Equality
“Is not Israel still my son, my darling child?” says the Lord. “I often have to punish him,
but I still love him. That’s why I long for him and surely will have mercy on him.”~Jeremiah 31:20, NLT
Equality is not a thing you can grasp!
~Ya’akov
Israel was in a Covenant relationship with God. This covenant was initiated by God Himself and as in most covenants, one party was superior to the other. No doubt, God was the superior party. In practically all covenants, even marriage, there is a greater and lesser. Take Hosea and Gomer for example: it was Hosea’s love and determination that held that marriage together. In God’s covenant with Israel, He is the greater party and everything depended on His character and ability to love a rebellious and unfaithful wife {Israel}. Israel was continually disobedient and disloyal. The covenant was sustained by God’s love and mercy.
I laugh when folks go to talking about equality. Most egalitarians are nut jobs. I believe in equal treatment under the law and justice for all, but to say that all men or persons are equal is ludicrous. Some are more intelligent than others. Some are more attractive than others. Some are more gifted than others. Jacob’s family is a good example: Joseph had gifts the other eleven did not have and it set him apart. Michael Jordan had no trouble dunking a basketball whereas I could not even grab the rim. Am I equal to Jordan on the court? No, his gifts and abilities are vastly superior to mine. Am I mad and upset over the LORD gifting him rather than myself? No! Folks, this is life in the real world. We are not equal and our Creator is responsible. He did not make us equals. Had He wanted me to dunk a basketball, He would have given me more ability. I am not complaining: think about those who live in a wheelchair. They don’t worry about dunking a basketball, they would be thrilled to walk. A Scar said on the Lion King, “Life is not fair.” So what, get over it and move on. You will never make progress at your level until you stop envying those who have greater gifts and abilities.
Just think about our relationship to Jesus. Is this relationship not a bit one sided? In this covenant relationship, who is the superior party? Surely you know the answer. He loves us because He choose to love us. We will never earn His love nor deserve it. It is all grace. His love is vastly superior to our love. He loves us far more than we love Him. Although this is true, it is no excuse not to love Him more. I don’t think our love will ever match His, but our love can and should grow. We can love Him more and more until we love Him with all our heart, mind, soul and body. Love is a verb; it is an action and we demonstrate our love for Him by loving others. One caution: love Him with all your heart but never boast of your love for Him. Peter made that mistake. He assumed that he loved Jesus more than any of the disciples and he boasted, “They may forsake You, but I never will.”
I cherish the thought that Jesus is infinitely greater than myself. I am weak but He is strong. I am imperfect; He is perfect. Every thing that I am not, but want to be, He is! I am not holding on to Him; He is holding on to me. He is the GREATER and I am the lesser, and this fact is pleasing to me.
“My flesh and my heart may fail,
But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
—Psalm 73:26
- Sorry folks, I got confused yesterday morning and ran an old blog. There is a way that I can prevent this from happening but it takes a little time. I must take the time. Joe caught it. If he had not called, I probably wouldn’t have known what I did. Sorry about that!
- LORD willing, we will be going to Saltilla, Mississippi today to see Mrs. Inman. Her husband, Calvin Coolidge Inman, was my mentor and a very good one. Killing two birds with one stone: Josie has a soccer game at Etawamba Jr. College at 4:00 and both Saltilla and Etawamba are right outside of Tupelo.
- It is and has been so hot, that no one uses the pool outside our door. The water is hot. I would jump in myself if it was cool but it is not. I do not remember a September when it was too hot to swim: do you?
- Outdoor Church Sunday September @ 8:00.
- GOD’S WORD FOR ALL PEOPLE is Sunday September 13th. I am challenging every member to give $35 to translate a scripture verse so that people who have never had a bible in there language will have one. Our goal is to do the book of JAMES, 108 verses. I think we will give you two Sundays to get your $35, September 13 and 20. So far this year Wycliffe has translated 828,776 verses and we would like to tack on another 100. Wycliffe’s project could effect 2.1 billion people this year. Today there are 535 known people groups that have no scripture at all, not even John 3:16. Your gift of $35 will translate one entire verse. June and I are going to do a verse for ourselves and each of our children. Step up the the plate guys and let’s knock this one out of the park…108 verses for the POINT.
- Slidder and Hotdog supper Wednesday night September 16. Originally had this for the 9th but we decided to use the pavilion and so maybe the weather will be cooler by the 16th.
- Monday October 26…we are hosting the pastor appreciation banquet at the POINT. Things are a little different this year. We will need a 49er type meal because this is also the annual meeting of the executive committee. Instead of feeding 20, we will be feeding 60. We will get the KFC, drinks and rolls but we need your help with the other things. Instead of having the 49er meal on Oct. 23, we are asking the 49ers to help us with the meal on Monday October 26. You do not have to attend the meeting just bring your food at lunch time and stay for lunch. It will work if we have a servant’s heart!
- October 28 is our Bill Smith Jambalaya Supper and our November Wednesday night meal falls on Veterans Day and we are having a stew and Joe is going to have us a video of our veterans at the round table. After the Stew in November, there will be no more Wednesday night suppers until Spring.
Have a great Friday and thanks for reading the blog!!!!
