I know it’s cliche and even a little lame. But it’s also got a seed of truth in there somewhere.

This morning I was reading in the second chapter of Romans. Heavy book…lots of deep theological teaching. Yesterday I finished the first chapter of Romans…a chapter far too many Christians use as a battering ram for some of the most controversial social topics in our day (you can read it for yourself to figure out which topic(s) I’m referring to).

The problem is that too many of these “well meaning” Christ-followers (myself included at times) don’t continue reading on into chapter two. Instead they start using Romans 1 as a sledgehammer on someone else. So what does Romans 2 say?

Just this…

You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things. (Romans 2:1, NLT)

Ouch…and oops! Consider me guilty as charged. I have no excuse. I’m in the same boat as everyone else…guilty of disobeying God and falling far short of His holiness. I mess up all the time. I think I’ve got life figured out and then I mess it all up. Thank goodness that Paul doesn’t stop with the lines above, but continues…

Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that this kindness is intended to turn you from your sin? (Romans 2:4, NLT)

Thank goodness for God’s patience, kindness, and tolerance with me. I certainly need it. Maybe I’ll put down the sledgehammer and turn to Him a little more often.

Whom have I in heaven but you?
I desire you more than anything on earth.
My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak,
but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.
(Psalm 73:25-26, NLT)

It’s that second sentence that is sticking with me today. I need to be reminded that my identity and my heart’s desire is found in God alone (at least that’s how it should be). He’s enough. He’s what I need. Today. Tomorrow. Always.

Too often I try and find my identity in other things. And it gets me all messed up. I turn to other things instead of turning to God. It’s faithless. It’s human. It’s gotta go.

I need Him and Him alone. Once I have that priority right everything else will fall into its proper place. Always.

“Don’t be afraid! I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying. And now, go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and he is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there. Remember what I have told you.” (Matthew 28:5-7, NLT)

This is true every day…not just today.
And it changed EVERYTHING!

If you are already sponsoring a child, great. If not, here are two organizations (out of many) where you can start:

• Compassion International
• World Vision (this is the one Anita and I sponsor through)

Why does God allow bad stuff to happen to people?

We know deep down that God could stop all of the bad stuff…the stuff happening in our lives, to the people we know, around the world. He has the power, but why doesn’t He do it?

People come to different conclusions. Some think it’s because He’s mean. Some say it’s because He doesn’t care. Some that He doesn’t even exist.

There are “deep” theological answers (think “free will”), but I’m not getting into that today. This whole topic came up while I was reading a passage out of Hebrews this morning. The answer given there is specifically for those who are following Him. Why does God allow stuff to happen to those who are trying there best to follow Him?

Why?

Because we’re His children, and that’s what a good Dad does…

As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children.
Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father?
If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children,
it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all.
Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us,
shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever?
Hebrews 12:7-9, NLT

When I read that this morning I wanted to know more about the word “discipline” used here. It made me think of how I discipline my own children (a common occurrence…just ask Kyle), punishing them to change their behavior. And it’s close…but it goes beyond how I typically think of discipline. God is using what goes on in our daily lives…the good and the bad…to shape and mold us. He lets the stuff happen because He wants it to train us…to change us. The word is more akin to the idea of instruction and training—not just punishment.

And God’s does this all throw His perfect filter of love and grace. He isn’t allowing these things to happen because He’s mean or doesn’t care. Quite the opposite…He allows it because He knows it’s good for us…it will develop our character and draw us to Himself (if we let it). I don’t know about you, but I want to be a legitimate child of God. And He’s been using plenty of “stuff” in my life to discipline/train me. I just wish it wasn’t so painful sometimes (as does Kyle), and I wish I would realize what’s happening when I’m going through the battle.

God has been slowing shifting my focus over the past few weeks. Away from actions and rules. Toward love and grace.

It’s a hard lesson to learn because I have years of “bad thinking” built up. I’m used to thinking about trying to follow all the rules instead of following Him. Years of guilt instead of grace. It’s not the best way to live…and it’s not God’s way.

