Saturday, June 21, 2008
Finally Found a Better Church
I've been really bummed at missing out on having a supportive group of Christian friends here in Korea, as well as missing good, thought-provoking church services. Well, my prayers have been answered. Thanks to a friend, I've discovered Sooyoungro Presbyterian church in Busan. I'm currently attending a weekend retreat that they're having here in Gyeongju and it's fantastic. I've decided to start attending the church, even though it will mean traveling an hour by bus to get there every Sunday. Still, it's far less inconvenience than hiding in a catacomb for church, so I'm not complaining!
Friday, June 20, 2008
Jesus and the Leper
I'd like to share another of my favorite places in the Bible, which I was re-reading tonight. It's Luke 5:12-13:
"While he [Jesus] was in one of the cities, there came a man full of leprosy. And when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and begged him, 'Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.' And Jesus stretched out his had and touched him, saying 'I will, be clean.' And immediately the leprosy left him. (ESV)
Now obviously, it's great that this man was healed of his leprosy, but that's not the reason I love these two verses so much. Allow me to share a little background on the subject of leprosy:
Leprosy referred to several different, usually incurable, skin diseases. People with leprosy were considered "unclean" and, in many cases, people actually thought the leprosy was a judgement for some grievous sin. That may seem like a far-fetched conclusion to reach, but remember that Miriam, Moses's sister, was struck with leprosy as a judgement for opposing him (which meant she was, in effect, opposing God who had chosen Moses) - you can read about this in Numbers, chapter 12. There were also other instances of leprosy being a punishment, so it wasn't that unreasonable for people to reach that conclusion about all lepers.
There were very strict guidelines for dealing with leprosy. Chapter 13 of Leviticus is about nothing but laws concerning leprosy! It was a very serious matter. According to Leviticus 13, a person with leprosy, by law, had to live a life of isolation, outside of the city walls. Leviticus 13:45-46 commands, "The leprous person who has the disease shall wear torn clothes and let the hair of his head hang loose, and he shall cover his upper lip and cry out, 'Unclean, unclean.' He shall remain unclean as long as he has the disease. He is unclean. He shall live alone. His dwelling shall be outside the camp." (ESV)
A person was not supposed to be anywhere near a leper, let alone touch one. The laws concerning clean and unclean were strict and unyielding. There was no mercy where leprosy was concerned. And certainly, leprosy was disgusting. In addition, since this leper had to live away from society, he probably didn't have the best hygiene habits. So, let's look at the situation in Luke 5 once more:
Here is the immaculate Son of God, confronted by a dirty, ceremonially unclean man with a disgusting, repulsive skin disease. In all likelihood, this man smelled horrible. Jesus could easily have healed him from a distance. Instead, he actually touched the man! And that's not even the part that moves me the most about this story. Did you notice any pause or any conditions given by Jesus? Did he say, "Sure I'll make you clean, but first give me money?" Did he tell the man to join a church? Did he insist that the man come back when he had shaved and put on the right clothes? No. A desperate man fell on his face and begged for help, and Jesus simply said yes, and helped him.
I look upon these two verses as a wonderful illustration of salvation. We come before God ragged, filthy, unclean, and completely disgusting. We have no merits, and absolutely nothing to recommend us. No social connections, no advanced education, nothing to give Him but us, as undesirable as we are. We place ourselves completely in His power, laying down our lives at His feet. Many of us literally do fall on our faces in this moment. Without eloquence, in sheer desperation, we beg the only One who can rescue us to have mercy and save us. And He, with no hesitation, says yes. He stretches out His hand, now scarred by His love, and touches us, as vile as we are. In one instant, we are made clean and whole.
