Why is it our nature to try and out think God? We can over think matters of the heart, can’t we? Do we have to understand things intellectually or just know them in our hearts?
Today’s affirmation is derived from the famous scripture Matthew 22:21 in which Jesus said: And He said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
“The things that are God’s.” Matthew 22 made me realize that I must give to God whether I understand what He is doing or not. The parable Jesus tells in Matthew 22: 1-14 is the story where Jesus is making the point that the Jewish people had been invited to be with God and He is using a wedding invitation story to paint the picture. The invited people were too busy with their work and their lives to attend. The King being angry sent his servants to give invitations to every one on the streets to attend the party. I love the part in verse 10 where they gathered everyone “both good and bad”. They invited “everyone” no matter what they had been doing.
Ok, here is where God lost me. They invited everyone both good and bad but in verse 11 when the king came to see the guests he noticed a person not dressed in wedding garments and had him bound and thrown out in the darkness. WHAT?
I don’t get this God you just went out and invited everyone on the streets and this guy answers your call and you aren’t happy with his attire. Didn’t your servants see what he was wearing when they invited him? Then God’s Lordship takes shape in Matthew 22:14 “For many are called, but few are chosen.” Quite frankly I wanted “I answer the call” to be my affirmation for today but God then took me to this disconnect in understanding. How could you invite this guest and then reject him?
It occurred to me that I can’t control who is chosen but I can accept the call regardless. All God has called me to do is to accept the invitation, the call. What He does with me after that is His call. Whether you “chose” me or not Father God, I accept your call and your invitation. May Your will be done.
After all, my life is Yours Father God and I am rendering it to you. I do not have to understand it but just be faithful to the call. All I can give you is what I have and what I have is a willingness to give you all I have. The key verse in Matthew 22 is verse 37: Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’
Ok God, I get it. I give you ALL, my heart, my soul and my mind. That’s ALL I can do. I trust you to do Your will. I am yours and I give you what is Yours. I understand I don’t have to understand. Thanks for the invitation. Do with me whatever you desire.
Tom Raines
Christian Affirmations 4 Life.
Tom,
I had to laugh quietly to myself, because I was just thinking about this issue several days ago. I’m glad you took the time to write this post.
When I think of all the things that I need to give to The LORD that are His and His alone, I go right to my sins. Yes. My sins. Past, present, and future. Did that sound odd to say aloud?
Consider: The one thing that Jesus wants from us when He strikes covenant with us is everything we can bring to the table, so to speak. And what is it we really have to offer to Him? Our goodness? Our piety? Our fealty, love, worship, trust, or obedience? We had none of those things before The New Covenant took us into His rest.
To this day, my offering to Him is really, at its core, my sin. He took them. He took all of them on The Cross. He took them and gave to me His forgiveness, His Salvation, and His Spirit in return. (Pretty darn good bargain for me, huh? He takes all my death and gives me all of His life. Amazing.) So my sins are now His property. He has them all. He took them and rendered them dead. I say this not to be flippant or casual, no. I say this because as New Covenant believers, we walk this side of Heaven in these flesh suits prone to evil and rebellion to God. Our spirits are of The Kingdom, but our flesh is of The World. So whenever I sin, (and I do!), I cannot help but think that I have somehow reached past Jesus and taken sin back from Him and decided to try and make it my own again. Like some petulant child.
I have nothing to offer to God, honestly. Anything about me that is worthy, wonderful, wholesome, loving, encouraging, or wise all come from His Spirit. All I can give to Him is my sin. He doesn’t mind. It is why His Father sent Him here, to glorify His Father and to establish The New Covenant once and for all. And The New Covenant takes our sins. Luckily, (jokes), I have plenty of sin to offer!
My two cents. Thanks for allowing me to opine!
Donald Borsch Jr.
http://www.christiancommentator.wordpress.com/
Thanks Donald for dropping by! Great input…give Him all we have…our sinful nature..all of it
Matthew 22:14. When I read that particular piece of Scripture, I sing in my spirit, “How great this Salvation!”
I re-read your post tonight, as I prepared to sleep, and that verse jumped out at me. Thanks, Tom.
How great indeed! So thankful. Thanks Donald.