This is my first posting on the Bible Church Blog. I intend to post weekly and hopefully share some thoughts and ask some questions that will stimulate our minds to think more clearly and accurately about God, ourselves and how we should understand our lives in this present world.
This first posting focuses on what I refer to as, "The Wilderness Syndrome."
The Wilderness Syndrome is the attitude and disposition that puts one's self at the center of life rather than God. This is precisely what the children of Israel did. God intentionally led them through the wilderness on their way to Canaan, the land that God promised to them.
At every hardship it seemed that the children of Israel questioned God's purposes and care for them. Their common refrain indicated that they would rather be back in Egypt than to die in the wilderness. They never grasped the bigger picture of what God was doing. They were so focused on themselves that they never realized that they were part of God's plan, an important part, but a part, rather than the center. God was at the center.
Years earlier one of their ancestors experienced much hurt, betrayal, disappointment and hatred but kept God at the center of his thoughts. Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers, who hated him, was thrown into prison as the result of a lying and cheating woman, was forgotten by one who personally profited from his ministry and service, with the result that he had every right, it seemed, to greatly question God's purposes and plan.
But, Joseph kept in view that God was doing something that was much bigger. Joseph did not seek to make his relationship with the living God a test, but a trust. He realized that what men meant for evil God was using for good. The evil that Joseph experienced was very real and very personal. He did not roam in the wilderness of fleshly attitudes and thoughts, but rather prospered in freedom in the land of God's purposes and plans.
I really think we must learn some profound truths from these two scenarios. We must learn, among other things, that God infinitely loves us, cares for us, has only our good in mind, and He may, and often does, lead us into difficulties because He is accomplishing something bigger. He is working His plan and we are a glorious part of that plan. We often follow a line of thinking that goes something like this; "How could God really love me, care about me and desire my good and allow or bring this hurt, disappointment and pain into my life?" The children of Israel responded this way in the wilderness. Joseph responded in an entirely different manner. Joseph recognized that God's purposes were not primarily about him and his comfort. He realized that he was a part of a much bigger work that God was doing. In reality, that is true for each of us.
Let us not reduce our relationship with God down to what He does and does not permit in our lives and question His goodness and purposes when He brings the difficulties into our lives.
At Jeffersontown Bible Church we believe and teach the greater purposes of God as revealed in the scriptures. We seek to build an authentically biblical perspective into our lives which helps to build genuine stability which we all desperately need.
This first posting focuses on what I refer to as, "The Wilderness Syndrome."
The Wilderness Syndrome is the attitude and disposition that puts one's self at the center of life rather than God. This is precisely what the children of Israel did. God intentionally led them through the wilderness on their way to Canaan, the land that God promised to them.
At every hardship it seemed that the children of Israel questioned God's purposes and care for them. Their common refrain indicated that they would rather be back in Egypt than to die in the wilderness. They never grasped the bigger picture of what God was doing. They were so focused on themselves that they never realized that they were part of God's plan, an important part, but a part, rather than the center. God was at the center.
Years earlier one of their ancestors experienced much hurt, betrayal, disappointment and hatred but kept God at the center of his thoughts. Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers, who hated him, was thrown into prison as the result of a lying and cheating woman, was forgotten by one who personally profited from his ministry and service, with the result that he had every right, it seemed, to greatly question God's purposes and plan.
But, Joseph kept in view that God was doing something that was much bigger. Joseph did not seek to make his relationship with the living God a test, but a trust. He realized that what men meant for evil God was using for good. The evil that Joseph experienced was very real and very personal. He did not roam in the wilderness of fleshly attitudes and thoughts, but rather prospered in freedom in the land of God's purposes and plans.
I really think we must learn some profound truths from these two scenarios. We must learn, among other things, that God infinitely loves us, cares for us, has only our good in mind, and He may, and often does, lead us into difficulties because He is accomplishing something bigger. He is working His plan and we are a glorious part of that plan. We often follow a line of thinking that goes something like this; "How could God really love me, care about me and desire my good and allow or bring this hurt, disappointment and pain into my life?" The children of Israel responded this way in the wilderness. Joseph responded in an entirely different manner. Joseph recognized that God's purposes were not primarily about him and his comfort. He realized that he was a part of a much bigger work that God was doing. In reality, that is true for each of us.
Let us not reduce our relationship with God down to what He does and does not permit in our lives and question His goodness and purposes when He brings the difficulties into our lives.
At Jeffersontown Bible Church we believe and teach the greater purposes of God as revealed in the scriptures. We seek to build an authentically biblical perspective into our lives which helps to build genuine stability which we all desperately need.