"While he [Jesus] was in one of the cities, there came a man full of leprosy. And when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and begged him, 'Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.' And Jesus stretched out his had and touched him, saying 'I will, be clean.' And immediately the leprosy left him. (ESV)
Now obviously, it's great that this man was healed of his leprosy, but that's not the reason I love these two verses so much. Allow me to share a little background on the subject of leprosy:
Leprosy referred to several different, usually incurable, skin diseases. People with leprosy were considered "unclean" and, in many cases, people actually thought the leprosy was a judgement for some grievous sin. That may seem like a far-fetched conclusion to reach, but remember that Miriam, Moses's sister, was struck with leprosy as a judgement for opposing him (which meant she was, in effect, opposing God who had chosen Moses) - you can read about this in Numbers, chapter 12. There were also other instances of leprosy being a punishment, so it wasn't that unreasonable for people to reach that conclusion about all lepers.
There were very strict guidelines for dealing with leprosy. Chapter 13 of Leviticus is about nothing but laws concerning leprosy! It was a very serious matter. According to Leviticus 13, a person with leprosy, by law, had to live a life of isolation, outside of the city walls. Leviticus 13:45-46 commands, "The leprous person who has the disease shall wear torn clothes and let the hair of his head hang loose, and he shall cover his upper lip and cry out, 'Unclean, unclean.' He shall remain unclean as long as he has the disease. He is unclean. He shall live alone. His dwelling shall be outside the camp." (ESV)
A person was not supposed to be anywhere near a leper, let alone touch one. The laws concerning clean and unclean were strict and unyielding. There was no mercy where leprosy was concerned. And certainly, leprosy was disgusting. In addition, since this leper had to live away from society, he probably didn't have the best hygiene habits. So, let's look at the situation in Luke 5 once more:
Here is the immaculate Son of God, confronted by a dirty, ceremonially unclean man with a disgusting, repulsive skin disease. In all likelihood, this man smelled horrible. Jesus could easily have healed him from a distance. Instead, he actually touched the man! And that's not even the part that moves me the most about this story. Did you notice any pause or any conditions given by Jesus? Did he say, "Sure I'll make you clean, but first give me money?" Did he tell the man to join a church? Did he insist that the man come back when he had shaved and put on the right clothes? No. A desperate man fell on his face and begged for help, and Jesus simply said yes, and helped him.
I look upon these two verses as a wonderful illustration of salvation. We come before God ragged, filthy, unclean, and completely disgusting. We have no merits, and absolutely nothing to recommend us. No social connections, no advanced education, nothing to give Him but us, as undesirable as we are. We place ourselves completely in His power, laying down our lives at His feet. Many of us literally do fall on our faces in this moment. Without eloquence, in sheer desperation, we beg the only One who can rescue us to have mercy and save us. And He, with no hesitation, says yes. He stretches out His hand, now scarred by His love, and touches us, as vile as we are. In one instant, we are made clean and whole.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Wormwood and Mercy
I was reading the third chapter of Lamentations tonight (I have no idea why), and it felt almost as if I wrote it myself! Verses 6-9, especially, remind me of my early teenage years, before I was saved:
"he has made me dwell in darkness like the dead of long ago. He has walled me about so that I cannot escape; he has made my chains heavy; though I call and cry for help, he shuts out my prayer; he has blocked my ways with blocks of stones; he has made my paths crooked." (ESV)
And verses 14-15 tell exactly how I often felt after those horrible years were over:
"I have become the laughingstock of all peoples, the object of their taunts all day long. He has filled me with bitterness; he has sated me with wormwood." (ESV)
It may sound strange, but reading those verses is really comforting to me. Not only does it remind me of what God has rescued me from, it also reminds me that I'm not the only person to go through all that. Jeremiah went through it all and more, centuries before I was even born. I really wish I had reread all this a year ago when my brother-in-law was battling cancer and I was battling doubt and feelings of worthlessness. Too bad I turned from God first before turning back to Him.
The best part, though, is what comes later in the chapter. If I were the sort of person who went in for tattoos, I would have verses 19 through 24 tattooed backwards across my forehead, so that I would see them every time I looked in a mirror:
"Remember my affliction and my wanderings, the wormwood and the gall! My soul continually remembers it and is bowed down within me. But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 'The Lord is my portion,' says my soul, 'therefore I will hope in him." (ESV)
The scars of the past never leave us. In my case, some of them will always be literally visible on my body. But, the mercy and love of God never leaves us either. And every time I look at my scars, I get another tangible evidence of His amazing grace.
