Monthly Archives: September 2006

Connect the Dots

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Matt 6:25-34

I think that God often reveals His will to us one thing at a time. What I mean by that is, it is a lot like a connect the dots exercise. He shows us just the next thing, and we have to trust that He has the big picture in mind.

If you have ever done a connect the dots, you know that at times you go from one dot near the center of the drawing way out to the edge. Often, before you finish, it does not make any sense at all. Eventually as more of the image is revealed you get a real sense of what you were doing.

Our job in all of this is just to go from where we are to the next dot. That is it. It really is that simple. If you are ever confused about what you are supposed to be doing, it is because your focus is beyond the next dot. First, get to the next dot. There is no second.

I think that as we mature in our walk with God, He begins to reveal more things than just what is the next dot. Sometimes He might show you where you will be 4 dots ahead. Sometimes He might tell you what the image will become at the end. However, this is so that we might mature more, not that we become the artist. Our job is still the same, get to the next dot.

Whenever those questions come up, “How will I…?” “When is God going to…?” “I just don’t see how…?”

Get to the next dot.

Parenting

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I’ve been meaning to write a post about being a parent for a long time, but probably not the one you are thinking when you read the title. If you are a parent, you will probably follow most of what I am going to write. If not, pretend like you do…

I have learned so much by being a parent. Most importantly I have learned what it is like to teach someone who knows less than you how to live life. It requires a lot of love because it is hard work. Sometimes it includes discipline, sometimes hard discipline. How painful it is when we want to give our children everything, but we know that would only end badly.

Why is this important? It teaches us about the relationship God has (or wants) with us. He loves us. He wants to teach us how we ought to be. It is no accident He is described as our Heavenly Father.

When one of my son’s asks for something, I do not blindly hand it over. I must first consider what is best for them, and often the answer is, “No.” Why do we get so upset when our own Father says, “no,” to us? Matthew 7:9-11 tells us that God will give us the good things we ask for. Implied is that if we, as His children, ask for something bad, He will not oblige.

The lessons learned by being a parent are many, and I don’t want to take your time listing them here. But there is one more that I think is important to mention.

God gave His only Son, for me, a lousy sinner who had turned his back on God, spit in His face and refused His love. I cannot imagine giving my son for the sake of someone else. Not that it is possible, but even less so for someone who despised me. Yet God so loved us He did this exact thing. Uncomprehendable.