Reflection
There are times that I think about events of my life that happened many years ago. It’s hard to believe that it’s so many years since I learned to ride a bike and then drive a car. The years go by pretty fast these days or so it seems.
If I reflect on my journey with the Lord, I have to go back a ways as well. I first accepted the Lord when I was in third grade. I didn’t know a lot about the Lord, but I believed that God created me and He was preparing a place called heaven for life after this life. My journey with the Lord since then has had many highs as well as many lows. His Grace has remained steady, strong and without limits all these years. I’ve done some pretty stupid things even since I’ve accepted Him as my Lord. I’ve embarrassed Him and myself for sure too many times to count. I deserve a strict punishment, but instead I receive forgiveness. I have experienced some consequences of my behavior, but the mercy of the Lord is a huge gamechanger.
In Amos, the Lord reminds the Israelites of where they’ve come from and He does punish them for their sin. The Lord is still in charge. Check this out…
10 I brought you up out of Egypt
and led you for forty years in the wilderness
to give you the land of the Amorites.
11 ‘I also raised up prophets from among your children
and Nazirites from among your youths.
Is this not true, people of Israel?’
declares the Lord.
12 ‘But you made the Nazirites drink wine
and commanded the prophets not to prophesy.
13 ‘Now then, I will crush you
as a cart crushes when loaded with grain. (Amos 2:10-13 NIV)
It is really helpful for me to remember how I felt when I accepted the Lord. It also helps me to reflect some on the “mountain top experiences” as well as those in the “valley”. If I understand the history of my journey it can help shape my future journey with the Lord. His Grace found me and saved me from my self and my sin. I deserve punishment and yet I have a reservation at His table. I’ve very thankful to know a love like that.
Pressing On!
Dwayne