"he has made me dwell in darkness like the dead of long ago. He has walled me about so that I cannot escape; he has made my chains heavy; though I call and cry for help, he shuts out my prayer; he has blocked my ways with blocks of stones; he has made my paths crooked." (ESV)
And verses 14-15 tell exactly how I often felt after those horrible years were over:
"I have become the laughingstock of all peoples, the object of their taunts all day long. He has filled me with bitterness; he has sated me with wormwood." (ESV)
It may sound strange, but reading those verses is really comforting to me. Not only does it remind me of what God has rescued me from, it also reminds me that I'm not the only person to go through all that. Jeremiah went through it all and more, centuries before I was even born. I really wish I had reread all this a year ago when my brother-in-law was battling cancer and I was battling doubt and feelings of worthlessness. Too bad I turned from God first before turning back to Him.
The best part, though, is what comes later in the chapter. If I were the sort of person who went in for tattoos, I would have verses 19 through 24 tattooed backwards across my forehead, so that I would see them every time I looked in a mirror:
"Remember my affliction and my wanderings, the wormwood and the gall! My soul continually remembers it and is bowed down within me. But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 'The Lord is my portion,' says my soul, 'therefore I will hope in him." (ESV)
The scars of the past never leave us. In my case, some of them will always be literally visible on my body. But, the mercy and love of God never leaves us either. And every time I look at my scars, I get another tangible evidence of His amazing grace.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
And Can It Be
I used to hate hymns, mostly because people usually sing them in such a stiff, mechanical fashion, giving absolutely no thought to what the words mean. It wasn't until I was about twenty-one that I finally started liking hymns. I'll admit, I still think some of them are drier than crusty cat litter, but some hymns can capture my exact feelings in ways ordinary words fail to.
My all-time favorite hymn is "And Can It Be." No one need ever put my testimony to music, for Charles Wesley already did it when he penned the lyrics to this beautiful hymn (I've put my favorite lines in bold):
1. And can it be that I should gain
an interest in the Savior's blood!
Died he for me? who caused his pain!
For me? who him to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be
that thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
Amazing love! How can it be
that thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
2. 'Tis mystery all: th' Immortal dies!
Who can explore his strange design?
In vain the firstborn seraph tries
to sound the depths of love divine.
'Tis mercy all! Let earth adore;
let angel minds inquire no more.
'Tis mercy all! Let earth adore;
let angel minds inquire no more.
3. He left his Father's throne above
(so free, so infinite his grace!),
emptied himself of all but love,
and bled for Adam's helpless race.
'Tis mercy all, immense and free,
for O my God, it found out me!
'Tis mercy all, immense and free,
for O my God, it found out me!
4. Long my imprisoned spirit lay,
fast bound in sin and nature's night;
thine eye diffused a quickening ray;
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
my chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed thee.
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed thee.
5. No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in him, is mine;
alive in him, my living Head,
and clothed in righteousness divine,
bold I approach th' eternal throne,
and claim the crown, through Christ my own.
Bold I approach th' eternal throne,
and claim the crown, through Christ my own.
I think the times when I feel closest to God are when I sit alone, singing hymns like this one. It perfectly captures all those wasted, horrible years before I was saved. I know people like to make fun of the term "saved," and many people try to abuse it, but there's nothing trite about it when I say I was saved. I know what it is to die from sin, because I very nearly did. I have, quite literally, been snatched by God from the salivating jaws of death and Hell. I have felt the breath of Satan on the back of the neck. When I say that I was saved, I mean it with every fiber of my being. I was saved in every sense of the word, and still am.
