Here's a little something I hope will encourage you all today.
First, a word of note: I am a passionate fan of the German language (got my MA in German literature in 1995), and, not surprisingly, I read mainly out of the Luther Bible. I and other language aficionados can tell you about the different angles of the truth that you come across reading the Bible in different languages.
Okay, before I yield to the temptation to stump for language education, let me get to the little message I have for everyone here (especially those of you who feel distanced from God or in some sort of stagnant place).
Isaiah 41:8-10
But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have elected, you seed of Abraham my beloved,
I have taken hold of you from the ends of the world, and have called you out from her borders and spoke to you: you shall be my servant; for I choose you, and am not casting you away--
do not fear, I am with you; do not draw back, for I am your God; I strengthen you, I also help you, I preserve you by the right hand of my righteousness.
The highlighted part caught my attention when I read this a few days ago. I don't know about a lot of the people who frequent these boards, but for me, there are times when I feel distanced from God. That, because of neglect or sin, there is no way He would have anything to do with me, or that He cannot reach me where I am, I am so low.
But then, you come across a verse like this. "From the ends of the earth I have laid hold of you" The word German uses for "laid hold" (ergriffen)is a pretty strong word--it's not merely a casual reaching out and touching. It is a very deliberate seizing with every intention of holding on. That's the passion of God's love for us.
But this love just doesn't keep us where we are. It draws us to Him. And in the process, He takes us out of the limitations we were under. "and I have called you from [the world's] borders" You can think of a border as a limitation (the German word you find here, Grenze, is used for both). He takes us out of the old attitudes, outlooks, and habits which kept us running in the same circles over and over again.
He puts our foot in a broad place...I remember reading that in either the Psalms or one of the books of the kings somewhere...
Blessings,
jth
First, a word of note: I am a passionate fan of the German language (got my MA in German literature in 1995), and, not surprisingly, I read mainly out of the Luther Bible. I and other language aficionados can tell you about the different angles of the truth that you come across reading the Bible in different languages.
Okay, before I yield to the temptation to stump for language education, let me get to the little message I have for everyone here (especially those of you who feel distanced from God or in some sort of stagnant place).
Isaiah 41:8-10
But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have elected, you seed of Abraham my beloved,
I have taken hold of you from the ends of the world, and have called you out from her borders and spoke to you: you shall be my servant; for I choose you, and am not casting you away--
do not fear, I am with you; do not draw back, for I am your God; I strengthen you, I also help you, I preserve you by the right hand of my righteousness.
The highlighted part caught my attention when I read this a few days ago. I don't know about a lot of the people who frequent these boards, but for me, there are times when I feel distanced from God. That, because of neglect or sin, there is no way He would have anything to do with me, or that He cannot reach me where I am, I am so low.
But then, you come across a verse like this. "From the ends of the earth I have laid hold of you" The word German uses for "laid hold" (ergriffen)is a pretty strong word--it's not merely a casual reaching out and touching. It is a very deliberate seizing with every intention of holding on. That's the passion of God's love for us.
But this love just doesn't keep us where we are. It draws us to Him. And in the process, He takes us out of the limitations we were under. "and I have called you from [the world's] borders" You can think of a border as a limitation (the German word you find here, Grenze, is used for both). He takes us out of the old attitudes, outlooks, and habits which kept us running in the same circles over and over again.
He puts our foot in a broad place...I remember reading that in either the Psalms or one of the books of the kings somewhere...
Blessings,
jth
