I was reading this morning from 2 Samuel 7. David is anxious to build a "house of cedar" for God and God's Holy Ark. The prophet Nathan receives a visit from God. You can read the details for yourself and share how God's words to Nathan relate to your quest. For me, the words were a reminder that too often we put our emphasis on the things others will see, while the essential thing is that which we experience.
David worried that he had not built a house for God. The Word of God which came to Nathan addresses God's promise that God "will not take my steadfast love from him."
It isn't what can be seen; it is what is experienced.
I hope you will "show" your trust in Jesus by the way you live among your hall-mates, by the words you choose to use, by being seen reading your bible. But pay the greatest attention to the words God whispers in your ear. As Pastor Hartsell said in yesterday's sermon at UniLu, it is a word of acceptance and love. It is a word of invitation and affirmation. It is a word about relationship.
You will need to decide how public you want to be with the words whispered in your ear. They are your words, and you can surely keep them to yourself. I have found it helpful to explore them with others - thus I send out these humble offerings. But the sharing must not be some vain attempt to build a "house of cedar", should there be a shaky or unsure relationship. Attention needs to be given to hearing the Word of God; how you act on it is (truly) of less importance.
Welcome back! I look forward to a great year together of discovering what God is saying to all of us.
Pastor Chris
No comments:
Post a Comment