Two passages I read today are linked…but not in a good way.
The first is Isaiah 29: 19-20. You can also find that same passage echoed by Jesus in Matthew 15: 8-9. “These people honor Me but their lips are far from Me.” (29:13). The implication is that we are good at spouting off stuff but have no heart in it.
The truth of that in practical terms is found in the second passage: Luke 5. The religious leaders “knew” the Law. But their acknowledgment of Jesus and who He was was most definitely skewed. Take, for example, the man healed in Luke 5. (That same story is in Mark 2). His friends bring him to Jesus, find the way blocked due to the crowd, lower him through the roof and Jesus heals him. Instead of rejoicing in the man’s healing, they badger Jesus because He said the man’s sins were forgiven. I’m guessing He didn’t use the right formula?
They knew the OT Scriptures-the Law. But their legalism would not and could not free them to join in the celebration of that man’s healing.
We may not be guilty of that same type of thing, but we sometimes refuse to rejoice because God works outside our boxes. Or we don’t see it in our own lives. I remember once hearing a pastor tell of how people came up to him after he preached telling about all God was doing in their lives. When it was all over he looked up into the heavens and said, “What about me, God? What about me?”
He had trouble rejoicing at other’s blessings because he saw the lack in his own life. Makes me stop in my tracks and ask, “Have I become so one-sided that I have missed the obvious work of God in my own life?
“Father, help me not to be so one-sided- “this is the way You work”-that I miss your work in other’s lives…and my own.”
God has a way of challenging my perspective. I think there are times when I am so focused on me, even in a positive way, I do fail to take time to rejoice in what God is doing in the lives of those around me. If I am so heads down trying to DOing vs BEing… I can miss out on those celebrations in the lives of others. I second your prayer this morning. Father help me celebrate with someone else today!
I like what you said Ryan about DOing vs. BEing. I think it would most certainly change our perception by celebrating with someone.
Such a great admonition to us all, Bill. Can we truly enjoy and revel in another’s blessing? We should!
Yes WE Should Martha. What a difference it would make.
Father, help me to see that sometimes my blessings in life, are in the blessings in others life’s that I get to witness the awesome power of God. What a joy it is to see my Father moving in the lives around me.
Amen Gail! it is a real blessing for sure