Singing about God's attributes always befuddled me. Half the time, I engaged without really understanding what was going on. The other half, I kept thinking, "Well, yeah. Duh. Course he's good, kind, just, powerful, whatever!"
It wasn't until yesterday that I finally began to understand. Singing about -- or even talking about -- God's character and attributes is a kind of confession. When we sing about God as a provider, we are confessing him as provident over and above ourselves. When we sing about his justice, we are confessing that he is more just than ourselves. In celebrating the recognition of these attributes, we admit their neccessity in our lives. We assume the role of blessed recipient, rather than rugged, self-sufficient, individual provider. Aha! Why did that take so long? Another week, another bubble of misunderstanding burst.
Also yesterday, Chuck Frost preched from John again. This time, we talked about the Samaritan woman at the well. And here's a question for whoever happens by my blog: why oh why does Jesus reveal himself so clearly and with such patience to this woman? He gives cryptic answers and parables to so many more notable, important folks.
Posted by nickles at February 7, 2005 09:54 AMmmmmmm John 4. That's just about my favorite: she is thirsting after other things (and about 4 other husbands)and Jesus tells her that he is the truest answer to that thirst. mmmmm. because Jesus knows that the thirstiest are the ones most willing to Come. So, when you have a banquet, invite the poor, blind, and crippled. "Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth." John 4:23, 24.
thanks for sharing those thoughts.
And thanks for yours. Chuck made a point of talking about how that woman responded to Jesus and what it must have meant for her to come face to face with him. It is convicting to list what I consider to be MY formative experiences and relationships and then realize that Jesus is nowhere on that list. HMMM!
It's one of my favorites, too. How are you, by the way, Hackenstar?
Posted by: bob at February 8, 2005 09:06 AM