As I continue to read and think about the books of the Old Testament, considering them Love Letters is somewhat hard for me to wrap my brain around. However, a shift is taking place as I continue to read what is written by Dr. Crabb with a perspective from God...
"I brought you out to bring you in. You were locked in the prison of self-centeredness, just as Israel was in painful bondage to Egypt, where all they could think about was themselves--how can we get a better life, not how can we love God. I brought you out of prison to bring you into the freedom of love."
There is a lot to ponder in these words.
"I brought you out to bring you in." When I think on these words, I recognize places in my life of the pain of what it is like to be on the "out". Thinking about this, I can see that "outs" that take place, open a huge place for God to bring me in to Himself.....hard to say in the moment, but I am thankful.
I had not thought of self-centeredness as a prison, but reading these words open the space for me to realize just that. The words "the ties that bind" have gone through my mind in recent months. Reading, "You were locked in the prison of self-centeredness," take me to those words again. I must agree, self-centeredness is a prison-a tie that binds. I desire to live in the freedom of love, not in the prison of self-centeredness.
This song comes to mind considering all of this: Amazing Grace by Chris Tomlin.
"...where all they could think about was themselves--how can we get a better life, not how can we love God." Wow, what if I could think less about myself/a better life and replaced it with how can I love God? I believe wholeheartedly that God created us to enjoy life. I also know that a life that is enjoyable begins when I love God more than anything. This is a prayer of my heart.
Where have you been "out" and now looking back there was a space created to be brought in to the love of God?
What resonates in you when you think about self-centeredness as a prison? What other prisons do you recognize yourself in?
What invitation do you sense from God in order to be in a place of freedom?
No comments:
Post a Comment