For a full description of the (Y4) reading plan, see the “About” page.
Ex. 33
Moses made something of a circular request to God. He prayed, “…if I have found favor in Your sight, let me know Your ways that I may know You, so that I may find favor in Your sight.” (Ex. 33:13a). It sounds like he is making a request so that he can have something he already has. I make no pretense of understanding the nuances of the language and what Moses really said here, but I can say what it makes me think for me.
I think it’s fair to say that I have found favor in God’s sight because He sent His Son to die on a cross so that He could be with me. That is the salvation he offers that is not from me at all. Because He has freely given me this salvation, however, I want my desire to be as Moses’. I want to learn God’s ways so that I may know Him. I want Him to be pleased with me.
This isn’t about gaining salvation – God already did that for me. Nor is it about keeping my salvation – God faithfully secures what He gives. What it’s about is the new heart and changed desires that come with God’s favor. In my flesh, my desire is to please self. In God’s favor, however, my desire is for His favor. Thus, God empowers me to do what I couldn’t do to earn His favor out of gratitude for it.
John 12
Jesus compared His life to a seed, saying, “…unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” (Jn. 12:24b). He went on to talk about how we lose and keep our life and how we must follow Him to serve Him. What that tells me is that if I live my life for me, this temporary life and me is all I will ever have. And I can tell you that ain’t much. If, however, I choose to serve Jesus, I will follow in His steps and let go of this life for the sake of others. Then, not only do I gain true, lasting, and abundant life, but I don’t remain alone.
Prov. 9
I wrote the other day about the concept of, “come as you are but leave changed.” I see in this Proverb that Wisdom tells us the same thing. She says, “Forsake your folly and live, and proceed in the way of understanding.” (Pr. 9:6). We come to wisdom as we are – naïve. But when we come to wisdom – come to God – we don’t stay the same. Turning from folly is the first step toward wisdom. That first step then allows us to receive instruction and grow wiser still. Thus, we continue on our journey in the way of understanding. Changed.