As I was preparing for this week’s Master’s class I was assigned the following reading from the Bible to reflect upon and one verse truly gave me pause:
Luke 7: 16-17 Jesus raises the widow’s son – “Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, exclaiming, “A great prophet has arisen in our midst, “and “God has visited his people.” The first reaction was fear, we fear those things we do not understand. When we come to understand them we either embrace them or hold them at a distance.
When we have a God moment we often are in fear, disbelief, and suspension, probably because we don’t understand what has just occurred, it is not familiar to us. Then we begin to analyze and evaluate it, trying to determine if it could possibly happen. Had we not witnessed the occurrence of the event we would not be a believer.
Our Western culture is constantly seeking reasons, explanations and scientific evidence for situations. We are a “myth buster” culture. If you can’t prove it then it is false. I was taught in a class last week that the Eastern culture is not like this. It is not about how things happened but about why God caused things to happen. It makes me wonder, if part of the fear is rooted in not just the lack of understanding but the idea that if a God moment occurred then God must exist. Knowing that we cannot see, touch, hear, smell, or feel God means God doesn’t exist. However, a God moment makes God known. What makes our culture so cut off from the open hearts and minds of accepting God? Is it again fear that we will begin to believe in something that doesn’t make sense? “Oh, that today you would hear his voice: ‘Harden not your hearts as at the rebellion.” – Hebrews 3:15
Be open to God moments and the presence of God in your life. Be open in mind, spirit, and body, and do not fear for God is ever with you, loving you from your creation until your new creation in heaven. Do not be afraid.
Lori, this reflection is BOOK MATERIAL. An example of why I would buy your first book!