"A Message from the high and towering God,
who lives in Eternity,
whose name is Holy:
“I live in the high and holy places,
but also with the low-spirited, the spirit-crushed,
And what I do is put new spirit in them,
get them up and on their feet again..."
who lives in Eternity,
whose name is Holy:
“I live in the high and holy places,
but also with the low-spirited, the spirit-crushed,
And what I do is put new spirit in them,
get them up and on their feet again..."
Isaiah 57:15-21 The Message Bible
We just returned home from vacation. While gone, we listened online to the messages from the guest speakers who filled in for my pastor/husband. One of the speakers, in talking about God's desire for His church to grow in Christlikeness and maturity read 1 Peter 1:16, "Be holy, for I am holy." Here's how Eugene Peterson translates that passage in the Message Bible, "As obedient children, let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God's life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness. God said, "I am holy; you be holy." But then, I kept reading, "You call out to God for help and He helps-He's a good Father that way. But don't forget, He's also a responsible Father and won't let you get by with sloppy living. Your life is a journey you must travel with a deep consciousness of God." I found this so encouraging. When I read, "Be holy, for I am holy" without the context found in the verses following as well as in the rest of the Bible, I feel like God is asking me to do something without showing me how-asking me to do something impossible. But in context, I realize that there is nothing that God asks us to do without giving us His empowering grace to do it. (Join me for the rest of this post on Sunday, September 6th at Woman to Woman Ministries, where each Sunday I share a bit of Sunday Soul Food!)
still following,
This >> "But the secret to victory in our pursuit of God and His holiness is not in our striving but in our humility, in admitting our brokenness and desperate need for help to Him." The world would so try to convince us of otherwise. He brings such strength when we admit our desperate need for His help.
ReplyDeleteOh, how thankful I am for God's underserved goodness and kindness to us!
DeleteI love how God is there for everyone. I am so happy that He cares about me at all times.
ReplyDeleteYes! Me, too!
DeleteRecognizing our great need--this seems.to be the project of a lifetime.
ReplyDeleteAnd I do appreciate Peterson's rendering of so many verses!
I do, too!
DeleteYes! You have made an important post today: Read the Scripture in context! Otherwise...it can lead to misinterpretations!
ReplyDeleteHe is indeed a kind and loving Father!