Day Six: A Sheer Show of Strength

Displays of God's Glory

          When my husband and I first came to know Christ as adults, I was on fire. I was so amazed at all the wisdom that was contained in the bible that I couldn't get enough. We signed up for a bible study small group and I was so eager to share with them all the suprises I was finding in God's word. "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22). If that is all you had in the world what an amazing life you would have," I shared with excitement, "Isn't that just amazing?" My group responded with smiles and grins and chuckles obviously enjoying my new believer excitement and the fact that I didn't realize that was one of the most popular verses among believers. The day I stood at the Christian bookstore and saw that verse on plates and posters and coffee mugs, I realized why I got so many grins and chuckles.
          God's word didn't just get me excited about my new life in Christ, it also affected the way I looked at the past. Before we made the decision to live for Christ, my husband and I had gone through a roller-coaster of a relationship. I had grown extremely bitter and angry and felt that I had given up my youth to fight a losing battle. Looking back on our years together I could only see the pain and suffering. When I read, "I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten (Joel 2:25)," I fell on my face and weeped. It was this promise from God that helped restore our joy in marriage. When I recieved Jesus' forgiveness, I was also able to forgive my husband and for the first time in years, I looked back on our 16 years of marriage and could see there were some really great times. God had truly restored the years that were destroyed by the locusts.
        Amazed by the power of Christ forgiveness and the promises coming true in his word, I ran back and shared them with my bible study group. Those that have experienced the amazing way Christ transforms our lives, knew exactly what I was talking about. Just like the disciples might have sounded when they shared the miracles that they were witnessing in their early walk with Jesus, I am sure those that had seen a miracle or two knew exactly why they were so excited. Those that hadn't experienced Christ may have thought the stories were overdramatic.
      Amazing things seemed to come at us right and left when we first opened our life up to the Truths we found in God's word. I never wanted to become complacent with it. 1. Why does God often seem to delight in new converts with bold, visible displays of His glory, while trusting His older saints to follow with less flowery fireworks?       
The disciples were delighted to see Jesus displaying his power in the crowds. I imagine they were relieved to have their decision to follow him confirmed with such visible evidence. It must have been exciting to be part of the winning team in those early days. Later I imagine, when Jesus was gone and they were reflecting on the good old days when they first came into the faith they may have felt challenged to remain  excited in a time of persecution and peserverance.
       May be God holds back the bold, visible displays so that we will continue to seek Him and not get caught up in the flamboyance so that individuals don't get lost in all the show. Maybe God wants us to continue searching for that excitement; does God hold back or do we let the fire fizzle out?

STUDY GUIDE:

• Follow along in JOHN: 90 Days with the Beloved Disciple by Beth Moore pages 27-32
• Read Mark 1:21-28
• Answer the following questions in your study guide:

1. Why does God often seem to delight in new converts with bold, visible displays of His glory, while trusting His older saints to follow with less flowery fireworks?

2. How dependent have you been on big splashes of spiritual splendor?
3. What kinds of temptations come from being on "God's team?"

• Share a brief highlight or two from your thoughts and answers in a comment posted to the group. (Read guidelines and cautions posted August 1, 2010 before you post).
• Read the comments of others and share your thoughts and encouragement with them by replying to their comments. Identify which post you are responding to by addressing them and their subject or pasteing a brief portion of their reply at the start of your post.

 PRAY WITH ME:

 Lord, we will walk with you through your saving grace, through times of sorrow and times of great joy. We cry for you, we cry with you, and we thankyou for the tears of joy. We long for you and seek you in times of barrenness and we turn each day to find you when we feel lost. You are there in each sunrise and sunset, in the joy and the sorrow, in good times and in hard times. We will reach out for your arms to hold us and take your hand to guide us as we continue to pursue your heavenly call in our lives. In Jesus name, Amen.