OK first of all it takes me like 5 minutes each time I want to post something to find out where to do it. Is that a sign that I shouldn't have a blog in the first place? I am a little tech challenged I admit...but I will persevere eventually I will get the hang of it....don't you think? Getting the hang of it was just whats been running through my mind these past few days. Like when do my kids get the hang of the fact I don't like the wrestling in the living room or when do they get the hang of putting glasses in the sink or socks in the laundry. How many times do you have to say something to someone before it CLICKS or before you just throw up your hands and give up.
So since Christmas, as a family have been reading through parts of the New Testament aloud. Side note I do love hearing the sound of my kids reading scripture....its some of the sweetest moments of my day. Also how can you go to bed mad a the little darlings when they just finished reading the fruits of the Holy Spirit to you. It is very affective for family peacemaking ;-) and I say that I know with a bit of sarcasm, but I really do mean it. So getting back to my original thought of "getting the hang" of things. It strikes me night after night as we read and listen to God's word, how clear it all is. I mean its not a message that needs decoding or a translator or a special set of glasses to read. Well let me pause there the one thing it does require is an open pliable heart, but if we have that we can read the scripture like a handy set of blueprints for living. Not a set of rules and regulations but rather a set of guidelines for holiness. Like the bumpers I love so much that keep my bowling ball from going in the gutter over and over again. Like the concrete barriers that I love to see on the side of a steep road. We need those things in life to keep us from going off course. The Bible is there for us too, in just the same way, keeping us on course in our families, churches and other relationships.
Hence the nagging question...when do we get the hang of it.....when do we stop merely reading the blueprints but start doing what they say. Yes I know we do a good job at some of it, mostly the easy stuff...most of us don't murder ( well unless you count that scripture that talks about killing with our tongues..ouch) we keep holy the sabbath...we love with a Corinthians 13 love...until someone crosses us. We take a brother to confront a brother just like it says in Matthew.....but then when that doesn't work .....what do we do....do we delve into the Bible a little deeper search for what the blueprints says or at that point do we venture out on our own to muck it all up.
You see I picture God ever patient and merciful in Heaven I wonder if he ever has days that he wants to throw up his holy hands and say "when oh when will they ever get the hang of it I had it all written down for them, I laid it all out... how to have a healthy functioning family, how to have peace and unity in MY church, even how to care for the widow and the orphan and yet they try it on their own." Now of course I am sure he would say it a lot holier than that but I think you can get to gist of it. I get frustrated over little things my kids forget to do....and I shake my finger and say when are you going to remember this or that. Thankfully God doesn't deal with us that way. He just gently leads us back to his Word, guides us back to where it is ever so clear, so plain. Why can't we get the hang of it? That is what I've been thinking about as I write this and I came up with a few things.
First we complicate the blueprints...adding when it suits us and leaving out things when we would rather not abide by certain things. We also don't know or recognize the blueprints, we haven't made ourselves familiar about what God has to say, until we run into an issue and then we go willy-nilly searching for something that may fit the situation. The last thing I thought of and know this to be true in my life, we just disregard the blueprints when it feels too hard or uncomfortable.
So when do we get the hang of it? I am sure I will never get it 100% till I am home in heaven. But I do want to do a better job of reading and abiding by God's Word.
As Deuteronomy 6 says These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk with them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hand and bind them on your foreheads. Write then on the door frame of your house and your gate.
I love this scripture because it paints the picture of the Lords commandments being in every part of my life and that is what I want......I want to get the hang of this.....I want my family to get the hang of it ....I want to be in relationships with friends who also get it.....the importance of living God's Word....I want to be at a church where God's Word is not pushed aside out of convenience, rather it is the only thing that we cling to grow us, heal, restore and revive us. Until we "tie as a symbol and bind them to our foreheads" weave them into every part of our life ....we will always be striving.....trying.....starting and stopping......and wondering why we can't really get the hang of it.....time is too short to waste to skip the directions!!
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