More important than the words or fun actions, though, is the LESSON the song is teaching us. And don't think because it's a KIDS's song that you are too old for what God has to say to us ADULTS through this simple parable Jesus Himself told many, many years ago.
Earlier this week, I was nursing the baby and reading my devotional on my phone. Before kids I was all about sitting down with an actual Bible, opening it up, turning the pages, writing in a journal, taking notes, doing in-depth studies. Now, as a busy mom of 4, I have to be realistic about my quiet times. I NEED them, but they simply can NOT look like they did when I was in college (back when I *thought* I was so busy). Despite the change in the way I am able to get in the Word and spend time with God every day, these moments - however they happen - are oh so good for my soul.
I am weak, and they strengthen me.
I am weary, and they empower me, keeping me going, one step at a time.
I am frustated, and they encourage me.
I am worried, and they calm me, filling me with that "peace that surpasses understanding."
Really, they are whatever I need that day at that time.
Funny how God seems to know me so well! It's like He's my Creator or something? Almost as if He's right there with me in the midst of the chaos and understands exactly what I am going through and knows exactly what I need. And I love Him for that.
Yesterday was no different.
I read in 2 Peter 1:5-7
In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God's promises.
Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence,
and moral excellene with knowledge,
and knowledge with self-control,
and self-control with patient endurance,
and patient endurance with godliness,
and godliness with brotherly affection,
and brotherly affection with love for everyone.
As I looked at the passage, I noticed it was showing me how to BE the wise man from that song. Peter lays out how to build a STRONG FOUNDATION so I can STAND FIRM even when the biggest storms with the heaviest rains and craziest winds come.
Before I focus on the layers to the house we should be building, I want to first look back at the verses BEFORE these. I mean, Peter does start by saying, "In view of all this..." So we should probably know what "all this" is if we are going to understand what we are building and why.
If we glance back, we see something absolutely incredible
By His divine power, God has given us EVERYTHING we need for living a godly life.
We have received ALL of this by coming to know Him,
the one who called us to Himself by means of His marvelous glory and excellence.
And because of His glory and excellence, He has given us GREAT AND PRECIOUS PROMISES.
These are the promises that enable you to SHARE HIS DIVINE NATURE
and escape the world's corruption caused by human desires.
Yeah, pretty darn amazing if you ask me!
And in VIEW OF ALL THAT, we are to live a certain way. We are to RESPOND to those promises. How do we do that? Peter gives us the blueprint. He couldn't lay it out any more clearly for us.
FAITH is our foundation.
It's our bedrock.
It needs to be strong and secure.
And that means it needs to be rooted and grounded in JESUS CHRIST ALONE.
If we trust in anything or anyone other than Him, our foundation will crumble and break away. Our house will come crashing down as soon as the first rain drop falls.
Only as we lay that foundation of FAITH, will the other layers be able to connect and cement together to create a strong house that will stand any storm that threatens to sideline us from the life God has called us to live.
Once FAITH is laid, we add the next layer - MORAL EXCELLENCE.
We learn what is good and right, then we DO it.
It's not a once and done thing, however. Rather, a daily, on-going, never ending lifestlye type thing.
SO, as we are doing our best to pursue righteous, holiness, GOODNESS, we keep on learning. This is where the third layer comes in - KNOWLEDGE. We have to be in the Word. We have to be spending time with God. After all, He IS our model of moral excellence, the PERFECT example. Being WITH Him is the best way to become LIKE Him!
THAT is actually how the next few layers are put in place. We heard from Paul in Galatians that the fruit of the Spirit is "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and SELF-CONTROL." Peter highlights that last one here in the blueprint for our house.
Next, he points out our need for PATIENT ENDURANCE. I think that is a combination of the patience and faithfulness Paul mentioned in his letter. We keep going. We don't quit. When times get rough, we hold on (that's why a strong faith is so important, to keep us rooted and grounded, firm and secure). We keep our eyes on Jesus and we continue down the path God has laid out for us. We run our race, walking or even crawling until we cross over that finish line.
Only as we lay that foundation of FAITH, will the other layers be able to connect and cement together to create a strong house that will stand any storm that threatens to sideline us from the life God has called us to live.
Once FAITH is laid, we add the next layer - MORAL EXCELLENCE.
We learn what is good and right, then we DO it.
It's not a once and done thing, however. Rather, a daily, on-going, never ending lifestlye type thing.
