“Why are you so angry?”
the LORD asked Cain.
“Why do you look so dejected?
You will be accepted
if you do what is right.
But if you refuse to do what is right,
then watch out!
Sin is crouching at the door,
eager to control you.
But you must subdue it
and be its master.”
Genesis 4:6-7
Then the LORD God
called to the man,
“Where are you?”
Genesis 3:9
So the LORD God
formed from the ground
all the wild animals
and all the birds of the sky.
He brought them to the man
to see what he would call them,
and the man chose a name for each one.
Genesis 2:19
Then the LORD God formed the man
from the dust of the ground.
He breathed the breath of life
into the man’s nostrils,
and the man became a living person.
Genesis 2:7
And God blessed the seventh day
and declared it holy,
because it was the day
when he rested
from all his work of creation.
Genesis 2:3
Then God said,
“Let light appear in the sky
to separate the day from the night.
Let them be signs
to mark the seasons, days, and years.
Let these lights in the sky
shine down on the earth.
And that is what happened.
Genesis 1:14-15
The earth was formless and empty,
and darkness covered the deep waters.
And the Spirit of God was hovering
over the surface of the waters.
Genesis 1:2
I love, love, love books and years ago wouldn’t have dreamed of writing on their pages; these days I should probably just go ahead and buy stock in the yellow gel highlighter company.
I’ve practically drowned my copy of Yawning at Tigers by Drew Dyke; its pages are dripping yellow and it might possibly glow in the dark.
The first chapter’s thoughts pause me and cause me wonder: What would it take to cultivate a daily awareness of the otherness of God? How would my life be different if I did? How would I pray differently? And, more importantly, how might God answer my prayers differently?
These thoughts are found in just the first 11 pages:
“…we have heard reports of a foreign entity in our midst…however, we often fail to appreciate the gravity of what that presence means.”
“he is called ‘a consuming fire,’ ‘Judge of all the earth,’ and the ‘Lord of hosts’—a title that portrays God poised for battle, at the head of a heavenly army.”
“God is not human, that he should…”
“God is radically different from us, in degree and kind…wholly other, dangerous, alien, holy, and wild.”
“But for the most part we neither tremble in fear nor thrill with excitement at the prospect of encountering this wild deity.”
“We give mere mental assent to truths that should leave us shaking.”
“…we’ve succeeded in making the strange ordinary.”
“We’ve forgotten how big God is.”
“…his holiness is dangerous, even deadly.”
“The good news is that this dangerous God turns out to be a lover. And he’s not content to love us from a distance.”
“He’s the Intimate Stranger, and we are the objects of his fierce affection.”
“The Holy of Holies beckons, and we’re free to enter. Just remember to tread lightly…he’s still the same God.”
Amen.
…“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God,
the Almighty—
the one who always was,
who is,
and who is still to come.”
Revelation 4:8
I, Jesus, have sent my angel
to give you this message
for the churches.
I am both the source of David
and the heir to his throne.
I am the bright morning star.
Revelation 22:16
There’s such an infinitesimal space between (1) continually and prayerfully holding someone in God’s presence, and (2) beating them over the head with my attitude, Bible, and words.
I grimaced when I reread what I wrote—but only because it’s so true.
(1) is an amazing gift of grace; both for me and the one I hold to the Lord.
And (2) is an amazing aggravation; both for me and to the unfortunate one I’ve targeted.
“Healthy people don’t need a doctor—
sick people do.”
Then he added,
“Now go and learn the meaning
of this Scripture:
‘I want you to show mercy,
not offer sacrifices.’
For I have come to call
not those who think they are righteous,
but those who know they are sinners.”
Matthew 9:12-13
I’d have to work hard to misinterpret Jesus’ words; so here’s my personal take-away:
Be merciful.
Attitude trumps action.
Don’t be self-righteous.
Acknowledge I’m a sinner in need of a Savior.
Amen.