Point of Grace (a singing group, for those who have not heard of them) sing a beautiful song called "Heal the Wound and Leave the Scar." It makes me tear up when I hear it, because it so perfectly expresses the way God works. He healed all those festering wounds from long ago, but in their place, the scars remain, to never let me forget from whence I came and all that He has done. That song is so perfect, that I just have to share it:
I used to wish that I could rewrite history
I used to dream that each mistake could be erased
That I could just pretend
I never knew the ‘me’ back then
I used to pray that You would take this shame away
Hide all the evidence of who I've been
But it’s the memory of the place You’ve brought me from
That keeps me on my knees even though I’m free
Heal the wound but leave the scar
A reminder of how merciful You are
I am broken, torn apart
Take the pieces of this heart
Heal the wound but leave the scar
My all-time favorite hymn is "And Can It Be." No one need ever put my testimony to music, for Charles Wesley already did it when he penned the lyrics to this beautiful hymn (I've put my favorite lines in bold):
1. And can it be that I should gain
an interest in the Savior's blood!
Died he for me? who caused his pain!
For me? who him to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be
that thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
Amazing love! How can it be
that thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
2. 'Tis mystery all: th' Immortal dies!
Who can explore his strange design?
In vain the firstborn seraph tries
to sound the depths of love divine.
'Tis mercy all! Let earth adore;
let angel minds inquire no more.
'Tis mercy all! Let earth adore;
let angel minds inquire no more.
3. He left his Father's throne above
(so free, so infinite his grace!),
emptied himself of all but love,
and bled for Adam's helpless race.
'Tis mercy all, immense and free,
for O my God, it found out me!
'Tis mercy all, immense and free,
for O my God, it found out me!
4. Long my imprisoned spirit lay,
fast bound in sin and nature's night;
thine eye diffused a quickening ray;
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
my chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed thee.
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed thee.
5. No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in him, is mine;
alive in him, my living Head,
and clothed in righteousness divine,
bold I approach th' eternal throne,
and claim the crown, through Christ my own.
Bold I approach th' eternal throne,
and claim the crown, through Christ my own.
I think the times when I feel closest to God are when I sit alone, singing hymns like this one. It perfectly captures all those wasted, horrible years before I was saved. I know people like to make fun of the term "saved," and many people try to abuse it, but there's nothing trite about it when I say I was saved. I know what it is to die from sin, because I very nearly did. I have, quite literally, been snatched by God from the salivating jaws of death and Hell. I have felt the breath of Satan on the back of the neck. When I say that I was saved, I mean it with every fiber of my being. I was saved in every sense of the word, and still am.
Point of Grace (a singing group, for those who have not heard of them) sing a beautiful song called "Heal the Wound and Leave the Scar." It makes me tear up when I hear it, because it so perfectly expresses the way God works. He healed all those festering wounds from long ago, but in their place, the scars remain, to never let me forget from whence I came and all that He has done. That song is so perfect, that I just have to share it:
I used to wish that I could rewrite history
I used to dream that each mistake could be erased
That I could just pretend
I never knew the ‘me’ back then
I used to pray that You would take this shame away
Hide all the evidence of who I've been
But it’s the memory of the place You’ve brought me from
That keeps me on my knees even though I’m free
Heal the wound but leave the scar
A reminder of how merciful You are
I am broken, torn apart
Take the pieces of this heart
Heal the wound but leave the scar
Sunday, June 8, 2008
My Favorite Psalm
Many times in the past, whether at school, at college, or at work, I have felt discouraged because it seems like people who don't care about God and don't bother to live right attain the things that I desire most, while I am still waiting on so many of those things. Several years ago, I got really down about all this. I was in high school at the time, and depressed because I felt so ugly compared to all of the other girls. Several girls that I knew well didn't give any thought to modesty, and, quite naturally, they had dates all the time. I felt like something must be wrong with me because I never went on dates. Then one day, as I was sitting in my car crying about it (not my finest moment, I'll admit), God showed me Psalm 37. Since then, I have repeatedly come back to it, and it never fails to encourage me. So, for the benefit of my readers, here is my favorite Psalm (English Standard Version):
1 Fret not yourself because of evildoers;
be not envious of wrongdoers!
