Wednesday, August 01, 2007

change

got this from naomiobi's blog:

abandoned expectations

from today's slice of infinity:

Noted author and pastor Craig Barnes poignantly describes the emergence of new perspectives as the very process of conversion:

"The deep fear behind every loss is that we have been abandoned by the God who should have saved us. The transforming moment in Christian conversion comes when we realize that even God has left us. We then discover it was not God, but our image of God that abandoned us.... Only then is change possible."

Indeed, Joseph reveals his new perspective to his brothers who betrayed him; "As for you, you meant evil against me but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive" (Genesis 50:20). This is no biblical cliche. Joseph did witness God's intervention and love. But not in the way he expected. God has not promised to make our lives go as we plan. Instead, God promises to give us the necessary new perspective to see his goodness and grace in the midst of our abandoned expectations.

2 comments:

  1. Hmmm... a little too philosophical for me to get into... Joseph... Joseph... had a pretty coat. His brothers were jealous. Or maybe you were talking Joseph of Jesus' other Daddy fame? Jo Jo.

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  2. Nevermind, I re-read it more carefully and got my answer. Pretty coat Joseph.

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