I don't even know what to write about half the time, because there are so many things He, as well as others, have been teaching me or bringing to my attention. I do know that God is growing me, and in the course of that, things are thrown at me right and left. Illness, time-wasters, crazy people, crazy occurrences, mean people - and yet, there's Jesus always there. And it always comes back to Him. I want Him more than anything. That's what these Coffee Times are all about. Everything goes back to Him - any question you ask or fear you have, I HAVE THE ANSWER TO:
"Jesus."
"Jesus."
If it's all about Him, there are a few practical things He's been showing me that humanity tends to keep a tight hold of. We hang onto ideas or aspects of life that He wants to control or use. Today, in this episode, I'm just going to speak of two lessons which God's been teaching me.
PERFECTION IS OVERRATED
As I mentioned in my first Coffee Times, I'm reading through Genesis. This time, something which keeps sticking out to me is how God's people were constantly messing up! If He were human, He probably would be bald! haha! Because He would have pull out all his hair by now. I've got a short little list: Lot's wife disobeyed and became salt, men slept with their maidservants, daughters slept with their father - AH; there were jealousies, murders, deception, lies, unbelief, affairs, favoritism. Yup! You name it, it's there. And yet, many of the people involved are used as examples. If God can love them, how much more does He see us as precious who are washed and purified by the blood of JESUS! In the book of Genesis, the law was the standard of holiness...and each of the influential people broke it in one way or the other. Still, God had grace even then, for He declares,
"If my people who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn form their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and I will forgive their sin and heal their land" (2 Chronicles 7:14).
And for us, we have even an extra measure of grace, for JESUS covers over a multitude of sin...it is already FORGIVEN through His sacrifice. However, the thing I want to point out is that even before Jesus' perfect sacrifice, serving God was not about perfection.
We can't be humble and pliant when we are trying to be perfect. Perfection keeps us holding onto pride - thinking we can do it on our own. How much better is it to GO TO GOD instead and let Him shape us, lead us, guide us? Pray and seek Him instead of chasing perfection! After all, being perfected is a lifelong process, for through trials and persevering we grow to "not lack anything." We, in fact, gain wisdom when we go to God first, and He gives "without finding fault." Our only prerequisite to gaining wisdom and purification is to not doubt our Jesus...and that kind of faith takes humility because we must acknowledge HE is GREATER than any limitations, even our own limiting imperfections. (James 1:2-8) Perfection is overrated and leaves us stressed and ineffective. Being perfected by God is the only way!
We have failed. We will fail. Adam and Eve - who walked with God, David - who was a man after God's heart, Peter - who was loved by God, Paul - who was the founder of the modern church...they all failed...they were imperfect. And yet God used them anyways. He chose them and perfected them through His grace alone!
WORDS ARE FREE - YET BEYOND VALUE
We use thousands of words everyday, and receive the same. Especially in my job as a waitress. Words are the greatest exchange going on between people on a daily basis, and they're free...yet extremely valuable. Words have power! For, "the tongue has the power of life and death" (Proverbs 18:21). They may be one of our most powerful possessions, yet we don't always use our words wisely. At least I don't.
For me, the thing which started this whole realization of the power of words was when I started learning Sign Language. I have encountered a lot of deaf individuals and I've noticed that my ability to share only a few word-signs with them means the world. It caused me to understand that I can share even more words with others around me who speak! Many people aren't used to receiving LIFE from the words of another. Just as those who are deaf have a limited exchange with people, it seems the exchange of meaningful words in our society are also limited. And for no good reason, either! It's a self-imposed limitation. I want to be one of the few who uses my words for good. After all, God has freely given me the power to speak, and I don't want it's value to go to waste!
THE COFFEE HAS RUN OUT
For now, my coffee time is up. But, the lessons have only just begun. The more I allow Jesus to be perfect within me, instead of me being perfect for Jesus, the more I'll speak and act like Him. You see, it all goes back to "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus." The more we know Him and the more we surrender to Him, the more we will see things, such as our words, in our lives being maximized. Your potential is as great as His potency inside of you! You don't have to reach it by being perfect, just as you don't have to be responsible for the power of your words alone, you maximize your potential and life by making JESUS the answer for everything!
Make this your mantra today:
People snap at you - "Jesus."
You get sick - "Jesus."
You are tempted - "Jesus."
The enemy comes at your thoughts - "JESUS!!!!"
Holding on to Him means humbly surrendering - perfectionism and words included!
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