2 For they will soon fade like the grass
and wither like the green herb.
3 Trust in the Lord, and do good;
dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.
4 Delight yourself in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in him, and he will act.
6 He will bring forth your righteousness as the light,
and your justice as the noonday.
7 Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;
fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way,
over the man who carries out evil devices!
8 Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath!
Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.
9 For the evildoers shall be cut off,
but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land.
10 In just a little while, the wicked will be no more;
though you look carefully at his place, he will not be there.
11 But the meek shall inherit the land
and delight themselves in abundant peace.
12 The wicked plots against the righteous
and gnashes his teeth at him,
13 but the Lord laughs at the wicked,
for he sees that his day is coming.
14 The wicked draw the sword and bend their bows
to bring down the poor and needy,
to slay those whose way is upright;
15 their sword shall enter their own heart,
and their bows shall be broken.
16 Better is the little that the righteous has
than the abundance of many wicked.
17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken,
but the Lord upholds the righteous.
18 The Lord knows the days of the blameless,
and their heritage will remain forever;
19 they are not put to shame in evil times;
in the days of famine they have abundance.
20 But the wicked will perish;
the enemies of the Lord are like the glory of the pastures;
they vanish—like smoke they vanish away.
21 The wicked borrows but does not pay back,
but the righteous is generous and gives;
22 for those blessed by the Lord shall inherit the land,
but those cursed by him shall be cut off.
23 The steps of a man are established by the Lord,
when he delights in his way;
24 though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong,
for the Lord upholds his hand.
25 I have been young, and now am old,
yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken
or his children begging for bread.
26 He is ever lending generously,
and his children become a blessing.
27 Turn away from evil and do good;
so shall you dwell forever.
28 For the Lord loves justice;
he will not forsake his saints.
They are preserved forever,
but the children of the wicked shall be cut off.
29 The righteous shall inherit the land
and dwell upon it forever.
30 The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom,
and his tongue speaks justice.
31 The law of his God is in his heart;
his steps do not slip.
32 The wicked watches for the righteous
and seeks to put him to death.
33 The Lord will not abandon him to his power
or let him be condemned when he is brought to trial.
34 Wait for the Lord and keep his way,
and he will exalt you to inherit the land;
you will look on when the wicked are cut off.
35 I have seen a wicked, ruthless man,
spreading himself like a green laurel tree.
36 But he passed away, and behold, he was no more;
though I sought him, he could not be found.
37 Mark the blameless and behold the upright,
for there is a future for the man of peace.
38 But transgressors shall be altogether destroyed;
the future of the wicked shall be cut off.
39 The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord;
he is their stronghold in the time of trouble.
40 The Lord helps them and delivers them;
he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
because they take refuge in him.
1 Fret not yourself because of evildoers;
be not envious of wrongdoers!
2 For they will soon fade like the grass
and wither like the green herb.
3 Trust in the Lord, and do good;
dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.
4 Delight yourself in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in him, and he will act.
6 He will bring forth your righteousness as the light,
and your justice as the noonday.
7 Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;
fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way,
over the man who carries out evil devices!
8 Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath!
Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.
9 For the evildoers shall be cut off,
but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land.
10 In just a little while, the wicked will be no more;
though you look carefully at his place, he will not be there.
11 But the meek shall inherit the land
and delight themselves in abundant peace.
12 The wicked plots against the righteous
and gnashes his teeth at him,
13 but the Lord laughs at the wicked,
for he sees that his day is coming.
14 The wicked draw the sword and bend their bows
to bring down the poor and needy,
to slay those whose way is upright;
15 their sword shall enter their own heart,
and their bows shall be broken.
16 Better is the little that the righteous has
than the abundance of many wicked.
17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken,
but the Lord upholds the righteous.
