Opportunity to do good… teachings…
My entire life has been flavored by interpreting two words in the bible wrong. Crazy, right? Two words? Can that reeeeeeaaaaalllly flavor an entire life?
I’ve been reading a lot on Judaism and found out that the word for “Law” in the Old Testament means “Teachings” and the word for commandment means “Opportunity to do good.”
It may seem like a minor difference but after I read that…
My world was shaken.
All these years I never realized how much those two words flavored my view of the scriptures. In some ways it was a rather negative view. In our culture it is easy to let the scriptures become burdensome. To look at them as awful weights that keep us in line. But that can’t be true! The bible itself states that it will set us free.
When I look at the bible as a book of teaching that helps me to do good… that helps me seize the opportunity to love people and maximize the worship of God…
That completely changes my walk with God!
No longer is the fight to stay pure about not about “messing up,” but rather about loving people by worshipping through purity. No longer is giving out of obedience as to not “be in sin,” rather it is out of joy to serve and honor God! Like it revolutionizes the way I view life… The things that once seemed to weigh on me now seem less like burdens and more like ways to freedom and life. It’s beautiful.
Just two words.
I’m currently in the dusty old library of Southwestern Bible College. A small yet incredibly intense seminary that resides near Fort Worth, Texas.
It is the end stop after being on the road for around five weeks.
I have gone from Texas to Pennsylvania to New York to Florida and back again. I have seen hundreds of young Christians rising up to worship Jesus and support the Kingdom of Heaven. I have fed the homeless. Worshipped God on beaches in Florida. Seen my students from the absolute other end of the world. It’s been such a beautiful time.
God is just so freaking good. I can’t say that enough. It’s so easy to let our world view become myopic. To see life as a small little place with nice walls and the occasional cheeseburger. Yet this world is insanely vast and in need of a savior. It’s such a privilege to be able to share Him with the very own people He created!
Today as I sit here I am thinking about how beautiful it was to go from place to place. God has created this network of loving Christian friends and family. A web that reminds me of those roads and networks of the first century. Everywhere I went I found lights amidst the darkness. Shining.
Sometimes I felt sad. As if I was worried that the light wouldn’t be there. I mean honestly it can be hard to live on this earth. All the brokenness and darkness around us is overwhelming at times. I was really encouraged though by the thought that we are supposed to be that light. That I don’t have to worry about being a screw up, rather I should be consumed with spreading the love and light of Christ.
God is so good. I just love life.
In other news, I am starting to raise my funds for The World Race! I get back to Seattle in seven days where I can start my journey. So… only like 15,500$ to go right? Should be pretty easy for God.