SO, as we are doing our best to pursue righteous, holiness, GOODNESS, we keep on learning. This is where the third layer comes in - KNOWLEDGE. We have to be in the Word. We have to be spending time with God. After all, He IS our model of moral excellence, the PERFECT example. Being WITH Him is the best way to become LIKE Him!
THAT is actually how the next few layers are put in place. We heard from Paul in Galatians that the fruit of the Spirit is "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and SELF-CONTROL." Peter highlights that last one here in the blueprint for our house.
Next, he points out our need for PATIENT ENDURANCE. I think that is a combination of the patience and faithfulness Paul mentioned in his letter. We keep going. We don't quit. When times get rough, we hold on (that's why a strong faith is so important, to keep us rooted and grounded, firm and secure). We keep our eyes on Jesus and we continue down the path God has laid out for us. We run our race, walking or even crawling until we cross over that finish line.
Now, the next layer kind of stops me in my tracks. It seems somewhat daunting. GODLINESS.
Never fear, we don't have to be perfect. God WILL make us perfect someday, when we reach heaven. Until then, we simply follow in His steps and let Him mold and shape us, transform us into His image.
As we do, guess what happens? The next 2 layers are laid! BROTHERLY AFFECTION and LOVE.
The more we let God FILL us, the more He can FLOW OUT of us.
In fact, ONLY as we spend time with God and let His Word permeate our hearts and minds can we become like Him. Going back to the ROOTED illustration..as our roots go deeper and deeper into Christ, we grow and produce fruit. Fruit like self-control, gentleness, faithfulness, goodness, kindness, patience, peace, joy, and LOVE. Haven't we heard about those somewhere before?!
I LOVE how God threads truth all throughout His Word, showing us the same concept over and over in different ways. Jesus explained to His disciples the importance of having our roots in Him, but He used the words REMAIN and ABIDE. The outcome is the same though - FRUIT.
And fruit is great. Tastes delicious. BUT, we can't have fruit without FAITH. We have to lay that foundation FIRST, then add one layer at a time. We can't rush to love. You can't put the roof on the house until the walls are up.
So, today as I type, I am wearing Craedyn in my Lillebaby and swaying back and forth in hopes of getting her to calm down and take a nap. My time with God looks different today than it did 8 years ago, before I became a mom. I assure you this, though, my FAITH is the same. Because I serve the same God. Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Thank goodness!!!
HE is the ONLY constant in our ever-changing chaotic world.
May we NOT waver or crumble under pressure.
May we NOT look right or left, focusing on the wind and the waves.
Instead, let us be rooted and grounded in Christ.
May we be confident and sure as we hold on to Him, for HE is our anchor.
HE is our foundation.
May we be like the wise man and build our FAITH on Him, in Him.
Never fear, we don't have to be perfect. God WILL make us perfect someday, when we reach heaven. Until then, we simply follow in His steps and let Him mold and shape us, transform us into His image.
As we do, guess what happens? The next 2 layers are laid! BROTHERLY AFFECTION and LOVE.
The more we let God FILL us, the more He can FLOW OUT of us.
In fact, ONLY as we spend time with God and let His Word permeate our hearts and minds can we become like Him. Going back to the ROOTED illustration..as our roots go deeper and deeper into Christ, we grow and produce fruit. Fruit like self-control, gentleness, faithfulness, goodness, kindness, patience, peace, joy, and LOVE. Haven't we heard about those somewhere before?!
I LOVE how God threads truth all throughout His Word, showing us the same concept over and over in different ways. Jesus explained to His disciples the importance of having our roots in Him, but He used the words REMAIN and ABIDE. The outcome is the same though - FRUIT.
And fruit is great. Tastes delicious. BUT, we can't have fruit without FAITH. We have to lay that foundation FIRST, then add one layer at a time. We can't rush to love. You can't put the roof on the house until the walls are up.
So, today as I type, I am wearing Craedyn in my Lillebaby and swaying back and forth in hopes of getting her to calm down and take a nap. My time with God looks different today than it did 8 years ago, before I became a mom. I assure you this, though, my FAITH is the same. Because I serve the same God. Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Thank goodness!!!
HE is the ONLY constant in our ever-changing chaotic world.
May we NOT waver or crumble under pressure.
May we NOT look right or left, focusing on the wind and the waves.
Instead, let us be rooted and grounded in Christ.
May we be confident and sure as we hold on to Him, for HE is our anchor.
HE is our foundation.
May we be like the wise man and build our FAITH on Him, in Him.
No comments:
Post a Comment