In the Word

There's a new section on the Vineyard message board. Every week, we put a section of scripture to read, and then read it together and discuss it. Should be fun. I wrote this today while thinking about the verse that says, "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name":

I'm thinking today about being given the right to become children of God. Honestly, I can get uncomfortable thinking about that. I feel like there's this responsibilty that goes with it, along with anticipation. It's like when you're a kid and your parents let you have more responsibility than you had before. Like when you get to take the car to the store by yourself for the first time. You're thrilled but you're so afraid you're going to mess up really badly. The right to become a child of God . . . I picture getting to come into a palace where God lives and I'm about to have a private meeting with him and he's going to tell me that I'm in his family now, and I'll be representing his name. From now on, my actions will be a reflection on his name. Now that's the uncomfortable part. It's like I look at him and think, "Well he knows everything, and he is the wisest of the wise, but HAS HE REALLY THOUGHT THIS THROUGH?!?" Then he smiles and tells me that he has thought it through and he knows me well, and he is going to help me. And that there is great priviledge and adventure in being a child of God.

Just some of my thoughts.

Chains

I've never seen a friend in chains before. Until tonight. And they wouldn't let me talk to him. But I guess he did what they said he did - and it was dark. Could've been worse, but it was dark.

When they came to church years ago, God gave me more prophetic words for them than he had anyone before. They were doing bad things. We fought hard to save their marriage. With God as active as he was, I was hopeful - but he didn't save it. So now I get to look back and wonder what else I should have done.

You know how you do. With hindsight 20-20 you kick yourself for not acting on the sense you had that all was not completely well. There was something there that should have been made to leave. And being a good westerner, sometimes I'm hesitant to deal directly with the dark side.

They needed deliverance.