Oh, Zondervan...how did you do it?
So. (I may write this at points like I'm speaking...so sorry).
Last night I was totally reading the Bible--and when I say reading, I mean playing Bible roulette; you know opening to random pages and reading bits and pieces until something seems to fit. Anyways. I happened to glance over to the notes on the passages which Zondervan provides for me (I never look at these...often times they are ridiculous..."Did God really smite people" and such). However, this was on the passage in like Mark or something where Jesus walks out on the water to the disciples and they kinda freak because they think he is a ghost. Crazy. Then it says they didn't recognize him because their hearts were hardened. And the little note in the blue side column was something like, "Why does it say the disciples hearts were hardened? Well, Tommy, let me tell you. The disciples were so focused on Jesus' miracles that they forgot he was the son of God. (Wow, daderoo--thanks!)" (I tend to picture the side notes as a Leave it to Beaver sort of excursion/interaction). I kind of thought about this for a minute. It hit me kind of hard. I was like how could they forget that he is the son of God. I mean--hello. But then I realized how I have forgotten that he is the son of God.
I mean, like I've been living in a lot of pain and confusion and desperation. I keep looking for some sort of sign or some sort of manifestation of God in my life. And I don't think that's bad. But it isn't good when you have forgotten that Jesus came...and lived...and died...and lived. Cliche, I know. That doesn't really matter. Because it's like totally the most profound thing ever. I forget that God reigns...that because of Jesus I totally have access to him and to his love.
And that doesn't instantly take care of all of those parts in me that are scared and sad and whatever--but it does a lot. Like, I know the choice I have to make everday is to love God. To obey God. To worship God. And how cool is that?
Thank you, Jesus.
Caitlin
Last night I was totally reading the Bible--and when I say reading, I mean playing Bible roulette; you know opening to random pages and reading bits and pieces until something seems to fit. Anyways. I happened to glance over to the notes on the passages which Zondervan provides for me (I never look at these...often times they are ridiculous..."Did God really smite people" and such). However, this was on the passage in like Mark or something where Jesus walks out on the water to the disciples and they kinda freak because they think he is a ghost. Crazy. Then it says they didn't recognize him because their hearts were hardened. And the little note in the blue side column was something like, "Why does it say the disciples hearts were hardened? Well, Tommy, let me tell you. The disciples were so focused on Jesus' miracles that they forgot he was the son of God. (Wow, daderoo--thanks!)" (I tend to picture the side notes as a Leave it to Beaver sort of excursion/interaction). I kind of thought about this for a minute. It hit me kind of hard. I was like how could they forget that he is the son of God. I mean--hello. But then I realized how I have forgotten that he is the son of God.
I mean, like I've been living in a lot of pain and confusion and desperation. I keep looking for some sort of sign or some sort of manifestation of God in my life. And I don't think that's bad. But it isn't good when you have forgotten that Jesus came...and lived...and died...and lived. Cliche, I know. That doesn't really matter. Because it's like totally the most profound thing ever. I forget that God reigns...that because of Jesus I totally have access to him and to his love.
And that doesn't instantly take care of all of those parts in me that are scared and sad and whatever--but it does a lot. Like, I know the choice I have to make everday is to love God. To obey God. To worship God. And how cool is that?
Thank you, Jesus.
Caitlin