While I do believe clothing to be an evil that may or may not be necessary, no worries, this post has nothing to do with physical nakedidity (50 points for knowing which character in my favorite TV show used this term often).
It has to do with Isaiah (who did go naked for some amount of time based on God's command--oh, the crazy things prophets do) and yesterday's sermon.
Yesterday, the priest preached from Isaiah 30, about this idea of our running around trying to do things our way. Maybe we don't see it as doing it our way. Maybe we see it as trying to do good things for God.
That's how I see it, at least.
I'm speaking of my speaking. I feel called to do this speaking ministry thing. Only things don't always go as I think they should. So I run around, "God, shouldn't you use me this way!" and "God! This would be perfect...for your kingdom, of course." But God says,
If you repented and patiently waited for me, you would be delivered; if you calmly trusted in me you would find strength, but you are unwilling.
Oh, Israel loved to do things their own way, didn't they? It started with their father Abraham, who went to wait-for-it, Egypt, leaving the Promised Land, and deceived Pharaoh, saying Abe's wife was his sister. In Isaiah, the Israelites, all in a tither about some problem or another, decided to go to here-it-is-again, Egypt (except now, they had this history with Egypt--Egypt had held them in slavery for 400 years).
And God said, "I'm waiting for you guys to come to me." Isaiah said,
For this reason the Lord is ready to show you mercy; he sits on his throne, ready to have compassion on you. Indeed, the Lord is a just God; all who wait for him in faith will be blessed.
He's waiting for me to stop running tracks in my rug. I'm not arguing that suddenly my ministry would be blessed with millions of people if I do this. But I think it's about my relationship with God and submitting to him and doing things his way, whatever that means.
That's what I learned from the sermon yesterday. Because I'm weary. And God gives rest.
and yet...sometimes we just have to pick up the tools and get going, and keep our ears on alert.
the need to rest, to wait (clothed or not : ) ... never easy.
Although having a good book sometimes helps.
Or the ocean. Whichever.
This is a great reminder. I have threadbare paths in my carpets, too. We trip over our timing a lot, thanks to neverending impatience. Thanks for sharing this. I need to read through Isaiah again. It's been a while.
Speaking from my own experience, a few years back, I was named Director of Women's Ministry at my church and (like I do everything I enjoy) I went full force into designing programs based on our women, on the needs of the women at our church and the women of the community who were unreached. I went to conferences, I studied ministry guidebooks, bible studies, oy. The list is virtually endless.
I did not stop to listen to God.
Instead, I listened to the pastor of our church and kept going at it. I listened to the leadership team, I listened to the conference speakers, I listened to everyone except God.
It came crashing down when God (I believe) allowed a conflict that removed us from that church. It was only then that I sat in wonder and said to Him, "Are you serious? Leaving the church is what you WANT us to do?" And I listened for months and watched as circumstances kept me away from the church for months on end. Not little ones either. My uncle's suicide, Phil's surgery and his health, etc...
Hindsight.
From then on, I tried to have foresight instead of hindsight. I can't always guess what God's going to do, but I do stop to listen now. (Praying in Color is one way I do that.)
I'm learning to pray each morning, Okay, God, here's what I feel called to. Do with them what you will, and let me be content with that.
After all, it's not my kingdom. It's his.
It's Radar isn't it?!
:)
Now I have to read the rest of the post.
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