18 The Lord knows the days of the blameless,
and their heritage will remain forever;
19 they are not put to shame in evil times;
in the days of famine they have abundance.
20 But the wicked will perish;
the enemies of the Lord are like the glory of the pastures;
they vanish—like smoke they vanish away.
21 The wicked borrows but does not pay back,
but the righteous is generous and gives;
22 for those blessed by the Lord shall inherit the land,
but those cursed by him shall be cut off.
23 The steps of a man are established by the Lord,
when he delights in his way;
24 though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong,
for the Lord upholds his hand.
25 I have been young, and now am old,
yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken
or his children begging for bread.
26 He is ever lending generously,
and his children become a blessing.
27 Turn away from evil and do good;
so shall you dwell forever.
28 For the Lord loves justice;
he will not forsake his saints.
They are preserved forever,
but the children of the wicked shall be cut off.
29 The righteous shall inherit the land
and dwell upon it forever.
30 The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom,
and his tongue speaks justice.
31 The law of his God is in his heart;
his steps do not slip.
32 The wicked watches for the righteous
and seeks to put him to death.
33 The Lord will not abandon him to his power
or let him be condemned when he is brought to trial.
34 Wait for the Lord and keep his way,
and he will exalt you to inherit the land;
you will look on when the wicked are cut off.
35 I have seen a wicked, ruthless man,
spreading himself like a green laurel tree.
36 But he passed away, and behold, he was no more;
though I sought him, he could not be found.
37 Mark the blameless and behold the upright,
for there is a future for the man of peace.
38 But transgressors shall be altogether destroyed;
the future of the wicked shall be cut off.
39 The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord;
he is their stronghold in the time of trouble.
40 The Lord helps them and delivers them;
he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
because they take refuge in him.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Run for the Hills, Lot!
I was re-reading Genesis 19 today, a chapter that I have always found very humorous. Most people, I'm sure, will think it very odd that I laugh at a chapter about the destruction of Sodom, but let me explain why, and I'm sure you'll be laughing (or at least chuckling) as well.
It's Lot who amuses me. I mean, this guy was not exactly the brightest lamp in the furniture store, if you get my meaning. For starters, in verse 15, he was warned by angels from God that the city was about to be destroyed and that he needed to flee. Immediately. I don't know about you, but if I had it direct from God that my city was about to be bombarded with fire and sulfur, I wouldn't bother to pack - I'd be out of there so fast I might set a new speed record. But in verse 16, it says that Lot lingered and had to be dragged out of the city by the angels. Not Lot's brightest moment!
The part of the chapter that really amuses me though is what comes next. Lot was told to flee to the hills, but he whined and said it was too far. He begged to be allowed to go to the city of Zoar, so the angels agreed to let him go there. Then, if you read verse 30, you'll learn that Lot was afraid to live in Zoar. So where did he go? Into the hills, where he was told to go in the first place!
So I guess the moral of that story is, one way or another, you're going to wind up where God wants you to be. You can do things the easy way and just go when and where He tells you, or you can be like Lot and take the long way, with possible detours through painful and/or terrifying experiences (sounds like Zoar wasn't a good place after all).
I love the Old Testament!
It's Lot who amuses me. I mean, this guy was not exactly the brightest lamp in the furniture store, if you get my meaning. For starters, in verse 15, he was warned by angels from God that the city was about to be destroyed and that he needed to flee. Immediately. I don't know about you, but if I had it direct from God that my city was about to be bombarded with fire and sulfur, I wouldn't bother to pack - I'd be out of there so fast I might set a new speed record. But in verse 16, it says that Lot lingered and had to be dragged out of the city by the angels. Not Lot's brightest moment!
The part of the chapter that really amuses me though is what comes next. Lot was told to flee to the hills, but he whined and said it was too far. He begged to be allowed to go to the city of Zoar, so the angels agreed to let him go there. Then, if you read verse 30, you'll learn that Lot was afraid to live in Zoar. So where did he go? Into the hills, where he was told to go in the first place!
