Devotions Archive Archive: 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 Search Archive Print This Article Overcome the world Wednesday, February 24, 2010 Jonah 3:4-5 Jonah began his journey through the city and had gone but a single day's walk announcing, "Forty days more and Nineveh shall be destroyed," when the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast and all of them, great and small, put on sackcloth. Luke 11:29-32 Jesus spoke to the crowd, "The mood of this age is all wrong. Everybody's looking for proof, but you're looking for the wrong kind. All you're looking for is something to titillate your curiosity, satisfy your lust for miracles. But the only proof you're going to get is the Jonah-proof given to the Ninevites, which looks like no proof at all. What Jonah was to Nineveh, the Son of Man is to this age. "On Judgment Day the Ninevites will stand up and give evidence that will condemn this generation, because when Jonah preached to them they changed their lives. A far greater preacher than Jonah is here, and you squabble about 'proofs.' On Judgment Day the Queen of Sheba will come forward and bring evidence that condemns this generation, because she traveled from a far corner of the earth to listen to wise Solomon. Wisdom far greater than Solomon's is right in front of you, and you quibble over 'evidence.'" God's heart is broken when I turn from him: when I go into another room, when I don't read his word and avoid his call to righteousness. And yet he gives me rein. "You have so much to overcome," he says. "You all do. Don't think of yourself as better or worse than anyone else." When I hide my eyes from the gaze of Jesus, he lets me. There is no control in his love, no fear, no punishment, no manipulation. But his eyes don't waver, and his feet don't move. While I skitter, stammer and run, Jesus stands. He waits while I manage to get into every kind of trouble. He still waits while I analyze my plight. He still waits while I try certain solution after certain solution. He still waits as I learn to ask questions instead of spout answers. He waits while I become still. Knowing good and evil isn't all it's cracked up to be: just look at Genesis. Knowing truth is always limited by my perspective. Knowing God, or rather letting him know me, is different. Knowing God means kneeling to receive his love ... and then looking up into his face, knowing he will show me something new. How much can I stand his arms around me like this before I need to run again? I think as I get used to this kind of love, I can receive more. And (of course) give more of it away. Lord, make a fresh start in me. Shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life. Thank you for not throwing me out with the trash. Breathe holiness into me, Lord. Bring me back from gray exile and send a fresh wind into my sails! --- Psalm 51, The Message "; Add      Edit    Delete