Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Outside the box

Acts 10,11

Thinking outside the box used to be a cutting edge term. It has been so overused that its meaning has become cliché but there is really no other way for me to describe what is happening here.

I have found on many occasions that people interpret things in light of their own understanding. You have probably found this to be true as well. One major example for me has been when I have talked to people about a “Father’s” love. The scripture is replete with stories of God’s grace, care, and patience. He is always pouring himself into the lives of others so they might see Him more clearly. I have experienced sharing this concept with people who have read the Bible through the light of the pain and rejection they have felt from their father, and can only see God the father through that pain. All the wonderful scripture about His love, grace, mercy, and patience are meaningless because of their point of view. One of the challenges Paul presents us in “renewing our minds” is tackling these tough issues; seeing the truth in what the Bible says rather than interpreting it through our experiences.

Jesus had said to the disciples many times that the Gospel was for everyone, “For God so loved the world…” John 3:16 and “Go and make disciples of all nations…” Matthew 28:19, to name a few. Some how the disciples had stuck in their brains that the Gospel was only for the people of Israel. They are still thinking that way in Acts chapter one when they are questioning Jesus about the kingdom and are still stuck there in Acts chapters 10 and 11. Their “box” was only being able to imagine God’s love for the Jewish people rather than the whole world. God knows how to reach us.

Peter is taking an afternoon nap when he has this vision of all kinds of animals. God knew what to show Peter that would help him to understand the Father’s heart for all people. For me it seems to be kind of a leap to go from eating animals to sharing the Gospel with people I don’t having anything to do with, but God knew what would reach Peter. In hindsight it is easy to say, “Why of course that is what that meant.” God knows how to speak to each of us in a way that we will understand His meaning. God knows how to get His message across to you. If He wants you to understand something He will either make it very plain to you or guide you to someone who can. He does not desire to torture us or make His ways so confusing that we are frustrated with Him. If you are, the Bible has an answer. “When you seek Him you will find when you search for me with all of your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13

Back to the story

It took Peter a while to get it, even when they were filled with the Holy Spirit. He still was questioning. After all of this, the rest of the apostles who were living in Jerusalem gave Peter a hard time. It is OK to question things that don’t make sense to you. If they don’t make sense, either you don’t know the whole story, your thinking is wrong, or the thing that does not make sense really is wrong. Be careful about jumping to conclusions too fast. This is really what Jesus was referring to when He was talking about not judging in Luke 6.

My theology has been challenged many times by people, circumstances, and by a deeper reading of the Word. It is good to allow people to challenge your thinking; it forces us to know what we believe and why we believe it and to get all the answers that we need. However, like the apostles, if we have a belief that is incorrect, we must be open to change that is part of the maturing process.

This time of fasting is about changing. Our standard must always be the Word of God, not our feelings or someone else’s opinion. We must read the Word and spend time in God’s presence to understand, grow, and mature. However, we never reach a point where we are not still open to learn. Paul writes, “we see through a glass dimly” in this present world. There will come a time when we all will understand everything, once we are in heaven with the Lord. For now, we should always be open to grow and mature. We must be open to allow the Lord to show us things the way that He sees them. We need to allow the Lord to not just get us out of our box but to destroy our box so we don’t ever go back in it.

A prayer I pray every day is this, “Lord break my heart with the things that break Your heart. Help me to see people, things, and circumstances the way that You do. Teach me to be a man 100% sold out to You.” I don’t pray it in rote but it is fresh everyday for me. I am passing it on to you that it may help you as well.

Tomorrow Acts 12,13

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