While we know something of the heart of God; let it be said that we know close to nothing about the mysterious movements of God.
The movements – the holy currents – of God are like the wind. They flow to a rhythm quite different than our humanness. God leads us towards a marker. We enter with fear and in-trepidation. We look back on the decision only to see everything was aligned with his sovereign design. Who could have known that? God’s mysterious ways: they can’t be pinned down, second-guessed, or mapped out.
When I was a kid I used to break thermometers, gather mercury in my palms and try to squeeze around with my thumb. I never could trap it, never could get my finger on it, and never could predict where it would go next. God is like that. The more you seek to get your head around his movements, the more illusive he becomes. For those who like to know the end of the journey before the journey begins, there is little comfort here – aside from the fact that there will be an End, that is.
Jesus calls his followers to forsake everything for the reward of following him. He forsook perfection to come here and asks we forsake “here” to find perfection. But it’s a two-way street. He knows we need assurance. Forsaking “all” includes a spiritual transfer. He transfers our fear for trust, our cowardice for an appetite for risk, our rags for riches. Any baggage we give to him he receives and infuses its opposite, heavenly attribute in its place. When you give him your weight he will set you free in his love.
And then, once walking in the Spirit, when we are completely abandoned and intentionally committed to his ways, we must constantly remind ourselves of the alien culture into which we’ve been born. It is a culture of faith, of NOT knowing, of absolute surrender, and of risky, adventurous trust.
The promise of Jesus is that as we walk in faith, completely surrendered to his covenantal love, we will always be cared for, always be provided for, and always be sustained. Though we may find ourselves in places and situations we would never have guessed, we can be sure of his guiding, protective hand that steadies us onward into spiritual maturity.
“Fear not, little flock, for it is you Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom.”
Jesus – Luke 12:32
