Comments on: Speed and Power

By: MR

MR — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 21:46:54 +0000

Eugene Petterson’s book “A long obedience in the same direction” sat in on my desk for years before I had the nerve to pick it up. The title alone created enough angst in me and coupling that with being new in recovery almost put me over the edge. I kept hoping that there was a short cut, a different way or at least time off for good behavior (forget that a large portion of my life was steeped in very bad behavior) – but there isn’t. I got to the depth of my insanity through years of being obedient to my addiction. Changing and maintaining a new direction has come through a painful yet liberating obedience in the way of Christ. Today I am not as seduced by the quick fix or the promise of a better life in three easy steps. Nor am I as consumed with what happens tomorrow, next week or next year. There is an acceptance to live life on life’s terms that I have access to today, a grace that sustains and a love that is woven through it all.

Thanks for the reminder – I need it!

By: Brother Jonathan

Brother Jonathan — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 12:28:07 +0000

I found it interesting that the word translated “wait” in Rom 8:25 is defined by the KJV lexicon as “assiduously and patiently waiting for”; and that the Latin origin of assiduous is “to sit near, beside, dwell close to”. This is a significant challenge to my own mindset.
When I think about the phrase “wait upon the Lord” my mind conjures an idea of distance. As in “waiting for God to show up”. It has never occurred to me before that this waiting takes place in His “ever presence”.
This knowledge really shines a new light on verses like Isaiah 40:31-as to WHY those who wait upon the Lord will renew their strength.
My thanks to all of you for this gift.
Grace and Peace;
Brother Jonathan

By: john sabellico

john sabellico — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 17:15:35 +0000

All good things happen to those who wait on the lord.I also think that waiting should bring growth in our lives it informes me about what is happen in my life how am i spending my time how do i handle my waiting am i waiting in faith, hope,love am i expecitng results am i being tested am i ready to handle this miracle. And look at Moses life forty years in midian a shepard attending sheep his father-inlaw flock befor the LORD call moses at the burning bush to call himto lead the hebrews out of slavery talk about waiting on the LORD.The question is are you ready to receive the blessing. you brother in the LORD. John.

By: Dale Ryan

Dale Ryan — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 18:33:52 +0000

Forgot to mention that I have pontificated at length about the issue of ’speed’ here:

http://www.recoveryu.com/theology/4/

By: Dale Ryan

Dale Ryan — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 19:45:41 +0000

Thanks for the comments. I thought I’d just list some biblical texts which are about God being slow. Comments?

God’s Slowness to Anger

“The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin.” Ex 34:6 | Numbers 14:18

The God Who Waits

“God waited patiently in the days of Noah”
1 Peter 3:20

The Endurance of Jesus

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Heb 12:2-3

God and the Reconfiguration of Temporality

But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. . . Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation.
2 Peter 3: 8-9, 15

Complaints (laments) about God being too slow

How long, O LORD, must I call for help,
but you do not listen?
Or cry out to you, “Violence!”
but you do not save?
Habakkuk 1:2 (NIV)

How long must your servant wait? When will you punish my persecutors?
Psalm 119:84

They called out in a loud voice, “How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?” Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer…
Revelation 6:10-11

Waiting as an essential ingredient of hope

we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
Ro 8:22-25

Recently I’ve been thinking that the parable of the Waiting Father captures just the right balance. When it was the time for slow the father waited and watched. When it was the time for fast the father ran and said to his servants “Quick. . .” Luke 15:11-32

May God grant us the ability to tolerate slow when it is a time to be patient, to endure, to wait, to watch. And may God grant us the ability to tolerate fast when it is the time to run.

By: mrussell

mrussell — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 18:57:58 +0000

Thanks for the reminder – I need it!

By: David

David — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 18:57:11 +0000

I believe that although it is possible for God to heal us instantaneously, his purpose is better achieved through a longer process. He wants us to develope a relationship of trust and faith with him. He wants to be more than a gas station where we go to fill up. He wants his love to be the fuel within us to empower us and his wisdom to be the map to guide us. He wants us to be the unmistakable evidence of his loving presence in the world.

By: Joni Christian

Joni Christian — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 19:51:36 +0000

Thank you for reminding me that timing is everything and everything is in God’s time.
Sometimes I think too much and if I Will hard enough, I’ll get God’s will my way.
Not so.
I need to hear and feel the connection to Love. Today I will concentate on gratitude and be happy for today.
My spiritual soil is reaching In to others. Amen

By: Tim

Tim — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 22:47:53 +0000

I am of the opinion that all miracles are slow–even the seemingly fast ones. Something about this can be found in the Parable of the Four Soils. In Matthew’s Gospel, the 13th chapter, Jesus describes one of the four types of soil this way: “Other seed fell on top of the rocky soil where there was not much earth, and immediately they sprang up because they did not have deep earth. And when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they did not have any roots, they withered away.”

I think that one can, without distorting this parable, claim that this is a sort of “miracle soil”. The seed sprang up immediately, voila, a miracle. Hey, everybody, come and see these miraculous plants that sprang up overnight! Take some photos and let’s sell this miracle rocky soil on E-Bay.

The point is that just as soon as they sprang up the scorching sun wilted them. And we are left in no doubt why: “because they did not have deep earth. ” The deep earth is key to the seed’s rootedness. The soil was shallow and the plants withered and died. On the other hand, the seed in the parable that fell on the good earth, regularly bore fruit. It is interesting to note that there is no mention of the seed springing up immediately, just as no mention of fruit is made of the rocky soil.

I can’t think of any instance in scripture where a slow process of rootedness in deep soil does not accompany a sudden miraculous happening that sticks. Take Moses. Take David. Take Paul, whose miraculous encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus still required plenty of time to root him in Christ’s deep soil.

The best miracles are the ones that catch us by surprise–gently, gracefully. We have been putting one foot in front of the other, day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year. And nothing seemingly happens. Then out of the blue, we realize that all this time, God has been doing for us what we could not do for ourselves–rooting us in deep spiritual soil. And the light bulb comes on. If that ain’t a miracle, I don’t know what is. Pay attention. God is at work.