Pride and Paradox

This weekend was great--I processed Passion some more with Sara Sam on Friday night. I don't think I'm copping out when I say that God definitely used it in my life, but it wasn't a week of EXTREME change. God is using Passion AND his Word and other things in my life to cause change.  

Reading Jeremiah 13 Saturday morning in the context of what I had read the day before made me see that I can't change my heart; only the Lord can. I saw the stubbornness of my heart in that I hold onto things of this world, hoping for happiness--when I am in reality a God-forsaking idolator in doing so. But if following the Lord requires my heart, which I can't change (in addition to my actions, which I more or less can change)--then He is my only hope for true change.

This morning, some verses in Jeremiah 14 resonated with me; I can't quite decide why. It reads, "Although our sins testify against us, O Lord, do something for the sake of your name. For our backsliding is great; we have sinned against you. . . You are among us, O Lord, and we bear your name; do not forsake us!" Maybe it struck a chord because it tells me that God's purposes in the world are BIGGER than just getting rid of my sin. That God isn't not working in the world around me because of my sin. God mentions in chapter 13 that his people are created for his renown, praise, and honor; how could I forget that he DOES use people in spite of themselves to display His glory. In fact, we talked about that during our CSO staff "retreat" this morning now that I think about it:

"But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things--and the things that are not--to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God--that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: 'Let him who boasts boast in the Lord'" (1 Corinthians 1:27-31).

What a beautiful paradox (what did we call it? we were trying to put it in kid-friendly language haha)-- that it's the weak and lowly things in this world that he chooses to bring himself honor. I truly have nothing to bring him in myself--only sin. But he planned it that way and sent Christ to redeem me. And truly, the blessings and beautiful aspects of my life are a result of his work. I have been changed and made new; not by my own effort--only by his work! I'm really not just saying that. I forget it often and boast not in him but in myself-- but it has to be said that I have seen how his love and truth have drastically transformed my life! It is a beautiful thing that Christ would suffer and die so that I can be made new by the power of his resurrection!

And I think I should add on that Christ's death and resurrection ultimately aren't even about me or people in general. It's all "to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:11). We are a part of his plan and he loves us deeply--but ultimately, it's all about God. If it weren't, he wouldn't be God.