Just Read Chapter 5 of Velvet Elvis
First of all, this is a great book, so far. I'm sure the rest will not disappoint.
Chapter 5 is about the Jewish tradition of how the ancient rabbis would select their students.
Basically, it was very grueling and challenging. Only the best of the best continued.
However, when Jesus selected His disciples, it wasn’t from the best and the brightest.
It was from the wash-outs. The people who couldn’t make the cut. The fishermen. The “less than.”
And when Jesus became exasperated with his disciples, it wasn’t because of their lack of faith in Him, most times.
It was their lack of faith in themselves.
They didn’t know how bad to the bone they were.
It wasn’t because they failed. It’s because they didn’t realize how much they could succeed.
They didn’t know that with the slightest little mustard seed they could move mountains.
Not only in Jesus, but in themselves.
Jesus makes it all possible, but we have work to do too.
We have a hill to climb.
We have a job to do.
It says that His “yoke is easy and his burden is light” .. that doesn’t mean He’s doing all the work. Its light compared to without Him, but we’ve still got a role in that metaphor.
He wants us to succeed. He wants us to know how jamming we really are.
He has faith in us.
And when we feel that we are less than, or can’t make the cut, or can’t do the job, that’s when Jesus gets exasperated with us.
Philippians 4:13 has a different nuance to me now.
“I can do all things through Christ” because He has faith in me and knows that I can. He made me so He knows what I can do.
He believes.
And that blows me away ..
Chapter 5 is about the Jewish tradition of how the ancient rabbis would select their students.
Basically, it was very grueling and challenging. Only the best of the best continued.
However, when Jesus selected His disciples, it wasn’t from the best and the brightest.
It was from the wash-outs. The people who couldn’t make the cut. The fishermen. The “less than.”
And when Jesus became exasperated with his disciples, it wasn’t because of their lack of faith in Him, most times.
It was their lack of faith in themselves.
They didn’t know how bad to the bone they were.
It wasn’t because they failed. It’s because they didn’t realize how much they could succeed.
They didn’t know that with the slightest little mustard seed they could move mountains.
Not only in Jesus, but in themselves.
Jesus makes it all possible, but we have work to do too.
We have a hill to climb.
We have a job to do.
It says that His “yoke is easy and his burden is light” .. that doesn’t mean He’s doing all the work. Its light compared to without Him, but we’ve still got a role in that metaphor.
He wants us to succeed. He wants us to know how jamming we really are.
He has faith in us.
And when we feel that we are less than, or can’t make the cut, or can’t do the job, that’s when Jesus gets exasperated with us.
Philippians 4:13 has a different nuance to me now.
“I can do all things through Christ” because He has faith in me and knows that I can. He made me so He knows what I can do.
He believes.
And that blows me away ..
posted by Wealthedge at 3:32 PM
7 Comments:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryCTIigaloQ
Just got done watching this, then read your post. We are loved by the Father, and that is something to rejoice about!
How right you are, Dale. I love your perception of things! Always gives me pause for thought...
Michelle,
Thanks for sharing .. that was awesome ..
I would love to go meet those guys someday ..
Crystal & Susie,
Thanks for your comments .. appreciate you!
Dale
We missed you guys for discussion tonight!
bro! thanks posting on this chapter... lot's of meat to chew on!
Kelli,
Don't know who you are, but yes, I read the Bible ..
I also read references and concordances and history books that talk about politics, daily life, laws, and general thought processes in the first century, information that you can't get out of the Bible by itself.
I also read C.S. Lewis, Norman Geisler, Lee Strobel, et al. Books on science and philosophy and literature and film.
I read a lot of things, the Bible among them.
All of those writers are Biblically sound and Bible believing.
How do you know the Bible you are reading is the inspired Word of God? How do you know that the pastor talking about the inspired Word of God is correct?
You’ll need to read some other sources to see the history of the Bible, to see that it is the only text that can even come close to being the inspired Word of God. Actually, let me rephrase: You’ll need those texts, unless you go back to the beginning and do all the work and the archeology and the research yourself.
See, the difference between myself and some Christians I know is that I worship Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of my life.
I don’t worship a book. I don’t worship a pastor. I don’t worship a building.
I worship Jesus. I submit to Him as King of my life. I put Him on the throne.
Not a book, or a building, or a rank, or an ideology.
Jesus speaks to me through His Word, and through other’s interpretations of His Word, and their take on it, their study and their pondering and their life of yearning for Him. Through sermons, and books, and films, and nature, and quiet contemplation.
Jesus speaks to us through LOTS of avenues.
The Bible is primary, yes, and when someone wants to talk about their interpretation of the Bible, I will listen for the truth.
God’s truth is everywhere. You can find it in the strangest places.
But if you think you can puzzle it out yourself without any input, knock yourself out.
And next time you want to ask a pointed question with a hint of an accusation, then introduce yourself. No more ninja posting.
It takes courage to post your thoughts and ideas and stand up for your beliefs.
I don’t know you, so for now, we’ll have to assume you are either afraid or you have nothing of substance to say.
Fill out your personal information on your blog and then we can talk.
Until then, have a nice day.
Dale
I don't mean to crush anyone, Sandie, and I'm sorry if that was too harsh ..
Actually, I'm not sorry it's too harsh, because I meant for it to be harsh. I meant for it to be "fighting words" ..
That's one of the only things that will really light a fire under me is when someone will point a question and not even give the decency of showing their "face" ..
Pointing a question opens yourself up to debate and scrutiny, and to point a question and NOT allow a rebuttal is the worst type or cowardice ..
So, yeah, not too sorry for the tone.
Lots of love though ..
Post a Comment
<< Home