My tribe, my people, my best friends mean the world to me… and I am so thankful for Bre and the wisdom that she constantly pours over my life. Excited y’all get to have a little dose of it, and be able to see inside her tender heart! Enjoy.
Greetings from Oklahoma! I am so thankful that Caitlin (CC to all of her Oklahomies) asked me to be her guest on here for the day. CC and I have known each other for seven-ish years and some of my very funniest memories, and some of my most realist conversations have happened with her. It is a gift to call her dear friend, and I am sure if you are here reading up on her, you would agree.
I was recently studying Genesis and one thing that strikes me about the Bible every single time I open it is how God continues to reveal Himself through it, even through the books you were certain you had a pretty good grasp on. I was studying Genesis 8-9 and came upon the part where we realize that Noah when it comes down to it, is just like you and I. Genesis 9:20-22 plays out like this:
“20 Noah, as a man of the soil, began by planting a vineyard. 21 He drank some of the wine, became drunk, and uncovered himself inside his tent. 22 Ham, the father of Canaan, saw his father naked and told his two brothers outside. 23 Then Shem and Japheth took a cloak and placed it over both their shoulders, and walking backward, they covered their father’s nakedness. Their faces were turned away, and they did not see their father naked.”
I remember reading this and actually thinking “Why is this in here? What purpose does it actually serve?” In fact, for days my mind kept wandering back to these verses. I also was thinking about why I was so shocked by it… God chose Noah because as the Word puts it, when no one else could, “Noah found favor with God.” So here is Noah, this man God has chosen to do good and wonderful things in and for the world, and then it almost feels like Noah has forsaken every bit of that grace with this awful stupid sinful act. I realized two key things here: 1) The authors of the Bible have no problem shedding light on the sin of the men and women in the Bible. Why should they have? Our God is a God of justice. 2) We share one very common thing with people like Noah and everyone else in the Bible. We are people. People sin. People make dumb mistakes. People are selfish. People are people. Praise be to Him though. Despite all of this, God uses His people to accomplish great and wonderful things on this Earth.
I would assume that I am not alone in this, but often times I feel inadequate about certain things about myself in walking with Jesus. I’m not prayerful enough. I’m not outgoing enough. I’m not theological enough. I’m not global enough. I just don’t add up sometimes. I say this all to say that I put this on myself. The Bible shows me that all of these broken nations, cultures, and people are worth it to Jesus. From the Garden to Revelation, the Bible is pointing to the greater and better sacrifice Jesus would come to make for all people.
So what does this all mean and what am I getting at? What comes to mind is 2 Corinthians 3:17: “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” There is complete freedom in Jesus. Not shame, fear, or doubt. If Moses with a sluggish tongue, Noah with a crazy night, David with a moment of desire, and so many more can bring glory to God despite their wrecked human selves, so can you and I. I’m not sure what that looks like for you. If that is going or currently being on the World Race. That could mean praying for the spirit to empower you with the wisdom and boldness to approach your neighbor or co-worker. It could be really digging into your church and greater community. Thankfully the options are endless in serving Jesus.
I can say with confidence that following the Lord looks different for everyone. Just look to the Bible and you’ll see that very clearly. Know with confidence today 2 Peter 2:9, “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” Praise be to God, friends… His work is never-ending in us.
