I really do wonder how God works at blessing us... If I use an analogy it might help me to understand/ explain this better. I will liken it to a present. Say if we start to open the present at the wrong time then will God just take the present away from us, or will he help us to see that we had gone wrong, but let us have it still anyway? Or will the surprise be ruined, so that he is upset with us, and we feel bad about it. I don't know.
I know that God is full or mercy and grace and that he gives us everything we need and desire (if they are right desires) when we need them, 'at just the right time.' So it could be argued that even if we do mess up by opening the present beforehand, or peeking at it, or even trying to guess whats inside it that it was God's timing for us to do that? I really struggle with this. Also with how much we should be asking and thinking about this, as who can know God's mind? Maybe I should just let go of trying to understand it all, and just accept his blessings? But surely there's a difference to the 'value' of a blessing (go with me on this one for a moment) as to how we accept it, and how we respond to it. If we respond in thankfulness then surely that is what God desires from us, but what if, like spoilt children, we run off into the corner and start enjoying our present, or even playing with it for a little while, or just getting bored with it, or not even like it.
Are there any good recommendations of things to read etc... on the nature of blessings? I would also value your comments on this.
4 comments:
I struggled with this idea at the beginning of term. Someone told me God blesses us when we do stuff right (opening the present at the right time??) and removes them when we don't. It didn't sound like God to me. They thought Jess was ill because of something she / I had done wrong.
I talked to Andy R (our asst P) said that we all misunderstand the idea of blessing. In the bible, it always means spiritual blessing which means getting closer to and knowing God more. Everything God does (which we can't influence) is aimed at this, because he loves us so much. You also end up in messy free-will / determinism debates which also go wrong because none of us 'knows the mind of God'!
Most books apparently fail to recognise these things, and go one way or the other - i.e. not balanced. So I don't know a book, but when I find one that helps I'll let you know. Maybe Bex knows though.
I know that doesn't answer the question directly, but I hope it helps!
I definitely dont think that Jess is ill because of anything anyone had done wrong. although at times we can become ill through not having a clear relationship with
God (i.e. harbouring sins, and not asking for forgiveness...or habitual sins.)
Cool about the spiritual blessings. That makes sense to me. Thanks :)
Cheers Daniel, I mean I think that this subject is massive, and I'm grateful for your thoughts on it. :) If anyone else has any thoughts on this, then please let me know.
yup...we certainly don't get more or less blessing becuase we've done something wrong or right, that's not grace and implies God loves us mroe or less depending on what weive done and punishment defeats the point of the cross.
God desires to give us good gifts. Full stop. The problem is we often fail to notice. i guess that's half of what i was tlaking about in oh so controversial blog!! REcognition of blessing actually makes us feel more blessed. if we're constantly looking and wishing for more, bemoaning what we don['t have then it will seem more and more like we don't have anything. i've found the more i focus on what id do have and am thankful for it, he more blessed i feel. blessing comes and blessing goes and God gives what is good and right. In fact ephesiasn says
"He has LAVISHED every spiritual blessing on us."
Maybe...we should also be focusing mroe on spiritual blessings. they're the blessing that god lavishes and they're the blessings that last, m,ake us truly happy and ar eof greta worht. thety're the ones we sould be hankering after. and in terms of spiritual blessing, God always wants us to have thpose. we shoud just ask.
in terms of material blessing, it is only blessing if it is the right thing for us at the right time. and at times it may not seem like a blessing but actually it is. God knows what's best. And his timing is impeccable.
Yeah, I think we can sometimes look for blessings and delve into things when it's not right. And I think we can pray for guidance and help to know but generally, it isn't that clear cut. if we're walking with GOd-i.e. being consistent in our spending time with him;whatever that looks like and consistent in fellowship then I think we will know and God will guide us, often without our knowing.
hope that makes sense. dunno about books. john piper has written one called the pleasures of God I think. that may be quite goos.
WOAH ive written alot-sorry!!
no,thats cool bex, thanks :) Yeah I kinda thought about John Piper's book. Cool. Cheers for the comments, its given me food for thought!
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