Hi Everyone,
I have been perusing threads and the one theme that has stuck with me the most right now is how some of us can at certain times become frustrated, angry, maybe even doubtful or antagonistic toward God, maybe all of the above...
Myself included.
After speaking with a Brother yesterday about our faith, our tenacity for obtaining Truth and spiritual growth and how the world with all of it's horrific injustices, lying, self serving leaders of government (all governments, all political persuasions) and the incendiary cheer leading from some in the many media outlets that inflame carnal passion (the hateful kind). We found that both of us had been drawn into worrying about tomorrow, letting the world trouble our spirits.
Have we not been clearly warned, advised, commanded not to do this?
Maybe you are not drawn into political discourse but rather, the day to day hassles we experience, no job or a crappy job perhaps with course coworkers and/or a boss who plays favorites and does not readily appreciate or praise the consistently good (or better) work we might do.
Maybe it is how (we presently perceive) the unfair burdens placed along ours paths, whatever they might be...
You know the particulars of what troubles you.
Knowing that these are not new feelings and that the patriarchs and prophets of the OT especially, and even the apostles (Paul included) devoted many words to this dark, bumpy, hazard filled path we journey on, sometimes we wonder or cry out, WHY?
Why doesn't God open our eyes wider to see more completely what is the real purpose of this whole trip?
What is the reasoning? In plain, simple language thank you very much.
Why must there be all this anxiety, pain, suffering???
What is up with all the secrets, hidden wisdom and all of that?
We just might have the answers...
Psa 119:2 Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.
Psa 119:4 Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently. (Read this one a few time and meditate on it)
Psa 119:5 O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes!
Psa 119:6 Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments.
Psa 119:12 Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes.
Psa 119:15 I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.
Psa 119:18 Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.
Psa 119:19 I am a stranger in the earth: hide not thy commandments from me.
Psa 119:73 Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: give me understanding, that I may that I may learn thy commandments.
Joh 14:21 He that hath my commandments(G1785), and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
See that? "Keep my commandments" (and then He will manifest Himself to us?). So is He speaking of the 10 commandments? So if we don't (physically) murder, steal, commit adultery, bear false witness etc. He will give us a deeper knowledge and relationship with Him?
I know, too many questions...
Or is it something else?
Look at the Greek root of G1785 which appears in John 14:21, it is a bit more than commandments, it is all of what our Physician has shown us;
G1785
ἐντολή
entolē
en-tol-ay'
From G1781; injunction, that is, an authoritative prescription: - commandment, precept.
OK, I think I might be getting something here, if we want more wisdom, a deeper insight and a better understanding of the purpose of all this and perhaps a deeper glimpse into the mind of God, we just might want to obey (ALL of) what He has shown us so far, when we get there He just might (no, He promised to) manifest* Himself to us!
MANIFEST
1: readily perceived by the senses and especially by the sense of sight
2: easily understood or recognized by the mind
Hmmm...
So if we use what He has given us up to right now, if we live within the wisdom He has shown us presently, if we diligently follow Christ's example, we are promised even more of a revelation of God, a deeper understanding of His plan and purpose for all of us. Sounds like a fair deal. Doesn't it?
Think about it, did we get more privileges (or a higher allowance) as a child before we met the obligations our parents set before us?
Did we get to high school before graduating grammar school?
Promoted to a better job before mastering our present job?
You get my drift...
Peace,
Joe