Sunday was Flower's first week to go to "big church" for the first half and then leave for Sunday School. Up until now, she has been downstairs for the whole service in the creche (nursery for US readers). She usually gets whisked downstairs about five minutes before the service starts, which is about 3 minutes before the church fills up, lol.
So Sunday she was looking around, waving at people and chatting away with folks she only ever sees after the service. All of a sudden her eyes grow big and she points up and says, "how'd they get up there?" She was pointing to the balcony, which she had never noticed. I explained that there was a door and showed her where it was. She kept repeating "people are up there." Her church world had been widened. There was a new dimension to a building she thought she knew so well. And it fascinated her. She will never look at it the same again.
Cute. Bordering on adorable.
Consider, then, this interaction that I often have with God. (Maybe you have these interactions as well.)
"Wow, how'd that verse get there?" eyes growing wide.
"It's always been there."
"No seriously, I've never seen that before."
"You've never looked."
"I've read this passage before!"
"I didn't say you hadn't read it, you hadn't looked at it."
"What?!"
"Reading the words and reading My meaning aren't always the same thing."
"I still don't get it."
"You read My Word to get it to conform to your agenda. I want you to read it to conform to Mine."
"Oh....wow," shaking head in amazement and dropping eyes in shame.
And just like Flower, my view is widened. There is yet another dimension to God's work in my life. And I am fascinated. Hopefully, I allow it to change me and I'm never the same again.
Much of our difficulty as seeking Christians stems from our unwillingness to take God as He is and adjust our lives accordingly. We insist upon trying to modify Him and bring Him nearer to our own image.
~ A. W. Tozer ~
Father, today, help me to be willing to modify myself in order to conform to Your agenda. Give me wisdom to differentiate the differences. Widen my view. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Today's In Other Words is hosted by Deborah at Chocolate and Coffee. Please visit there to read other reflections on the Tozer quote.
6 comments:
Reading the words and reading My meaning aren't always the same thing."
"I still don't get it."
"You read My Word to get it to conform to your agenda. I want you to read it to conform to Mine."
It's amazing how much more our world is broaden without knowing it...We are always like young children still discovering the world in a new way when under the protective guidance of our Heavenly Father...beautiful post!
Very lovely post, bless you dear.
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Yes. It sounds very familiar. I used to read through chapters of the Bible, just because I wanted to get through the Bible. But I got so frustrated since I didn't understand what was going on. Now, I'm studying a chapter and learning about what the verses really mean and learning about historical facts that help me comprehend the verses better. It's exciting. I even had some Bible classes at a Christian college, but it's like I'm understanding the Bible for the first time. I like how you related your experience to Flower's.
Wise thoughts! I love it when a new verse jumps out at me. :~D
BTW, just a quick note to let you know that you've won an award.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Blessings,
e-Mom @ Chrysalis
I can relate to this.
When I was 23 and re-awakened in faith (I was pretty much nothing for about 3 years), I went over to my parents' house. I noticed that all their shelves had tons and tons of amazing books by GK Chesterton, Teresa de Avila, etc. and studies for Scripture.
"When did you get all this?" I asked in shock.
My father started laughing. "We've always had them."
"You're kidding! Oh, my Word! I want to borrow some of this. Wow. You always had this?"
And he said with a deep sigh, "Oh, Maria. You had eyes but did not see and ears but did not hear."
So sad. But he was dead on.
(I did end up reading tons of those books. *grin*)
Oh, and girlfriend, thank you SOOOOO much for all your prayers. I have felt God use them to wrap me up in love. : )
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