If God wants us to be like him. - That's what he really wants for us. - Then everything is colored by it. It's the same principle Lewis illustrated in this quote:
"I believe in Christianity like I believe the sun has risen; not just because I see it, but because by it I see everything else." - C. S. Lewis
Everything is colored by it. It's like a lens that tints everything yellow or blue or purple.
Only it tints it awesome.
Trials. I want to talk about trials. Because this takes the hugest color change. From red to blue, you might say. If God's highest goal is to make ME like HIM -
Then almost everything would be at least partly for that purpose.
Almost everything would be used to make you like Christ.
I can't list all of mine as examples on a public blog, but you know what yours are. Little things count, like having to get up early or feeling too busy. Big things count too, like the loss of a great job or breaking both wrists or having a child with down syndrome.
Trials seem to push us a single way. That's the way they are. They're like a current. Sometimes we feel we're meant to go forward along the current - that will grow us. Like "I have a really clingy friend - so maybe I should learn to be more patient and giving through this experience."
But sometimes trials are meant to shape us going against the current. Maybe the clingy friend needs someone to say a gentle no to her - that would help her grow the most.
And I think at least part of the shaping of us is the figuring that out.
It's like the quotes on intellect I posted recently. God's teach us how to think about things.
Secret 71 in "101 Secrets for Your Twenties" is "God wants writing partners:"
Only it tints it awesome.
Trials. I want to talk about trials. Because this takes the hugest color change. From red to blue, you might say. If God's highest goal is to make ME like HIM -
Then almost everything would be at least partly for that purpose.
Almost everything would be used to make you like Christ.
I can't list all of mine as examples on a public blog, but you know what yours are. Little things count, like having to get up early or feeling too busy. Big things count too, like the loss of a great job or breaking both wrists or having a child with down syndrome.
Trials seem to push us a single way. That's the way they are. They're like a current. Sometimes we feel we're meant to go forward along the current - that will grow us. Like "I have a really clingy friend - so maybe I should learn to be more patient and giving through this experience."
But sometimes trials are meant to shape us going against the current. Maybe the clingy friend needs someone to say a gentle no to her - that would help her grow the most.
And I think at least part of the shaping of us is the figuring that out.
It's like the quotes on intellect I posted recently. God's teach us how to think about things.
Secret 71 in "101 Secrets for Your Twenties" is "God wants writing partners:"
"...God wants you to banter back and forth with him, dream the next plotline - heck, even argue with him about what should happen next because you're so passionate about the story you are writing together." - Paul Angone