Behold the Lord's Majesty! I Am So Filled.

I just finished reading Exodus 18-19 and John 15:1-17 in the company of an evening dove, crickets, and dry flies. The day cooled down to a beautiful, breezy evening. I am much encouraged by the Lord's promise to the Israelites in 19:4-6.

You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself. Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation....

The Lord is lovely and ever generous. In meditating on these verses, He brought to mind John 15, wherein Jesus says, "Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full" (vv. 9b-11). God knows that only in Him does true satisfaction lie. He is so good and wise in commanding us; He commands us for our good like a father, knowing what will make for godliness, as a father trains in the way his children should go. It is true that what He has in store for us is greater than whatever we could ask or think or imagine (Eph. 3:20). Even when Israel murmured against Moses (and against the Lord), the Lord was patient with them and provided for them. (I am thinking specifically of the events at Marah, where the Lord turned the bitter waters sweet for Israel to drink in Exodus 15, at the end of which the Lord made a statute and a rule.)

Seeing the Lord's wisdom, omnipotence, compassion, plan, love, and mercy in Exodus and in these chapters specifically has enriched the faith He has given me and helped me see Christ in the OT. Growing in knowing the Lord and trusting Him, standing on and resting in His promises, experiencing the truly awesome grasp of Christ's presence in all of redemptive history and the scriptural parallels to the NT... After the Lord descended in fire in a cloud with thunder and lightning and a trumpet's blast, the mountain of God trembled greatly (19:16-18), and my soul shook a little with it.

Wrap Up of SP-10

Wow, so I'm really slacking in the blogging department. Four years ago I was much more dedicated and blogged multiple times a week. Of course, I and the dynamics of my life have changed since then. Hmm....

Anyway, in January I wrote a post about the SP-10 semester. I said that I would only finish undergraduate work and finish it well by the grace of God. Well, I'm here to tell you now that I have finished and finished well, and indeed it was only by God's grace. Gratitude floods my soul. Overall, the semester was the busiest, hardest, and yet most joyful semesters at MBU. Now I am done and looking ahead.

Screwtape taught me much last month about looking ahead. I haven't always heeded his expertise, however. I've been reading The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis off and on amid other books. For those who are not familiar, Screwtape is a fictional demon who writes a series of advising letters in correspondence with his demon nephew, Wormwood. In one of the letters, Screwtape explains that out of the three (past, present, and future) the future holds the most promise for damaging the patient's (human's) progress [in becoming like Christ]. If Wormwood can get his patient to sit and think on the future and imagine schemes, the patient won't actually do anything. So true!

I read this last month, like I said, and what did I do? I obsessed over the uncertainties of my future. What did it profit me? Not a whole lot. Then, in one Sunday, all my obsessing came to a halt. Now all is well. Details aside, know that I am very thankful for the body of Christ! And thankful that I am a member of that precious Body.

Now looking back, I realize that I did not heed the warning the Lord gave me through Lewis. I had to learn it the hard way. Typical.

Take away from this that the Lord Jesus is always faithful, steady, like a rock, and infinitely wise. Praise Him with me.