationship we develop with our Creator is special and specifically unique to us individually. My relationship with my son is specifically unique to us. I don’t have any other relationship like it. And that extends to all of my sons. Each one is different and tailored to our relationship. God teaches us the various nuances of where we are in relation to Him and others. I teach my son how to interact with those around him as he matures just as God does with me. And at the end of the 19th chapter of Psalms, we see the right response to God’s direction in our lives.
"Who perceives his unintentional sins? Cleanse me from my hidden faults. Moreover, keep your servant from willful sins; do not let them rule me. Then I will be blameless and cleansed from blatant rebellion. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, Lord, my rock and my Redeemer. (Ps. 19:12-14, CSB)"
In essence, David (the author of this psalm), is telling God that he doesn’t know what he doesn’t know, but he asks God to cleanse him from those things that he doesn’t remember doing. He asks for help in keeping him on the righteous path away from rebellion. And he ends with the attributes of God he has in mind at this moment – “my rock and my Redeemer”. As the rock, God is steadfast and strong. He does not change. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. And as the Redeemer, He is able to take away the record of wrongs and focus on the rights. He expunges the record of rebellion, covering it with love and righteousness. And as He does so, He teaches righteous living in and through Jesus’ perfect life, death, and resurrection.
Gotta go fill up my cup…..
Coffee with Candee 