Best Isn't Always Beautiful, at the Time.
While reading Job I was moved by these words in the column of my Max Lucado Devotional Bible. "When we're new in the faith, or immature, we tend to think that God will always do what is best for u s. Indeed He will. But what *we* think is best, and what *He* does are as different as whipped cream and concrete. We think He'll make us happy. In effect, we envision these warm, fuzzy feelings. But He plans to make us holy. That often calls for plenty of knocks and raps..."
Impossible Tasks Require Ultimate Surrender
Twice this week I have been reminded how we are asked, urged, indeed *commanded* to do certain things as followers of Christ that, and scripture makes no qualms about this, are essentially *impossible* for us to do. First was in my devotional reading from Matthew 19 about the rich young ruler. After telling the young man to go and sell all he had and give it to the poor, and pronouncing how difficult it was for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven, he is met with gasps of surprise on the part of his followers who choke out; "Then, who can be saved?!" Jesus responds with; "This is something people cannot do, but God can do all things."
Then last night in our small group we were discussing James 3. In essence the chapter is urging caution and control in the area of speech, the "taming of the tongue". But make no qualms about it, verse 2 realistically informs us "We all make many mistakes. If people never said anything wrong, they would be perfect and able to control their entire selves too."
How comforting, how reassuring to understand that what God wants from me, who He wants me to be, has nothing to do with my own merit or ability. I *can't* do it, be it, and that's that. But He can, and He promises to accomplish with power what He requests of me *if* I surrender. Surrender all.
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