Who's a Failure???
Note: This is repeated from last year. I will be taking time from Notes from Lisa... to focus on other writing and ministry. I solicit your prayers and hope you haven't read all of these--and even if you have, that they will bless you, anew!:)
Thanks for your support and prayers!!!
The next time you have the urge to write someone off, because, they have fallen short; Or, perhaps yourself (or someone else wants to dismiss you, as worthless), I suggest you read Matthew 1:1-17. It is a listing of the lineage of Jesus Christ. It is chock-full of folks that many of us would quickly label "Failure!" Ruth, who was King David's grandmother was a Moabitess--she was raised by, and among pagans--idol worshipper's--and enemies of Israel; but God chose Ruth and changed her identity. The KING, David, was a murderer and adulterer--but God chose him, and gave him the label: "man after God's own heart". Understand, though, God didn't dismiss his sin--or ours, either. However, it was the heart of David that won God. It was his heart that accepted the judgement of God--that didn't pass the blame or deny what he had done. God didn't care that David was the king! That's the kind of stuff that WE look at!
Let's Look at the list of the kings of Judah, in Jesus' family line--almost all, were extremely wicked--only Hezekiah and Josiah adhered to God's principles, fully. They were clearly in the minority, in terms of "goodness".To the natural, logical mind it doesn't make sense that God chooses what we would deem a "gangsta' bunch" to bring forth His perfect Son. I guess that's why, Jesus' own had a problem accepting Him. Not because of His behavior--He was perfect--but they had an issue with the package. Look, what many of them missed out on, because they disapproved of the Package.
What will you lose because you can't get past the package? Maybe it isn't "righteous" enough, not pretty enough, not charismatic enough, not enough education, or money, the list is endless! I dare say most of us would have rejected Jesus, too--if we are honest with ourselves. Remember, it was the most "holy" of the Hebrew sects that rejected Jesus and spread their hatred of Him. It's just the same as it is today--we judge, far too often, based on what we "see". We see with carnal eyes. When we see without faith, we can't see beyond the package to be blessed by the message. Our focus shouldn't be the messenger, but the message. Earlier, in study, I was reading some rubbish about the son's of Noah and Ham's sin against his father and how Africans are all cursed as a result--but Shem, on the other hand was righteous and that's why redemption is through Shem and not Ham! Well, what are you going to do with Shem's children and grandchildren--all the way up to Jesus, and beyond--those forty-two generations from Abraham to Jesus? They didn't exactly wear halo's--but God chose them, anyway. It wasn't about them--it's about Him! Don't get hung up on Ham--we all descend from Adam--and he sinned, too, miserably! You see, it was all apart of God's perfect plan of redemption--He didn't want us to sin, but He gives us a will--and if we don't walk according to His will, we sin.
God knew all of this sin and unrighteousness was going to happen before the foundation of the world--but it didn't stop Him from choosing them or us. His wisdom is so far from the natural/fleshly "wisdom" that we possess--or think that we do. He took imperfection and used it to bring Perfection to us. He had a plan for them and us, too. His plan includes a bunch of imperfect people, that He makes perfect by His righteousness--so we would have no right to "boast". Still, some of us, think so much of ourselves. Maybe, when we are tempted to think of someone as less important; or to put ourselves (or others) in a class above the masses, we should think hard about how God chooses the people that He uses. If you happen to be the one rejected by man--even though God called you, have faith and take courage! You are in good company, with your imperfect self! You are just the type He chooses--so He can dress you in His righteousness and not the "filthy rags" of men. So, when your best isn't good enough for men--don't panic...their measuring stick is the wrong one, anyway!
Let your focus be: What does God see, when He looks at me? God focuses on hearts, not flesh. Here's a final thought for you--think about it; you know why His plan to include the "wicked", "estranged", "lowly" in His plan of redemption was so perfect? Without them, how could we ever identify with the perfection of PERFECT Jesus? What a miracle of Heavenly Intelligence!!! LOL
Love & Blessings,
Lisa
Thanks for your support and prayers!!!
The next time you have the urge to write someone off, because, they have fallen short; Or, perhaps yourself (or someone else wants to dismiss you, as worthless), I suggest you read Matthew 1:1-17. It is a listing of the lineage of Jesus Christ. It is chock-full of folks that many of us would quickly label "Failure!" Ruth, who was King David's grandmother was a Moabitess--she was raised by, and among pagans--idol worshipper's--and enemies of Israel; but God chose Ruth and changed her identity. The KING, David, was a murderer and adulterer--but God chose him, and gave him the label: "man after God's own heart". Understand, though, God didn't dismiss his sin--or ours, either. However, it was the heart of David that won God. It was his heart that accepted the judgement of God--that didn't pass the blame or deny what he had done. God didn't care that David was the king! That's the kind of stuff that WE look at!
Let's Look at the list of the kings of Judah, in Jesus' family line--almost all, were extremely wicked--only Hezekiah and Josiah adhered to God's principles, fully. They were clearly in the minority, in terms of "goodness".To the natural, logical mind it doesn't make sense that God chooses what we would deem a "gangsta' bunch" to bring forth His perfect Son. I guess that's why, Jesus' own had a problem accepting Him. Not because of His behavior--He was perfect--but they had an issue with the package. Look, what many of them missed out on, because they disapproved of the Package.
What will you lose because you can't get past the package? Maybe it isn't "righteous" enough, not pretty enough, not charismatic enough, not enough education, or money, the list is endless! I dare say most of us would have rejected Jesus, too--if we are honest with ourselves. Remember, it was the most "holy" of the Hebrew sects that rejected Jesus and spread their hatred of Him. It's just the same as it is today--we judge, far too often, based on what we "see". We see with carnal eyes. When we see without faith, we can't see beyond the package to be blessed by the message. Our focus shouldn't be the messenger, but the message. Earlier, in study, I was reading some rubbish about the son's of Noah and Ham's sin against his father and how Africans are all cursed as a result--but Shem, on the other hand was righteous and that's why redemption is through Shem and not Ham! Well, what are you going to do with Shem's children and grandchildren--all the way up to Jesus, and beyond--those forty-two generations from Abraham to Jesus? They didn't exactly wear halo's--but God chose them, anyway. It wasn't about them--it's about Him! Don't get hung up on Ham--we all descend from Adam--and he sinned, too, miserably! You see, it was all apart of God's perfect plan of redemption--He didn't want us to sin, but He gives us a will--and if we don't walk according to His will, we sin.
God knew all of this sin and unrighteousness was going to happen before the foundation of the world--but it didn't stop Him from choosing them or us. His wisdom is so far from the natural/fleshly "wisdom" that we possess--or think that we do. He took imperfection and used it to bring Perfection to us. He had a plan for them and us, too. His plan includes a bunch of imperfect people, that He makes perfect by His righteousness--so we would have no right to "boast". Still, some of us, think so much of ourselves. Maybe, when we are tempted to think of someone as less important; or to put ourselves (or others) in a class above the masses, we should think hard about how God chooses the people that He uses. If you happen to be the one rejected by man--even though God called you, have faith and take courage! You are in good company, with your imperfect self! You are just the type He chooses--so He can dress you in His righteousness and not the "filthy rags" of men. So, when your best isn't good enough for men--don't panic...their measuring stick is the wrong one, anyway!
Let your focus be: What does God see, when He looks at me? God focuses on hearts, not flesh. Here's a final thought for you--think about it; you know why His plan to include the "wicked", "estranged", "lowly" in His plan of redemption was so perfect? Without them, how could we ever identify with the perfection of PERFECT Jesus? What a miracle of Heavenly Intelligence!!! LOL
Love & Blessings,
Lisa
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