“The real glory is being knocked to your knees and then coming back. That's real glory. That's the essence of it.”
1Then Job replied:
2“If only my grief could be weighed
and placed with my calamity on the scales.
3For then it would outweigh the sand of the seas—
no wonder my words have been rash.
4For the arrows of the Almighty have pierced me;
my spirit drinks in their poison;
the terrors of God are arrayed against me.(6:1-4)
ACTS 7:20-43
20At that time Moses was born, and he was beautiful in the sight of God.e For three months he was nurtured in his father’s house. 21When he was set outside, Pharaoh’s daughter took him and brought him up as her own son. 22So Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was powerful in speech and action.
JOURNAL
Here in these passages are two men who have done nothing wrong...to the contrary they are doing everything right...yet they are about to get pummeled. Job is given to the hands of Satan and will lose everything but his life. Stephen is about to be stoned.
What does this tell me about trusting in God and obeying him. It says that true success is never solely experienced or measured by worldly standards. It may mean being a martyr and without much in material possessions or to the contrary it may include riches and wealth and worldly success. The point is worldly measures don't ultimately matter...what will matter is the joy that I will receive from obeying and living my life as an Outpost of the Kingdom of God. This means as an offering...a living sacrifice...it means to take my eyes off the approval of man and focus my eyes on the love of God. It is to see that right here, right now I am blessed with life, with the opportunity to act and live. It is the acceptance and realization that I am part of God's team, that I am loved and that I have a purpose, no matter what the world says or how it responds. I think it is different for everyone but I know that living out of my identity, as part of God's team is a passionate, joyful, active existence that pushes the envelope of what I consider possible.
I think it must be an existence that stretches the boundaries of what I feel I can accomplish. I think it must be a life that utilizes my gifts and talents. I think it must be a life that requires courage, discipline and persistence. This is not to be a life of passive contemplation, but rather a life of active engagement. So when there are tough moments and disappointments and lack of worldly applause, I am not to fret or believe that something must be wrong but rather that I might just be exactly where God wants me. My identity is never determined by my circumstances, but rather my circumstances can serve to express my identity.
1Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
What does this tell me about trusting in God and obeying him. It says that true success is never solely experienced or measured by worldly standards. It may mean being a martyr and without much in material possessions or to the contrary it may include riches and wealth and worldly success. The point is worldly measures don't ultimately matter...what will matter is the joy that I will receive from obeying and living my life as an Outpost of the Kingdom of God. This means as an offering...a living sacrifice...it means to take my eyes off the approval of man and focus my eyes on the love of God. It is to see that right here, right now I am blessed with life, with the opportunity to act and live. It is the acceptance and realization that I am part of God's team, that I am loved and that I have a purpose, no matter what the world says or how it responds. I think it is different for everyone but I know that living out of my identity, as part of God's team is a passionate, joyful, active existence that pushes the envelope of what I consider possible.
I think it must be an existence that stretches the boundaries of what I feel I can accomplish. I think it must be a life that utilizes my gifts and talents. I think it must be a life that requires courage, discipline and persistence. This is not to be a life of passive contemplation, but rather a life of active engagement. So when there are tough moments and disappointments and lack of worldly applause, I am not to fret or believe that something must be wrong but rather that I might just be exactly where God wants me. My identity is never determined by my circumstances, but rather my circumstances can serve to express my identity.
1Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
ROMANS 12:1-2
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