> General Discussions
2 or 3 Things Learned (still) Learning
hillsbororiver:
--- Quote from: M.G. on June 07, 2009, 02:54:03 PM ---
The worst time for me was when I couldn't find the path at all. I once sat in the same place for 10 years begging God to show me the path or talk to me or teach me. Just anything. I was out of the church with no place to go. I felt quite crazy because I couldn't find anyone else.
--- End quote ---
Hi M.G.
I believe there are more than a few people here (and elsewhere) who can relate to your experience, I know it speaks to me, loud and clear. Your testimony should be read and reread and meditated on, it is a testimony of the faith and perseverance that is woven through the old and new testaments.
We all have a unique path that will ultimately lead us to the prize which is real life in Christ but so often along the journey it is like a child looking toward and running to a rainbow, it looks within reach, only a short run away from where he or she is presently at, the pot of gold (treasure) appears so close yet getting there no matter how fast we try to run the distance separating us from our goal never seems to get any closer.
Our race to the rainbow is futile under our own power, we have a promise that this "rainbow" is not something we of ourselves can take hold of but instead it will appear to those who live by faith and are comforted by His promises.
I thought of this verse as I was writing about the rainbow analogy;
Rev 4:3 And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.
When we are finally delivered to our hoped for destination, reaching the rainbow, there is our Lord! In all His glory!
I cannot even imagine the pure ecstasy of that moment, the awe within us, the hope realized, the peace of experiencing the transition from flesh to spiritual. What a day it will be!
Peace,
Joe
mharrell08:
More on 'Still Learning' as even the apostles were:
Email reply from Ray (http://bible-truths.com/email12.htm#understand):
Dear Margaret:
I will try to help your understanding.
The Scriptures you reference, are true, but they don't exactly say what you think they say. You state:
"...then why did the apostles even do that since they had ALL UNDERSTANDING OF THE TRUTH? (Luke 24:45, John 14:15-31)."
Did they REALLY have "all understanding of the truth?" NO, THEY DID NOT, neither do these verses say that they did. Notice, In verse 44 of Luke 24 Jesus tells His apostles about all that needed to be fulfilled in Moses and the prophets "concerning Me" He says. Not that they understood "ALL Scripture." Jesus opened their understanding of the Scriptures, "CONCERNING ME." Not concerning EVERYTHING!
Now here is just one ABSOLUTE proof of what I just said, found in the very next two verses:
"And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name AMONG ALL NATIONS, beginning at Jerusalem" (Luke 24:45-46).
Notice in your other reference of John 15:15-31, in verse 26 concerning the Comforter which had not as yet been given to the Apostles, "...he [it] SHALL [future tense] teach you all things..." Yet, when the Gentile Cornelius turned to God and requested Peter to come to his house, Peter RESISTED at first, not KNOWING OR REMEMBERING that Jesus said His gospel was to be preached "AMONG ALL [Gentile] NATIONS."
Were there things the Apostles did NOT know about Jesus and His message when they began the ministries? Yes, Jesus Himself tells us so:
"I have yet MANY THINGS to say unto you, but ye CANNOT bear them NOW."
And so, God revealed "many things" to his Apostles (including Paul) as they progressed in their ministries. They came together in Acts 15 (MANY YEARS AFTER Christ's resurrection) for the express purpose of settling issues within the ministry which were causing confusion, especially among the Jewish Converts. Not the least of these issues was whether the Law of Moses was to be kept or not (Acts 15:5). PRETTY BIG ISSUE not to have already been settled, wouldn't you say?
God be with you,
Ray
Been reading through the book of Acts recently and thought of this...it's very interesting seeing more and more how our gaining of understanding is so similar to theirs. They learned in increments as we all do. :)
Marques
hillsbororiver:
--- Quote from: Sandyk on June 07, 2009, 07:34:06 PM ---
Hi Joe
I am glad to read your post. This has been heavy on my mind about not being one of the elect. I think to myself that I lack the patience to make it. The beast within me is ever present. I catch it sometimes but other times I fail and react before thinking about what I am saying or doing and this seems small but it is annoying to fail when you know right from wrong but yet it happens to me often. Thanks, for sharing your thoughts.
Sandyk
--- End quote ---
Hi Sandy,
Dear Sister I totally understand your thoughts, who among us can say with any certainty that we are of the elect, the chosen? We don't do the choosing, it is all of God. If indeed any of us are counted to be within this select group it will be just as His apostles were chosen, by Him. I do not think that Peter, James, John or any of the others woke up one morning and said "today will be the day I become one of inner circle of the Messiah."
Did they really understand what that might entail, even if they thought the time was at hand from paying attention to John the Baptist?
I am sure that once they saw, listened to His Words and witnessed the miracles of Christ they had their own expectations of what would transpire. The problem was that although they were convinced Jesus was the "Promised One" they could not spiritually comprehend what was to come or truly understand what His mission was at that time.
Just like you and many of us we are (as they were) blinded by our own expectations of what a disciple/apostle/elect/chosen of Christ actually means, I know I sure don't have a handle on it, all I know is that the ones singled out for this will not fail, they can't!
Not because of any superiority within themselves, only that the Spirit of God directed their steps as He sees fit.
So please take comfort in the fact that He does the choosing, has it all figured out and that all that ever lived will be perfected in Him at some point through the ages.
Peace,
Joe
hillsbororiver:
Excellent addition Marques!
I was typing as you were posting...... Very appropriate and timely here.
Peace,
Joe
Marlene:
Wow, for the last two days I have been going through a big trial. I sure, did need to read all of this. I can see now that God was working on me even when I did not know the truth about many things. Then , he grew me up in many things. This is all a process and not an easy one. Right, now I am just hanging on. I know, God is bigger then this trial.
For, sure it is a process and each trial gets harder. I know, one thing learning patience is a hard thing. I know, this trial is for a prupose. But, right now I am trying to see something good coming out of this.
Yes, we are blessed to know the truth or other wise I would not be handling this half as well as I am now. But, I still want to run the race but, right now I just don't see where all this is going. Before, I did not know enough truth to handle it. Now, God is helping me to handle it different then I use to handle things.
But, I just needed this post today.
I know, I have a long way to go to be chosen. I just need to be patient with God.
In His Love,
Marlene
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