Day 21:  Aye Aye, Captain! Whatever Ye Want, I Shall Do for Ye.

 

I think the world often has the wrong idea about who God is and exactly what He wants from us. For many years, I guess I did too. I thought of God as this demanding, grumpy ship’s captain who didn’t want me to have any fun. I thought He was someone to fear, not in the reverential sense, but in the go-hide-in-the-hold-when-I’ve-done-something-wrong kind of sense. Even after I developed a relationship with Him, I still trembled every time I made a mistake, and I did my best to keep all His rules. But recently, I’ve been reading through Genesis, and an odd theme has jumped out at me. None of the “great” men of God, the “great heroes” in God’s eyes, did everything right. In fact, most of them did lots of things wrong. Yet, despite their failings, they each possessed certain traits that set them apart from others.

1. Abraham—Known for his extraordinary faith, lied twice to kings, telling them that his wife was his sister, because he feared for his life. If he had such tremendous faith, then why wasn’t he trusting God? He also went outside of God’s will and timing and fathered a child with his wife’s serving maid. Sounds pretty bad? Yet Abraham possessed two important qualities: humility and obedience.
   
   
2. Jacob—A swindler and a liar, he tricked his brother out of both his birthright and his blessing. But Jacob’s redeeming qualities: perseverance and a high regard for God. Remember Jacob was the one who wrestled with an angel of the Lord all night long and wouldn’t let go until God blessed him.
   
   
3. What about Joseph? Talk about a spoiled-rotten, prideful kid. He taunted his brothers and bragged and flaunted his father’s favoritism so much that they wanted him dead. But if you look at his life, through all the temptations, the heartache and the long years in prison, he never compromised and he gave all the glory to God.
   
   
4. And don’t even get me started on David. God called him “a man after My own heart.” Yet, he murdered and committed adultery. How could God say such a thing about a man who committed such heinous acts? However, when you study his life, you see that he loved God with all his heart.

God is not a demanding, grumpy captain looking for a crew of perfectionists and rule-following sailors.

So, what is God looking for?

Humility, obedience, perseverance and a love for God that outweighs everything else.

 

And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God (Micah 6:8 NIV).

 

For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him (2 Chronicles 16:9 NIV).

 

MaryLu Tyndall