A Different Perspective

Just lately I've realized that the Bible I read is not the same one I read oh, say 10+ years ago. Listening to some messages here lately, I've had to ask, "Is this the same Bible? I didn't know that was in there!"

The realization is that my perception of the Bible itself is changing--and how I see God, too. Thank the Lord!

When I was younger I would glean the scriptures for guidelines, boundaries and the general "thou shalt not" whether it be in that form or in a "do not" fashion. I was seeing God as a task master-- One who I could not disappoint or get angry with me if I wanted to be a "good" Christian. Thus, if you looked in my Bible back then, you would see all the commands highlighted in bright yellow, orange (rare), purple, blue or green. That way it would take you directly to the passage where you would be reminded of where you should not fail or break a rule.

Great, huh? 

Living a life where you are always afraid of failing or displeasing someone is not living.

Take Elisha, for example. Laying on a dead body was not allowed in those times. Even now you would seriously be frowned upon if you did that in a funeral parlor. Yet he did that and God raised the person from the dead. Therein lies seeing the true heart of God. Looking beyond the law.  Healing and wholeness.

What that speaks to me is of a life desiring to see what the heart of God is in a matter--and then doing it--even if it doesn't appear kosher to everybody.

Back to the Bible--I'm reading it in a new light. Seeing the bigger picture. Remembering the guidelines but following His leading instead. I think I've relied too much on my own efforts to obey--and fail--so that when I did mess up, I was the failure. 

Now I am actually reading what the Lord has to say about anything, something...me. It's so freeing to see that He isn't a taskmaster waiting for me to fail so that He can punish me, but rather a Father and Bridegroom who loves and a Friend and Brother who will care and cry with me.

It's just the tip of the iceburg. Get ready for the adventure!

 

P.S. Love God with everything you've got. Love your neighbor as yourself. Those are my new rules now. :) I still like to highlight, though. It makes Bible reading much more colorful.