So I guess the moral of that story is, one way or another, you're going to wind up where God wants you to be. You can do things the easy way and just go when and where He tells you, or you can be like Lot and take the long way, with possible detours through painful and/or terrifying experiences (sounds like Zoar wasn't a good place after all).
I love the Old Testament!
Monday, June 2, 2008
Behaving in Canaan
I actually posted this on my main blog, but I thought it would be quite relevant to post it here as well:
Before I left the USA, my pastor gave me a letter with a Bible verse he thought I should meditate on as I embarked on my great adventure. I have repeatedly had that verse come back to me over the three months that I've been here, and it has actually become the summary of my life here:
"You shall not do as they do in the land of Egypt, where you lived, and you shall not do as they do in the land of Canaan, to which I am bringing you. You shall not walk in their statutes." ~Leviticus 18:3
Many times here (and even back in the US), I have felt somewhat like a relic from a bygone era. It seems sometimes like everyone I meet is living exactly as they choose to, with no thought to God's desires or commands. I've met many professing to be Christians, but honestly, I can't tell them apart from the non-Christians. They talk the same way, party just as hard, and give just as little care to morality. I am in no way perfect, and I'm certainly guilty of plenty of sins, but it feels sometimes like I'm the only one bothered by it, or the only one worrying about morals anymore.
I got really discouraged the other night, convinced that I was an island. I thought back to the verse my pastor had given me, as well as a few others, and it encouraged me. I guess not many Christians follow the nomadic life I'm leading (moving about from place to place), so it's little wonder that I haven't run into any. Many people think the Old Testament is dead and good only for historical study, but I'm learning firsthand just how applicable it is. Canaan is just as real today as it was then, only now it is everywhere. It's not limited to one discernible location.
I'm in Canaan now, but I'm still living the way I'm supposed to. Don't think that I'm bragging here, or setting myself up as more righteous than anyone else. I've just been shown a lot of grace, and it makes it easier for me to do what I know is right and to avoid what I know is wrong. I still have my slip-ups, but I always somehow land either on my feet or on my knees. I miss having the community of other sincere Christians around me for support, but I think this experience of separation is vital to making me stronger. One's Christianity should not be dependant on other Christians, but solely on God. To my fellow believers who follow this blog, please pray that I can keep on doing right.
[Please note: I have met many sincere Korean Christians (who unfortunately speak very little English), so my remarks here are referring only to other foreigners that I have met. I am not in any way calling Korea Canaan, or questioning the sincerity of Korean Christians - although obviously they, like all Christians everywhere in the world, fight the daily battle with sin, and do give in sometimes. I don't want any misunderstandings to arise from this blog entry.]
Before I left the USA, my pastor gave me a letter with a Bible verse he thought I should meditate on as I embarked on my great adventure. I have repeatedly had that verse come back to me over the three months that I've been here, and it has actually become the summary of my life here:
"You shall not do as they do in the land of Egypt, where you lived, and you shall not do as they do in the land of Canaan, to which I am bringing you. You shall not walk in their statutes." ~Leviticus 18:3
Many times here (and even back in the US), I have felt somewhat like a relic from a bygone era. It seems sometimes like everyone I meet is living exactly as they choose to, with no thought to God's desires or commands. I've met many professing to be Christians, but honestly, I can't tell them apart from the non-Christians. They talk the same way, party just as hard, and give just as little care to morality. I am in no way perfect, and I'm certainly guilty of plenty of sins, but it feels sometimes like I'm the only one bothered by it, or the only one worrying about morals anymore.
I got really discouraged the other night, convinced that I was an island. I thought back to the verse my pastor had given me, as well as a few others, and it encouraged me. I guess not many Christians follow the nomadic life I'm leading (moving about from place to place), so it's little wonder that I haven't run into any. Many people think the Old Testament is dead and good only for historical study, but I'm learning firsthand just how applicable it is. Canaan is just as real today as it was then, only now it is everywhere. It's not limited to one discernible location.