I got yet another reminder of that this morning in my devotional book…

“Trying to be holy always results in failure after failure. Falling in love with a righteous God results in progress. Failures still happen, but there’s a noticeably different approach to them. Instead of obsessing about shortcomings, we begin to obsess about God’s goodness…Law no longer consumes us; grace does.” (Walk With God, p. 201)

I wish this lesson came more naturally…but for me it’s hard work. I have to work to focus my attention on my relationship with God instead of trying to be good. But it’s getting easier…more natural. I am learning to accept God’s love and walk in His presence every day. I have much to learn, but I have a patient Father who wants me to learn this lesson and live in His grace. What a relief!

This morning I was reading in Romans and had one of those “light-bulb” moments. Here is the passage I was reading and meditating on:

For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son…
he called them to come to him…he gave them right standing
with himself…he gave them his glory.
Romans 8:29-30, NLT

I have read this passage, and other like it, without much thought to this notion of being “chosen” by God. I have been in classes that explored the theological implications of us being “chosen” by God. I understand the theological concepts (and “controversies”) behind the word and the concept.

God gave me new insight this morning. It might not be new to you—I pray it isn’t—but it was fresh and new to me…my “light bulb”.

Here it is: God chose me! (I know…groundbreaking isn’t it?). I mean…he actually chose me. He made a conscious decision. God wants to know me.

This goes back to the adoption metaphor that Paul uses earlier in Romans chapter 8. I wasn’t born into God’s family (like my own children were born into our family)—God adopted me. He chose me. God wants me so much that He actually selected me—God picked me! I wasn’t the last kid left to be picked for kickball…He chose me to be His son…and to be like His Son.

That is mind boggling and life changing. The God of the universe…the God who spoke worlds into existence…chose me to be adopted into His family.

It feels good to be chosen.

Why? Because He loves them. And He’s a jealous God…very jealous. This morning’s reading gave a little insight into what is frustrating God so much. God has Jeremiah buy and then bury a loincloth. God waits (I am assuming for a looooong time) and then tells Jeremiah to go dig it back up. It’s completely ruined…”good for nothing” is what Jeremiah calls it. And that’s when God makes his real point:

As a loincloth clings to a man’s waist,
so I created Judah and Israel to cling to me, says the Lord.
They were to be my people, my pride, my glory—
an honor to my name. But they would not listen to me.
Jeremiah 13:11, NLT

God was frustrated because He had created Israel to cling to Him…but instead they turned from Him. It broke His heart (so to speak). He wanted relationship with His people and they walked away…they ignored God and turned to idols instead.

Ouch.

God created me…us…for that very same relationship. He wants me to cling to Him…to be His pride and glory. Too often I blow it and turn away from Him instead. I want to listen to Him. I want to walk with Him.

I want to cling to Him…like static cling!

How would you respond if I asked you this question: Do you honestly believe that God likes you, not just loves you because theologically God has to love you? (Abba’s Child, page 64)

That’s a great question…do I really believe God loves me…or that He even likes me? Not because He has to…but because He just does? I have difficulty answering this question; I don’t like my answer. But the truth is, God does love us. Period. End of story…

God loves who we really are—whether we like it or not. (page 22)

Thank God for that one…but I wonder how many of us actually believe it. I wonder how much I actually believe it.

More to come on this topic…

“God’s sorrow lies in our refusal to approach Him when we have sinned and failed. A “slip” for an alcoholic is a terrifying experience. The obsession of the mind and body with booze returns with the wild furry of a sudden storm in springtime. When the person sobers up, he or she is devastated. I had two options: yield once again to guilt, fear, and depression; or rush into the arms of my heavenly Father—choose to live as victim of my disease; or choose to trust in Abba’s immutable love.” (page 20, emphasis added).

Alcoholism isn’t my particular “demon” but I understand the choice Manning is illustrating here. And I too seldom run into the arms of my heavenly Father. I turn to the wrong stuff instead of turning to God. I’m not sure I even know how to run into His arms…but it’s my heart’s desire and something I am asking Him to teach me. It isn’t natural…it isn’t my first instinct. But it’s what I need.

So God and I are working on it. I am learning to trust in His “immutable love”; I am learning to run into His arms; I am learning to be His child. I just wish I wasn’t always such a slow learner!