Just the way we are

 

As I was reading this morning, this observation caught my attention. Part of my journey has gotten me to the place of accepting that God created me and He didn't make a mistake. I have taken comfort in that thought over the years when I was tempted (or accused) of being too weird, too shy, too contemplative, too... whatever. All those things that made me feel like something was wrong with me. Those things that left me feeling like I needed to apologize for the way I thought, or the feelings I had.

Once I accepted that it was God who made me, and I could trust that He knew what He was doing, it eased much of the angst that I had over performance to meet the expectations of others.

But the commentary today - even though I have heard it and have known it - somehow spoke to me and helped me realize that, Yes... God made me and He doesn't make mistakes... but, as someone witty has said, "God cleans the fish He catches."

It never hurts to be contemplative or introspective when it comes to examining truth and what that should look like in our own lives. Are there thought patterns or habits that need to come into alignment with the goal of looking more like Jesus? It's not a matter of if God loves us or not. That is a given if you believe that His Word is true. And I do. Rather, it is a matter of taking every thought captive, seeing ourselves and our behavior from a different perspective. How do our actions, words and thoughts line up with the plumbline of God's Word?

He has taught us from the very Beginning what it looks like to follow Him, how to be a set-apart people who will faithfully reflect His light in a dark world. Am I taking the time and effort each day to spend time learning and understanding how to walk that out? Our journey to anywhere does not begin and end as soon as we have our ticket in hand. We take the steps to move forward toward our destination, and sometimes (often) that involves changing our mindset and perspective. Whether it be a journey to a new country or culture, or our journey of life and walking out our calling to be people after God's own heart.

Accepting God's design in my life does not mean I should remain static in my spiritual development. Or, as Paul in his letter to the assembly of believers in Philippi says: "Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and awe." (And lest we have been duped into thinking that WORKS = LEGALISM, we should also heed the words of James, the brother of Jesus when he says, "faith apart from works is worthless."