JULY 2, 2023

   “You become what you think about” 

― Napoleon Hill

JOB 21-25

13“But he stands alone, and who can oppose him?

He does whatever he pleases.

14He carries out his decree against me,

and many such plans he still has in store.

15That is why I am terrified before him;

when I think of all this, I fear him.

16God has made my heart faint;

the Almighty has terrified me.(23:13-16)

ACTS 10

34Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. 36You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. 37You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— 38how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.

39“We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a cross, 40but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. 41He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. 43All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

44While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. 46For they heard them speaking in tongues^b and praising God.

Then Peter said, 47“Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” 48So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.

JOURNAL 

Job is overcome with the sheer permanence and power of God. God's ways and plans are completely out of man's control. Peter's sermon to the gentiles...God is the God of all, as creator and author of all of life there is no favoritism. 

This really speaks to the obvious reality that my life is really a brief stay in the grand play of life. To not surrender to God or to resist him is completely foolish and arrogant. When I really process this, it is somewhat terrifying, yet also comforting. The fate of the world is not on me...it's not my place to judge or control. Rather to surrender and obey, to walk the path that is set before me, to choose the way of obedience even though hard at times. Not doing so is to resist God...to delude myself with false notions of my own power. It is the height of stupidity. 

I recently came across a word which somewhat haunts me...acrasia...it is a Greek word which means to not do what you believe you should do. Most moments I internally know the things that are good and the things which I believe I should do. Yet quite often I don't do them...or I delay doing them or I do them without full commitment. Why? This is the crux of my humanity, it is what makes all humans...human. The internal dialogue and conflict is where the spirit of God is needed most. This place is where I confront my own distrust, my own conflict of emotions to the truth of God and life. 

What I have found in the 50 years of living on this earth is that hoping to reach a place where this internal struggle does not exist is really a hopeless wish. My true hope for peace is not found in the mastery of my will but rather in the surrender of it. To surrender my will to God's spirit means I face each moment with fresh eyes. It means that I accept my lack of control in my own earthly fate and instead trust in God's spirit of love, truth and goodness. Truly doing so relieves me of fear, frustration and false hope in the transient nature of today. Does today matter? Yes of course it does...but Ill probably never know fully why it matters. Yet the more I can trust in God's nudges, look for the glimpses of his love, and commit to building his kingdom the more peace and joy I will find. 

This is the peace which Job found in the midst of his despair and questions. This is the knowledge Peter found in the midst of his prejudice. God's love is greater than any power in the universe...seeking and surrendering to his spirit is my only logical hope. 

4“Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation Tell me, if you understand.5Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it?6On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone—7while the morning stars sang together and all the angels^a shouted for joy?

JOB 38:4-7