I'm in Canaan now, but I'm still living the way I'm supposed to. Don't think that I'm bragging here, or setting myself up as more righteous than anyone else. I've just been shown a lot of grace, and it makes it easier for me to do what I know is right and to avoid what I know is wrong. I still have my slip-ups, but I always somehow land either on my feet or on my knees. I miss having the community of other sincere Christians around me for support, but I think this experience of separation is vital to making me stronger. One's Christianity should not be dependant on other Christians, but solely on God. To my fellow believers who follow this blog, please pray that I can keep on doing right.
[Please note: I have met many sincere Korean Christians (who unfortunately speak very little English), so my remarks here are referring only to other foreigners that I have met. I am not in any way calling Korea Canaan, or questioning the sincerity of Korean Christians - although obviously they, like all Christians everywhere in the world, fight the daily battle with sin, and do give in sometimes. I don't want any misunderstandings to arise from this blog entry.]
Welcome to My Newest Blog
Last year I started a blog to keep my family and friends up-to-date on my life abroad, and to assist others who were planning to do as I had done and live abroad. My blog has gained a vast readership, which I find both surprising and delightful. Over the past few weeks, I have pondered starting a second blog, and finally, I decided to go ahead and do it.
The purpose of this new blog is to interact with and hopefully benefit other Christians, or anyone interested in learning more about the Christian life. It has occurred to me that living abroad and teaching have both given me unique perspectives, and I think that I should share those perspectives for the benefit and interest of others. I think that God gives each Christian special insights, which they should share with others (share, not force down the throat of). I don't profess to be perfect or to be any sort of pastor, but I think some of what I have learned and experienced could be of help to someone else. I also know that I would greatly benefit from interaction with other Christians.
Many who are reading this blog are already familiar with me through my main blog, but for those who are not, allow me to introduce myself:
My name is Stephanie. I am 24 years old, single, and saved. I was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA, but I am currently living in South Korea, where I am an English teacher. I love to travel, so this nomadic lifestyle suits me beautifully. I also love children, so my job is a treat. I was saved at the age of fifteen, and I've been loving God and life ever since. I have a pretty powerful testimony, which I will be posting about later. For now, let me just say, my past was ugly, but thanks to God, my present and future are beautiful.
I look forward to continuing this blog and hopefully, to meeting other Christians through it. Please, please feel free to comment on any post. I'll do my best to respond to any questions as promptly as possible. And if I ever post anything that seems to contradict God's Word, I hope one of my readers will post a corrective comment immediately.
Grace and peace to you all from our Lord Jesus Christ.
The purpose of this new blog is to interact with and hopefully benefit other Christians, or anyone interested in learning more about the Christian life. It has occurred to me that living abroad and teaching have both given me unique perspectives, and I think that I should share those perspectives for the benefit and interest of others. I think that God gives each Christian special insights, which they should share with others (share, not force down the throat of). I don't profess to be perfect or to be any sort of pastor, but I think some of what I have learned and experienced could be of help to someone else. I also know that I would greatly benefit from interaction with other Christians.
Many who are reading this blog are already familiar with me through my main blog, but for those who are not, allow me to introduce myself:
My name is Stephanie. I am 24 years old, single, and saved. I was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA, but I am currently living in South Korea, where I am an English teacher. I love to travel, so this nomadic lifestyle suits me beautifully. I also love children, so my job is a treat. I was saved at the age of fifteen, and I've been loving God and life ever since. I have a pretty powerful testimony, which I will be posting about later. For now, let me just say, my past was ugly, but thanks to God, my present and future are beautiful.
I look forward to continuing this blog and hopefully, to meeting other Christians through it. Please, please feel free to comment on any post. I'll do my best to respond to any questions as promptly as possible. And if I ever post anything that seems to contradict God's Word, I hope one of my readers will post a corrective comment immediately.
Grace and peace to you all from our Lord Jesus Christ.
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