Leaning…

I’m not the only one who struggles with this puzzling scripture. I know I’m not.
Struggling doesn’t mean that I don’t believe it. It just means that I struggle to understand what it really means.

And I think you don’t really know either. Probably, like me you’ve asked for something and not received it. Maybe you knocked really hard, and that door didn’t open. Perhaps, you’ve been duped into feeling God is playing a cruel game of hide and seek with your heart.

The problem is this, we don’t know what Jesus means by these words. We know what it hasn’t meant. And in our fast-paced, loathe towards patience culture, it can be easy to breeze past these statements as untrue or ‘not for me’. Based on our personal life experiences, we filter God’s words, and keep what applies while discarding the rest.

And that is exactly the point of relationship with Jesus. During our brief sojourn on Earth, we get to accept Him or reject Him. We have freedom to read and receive His words as truth or doubt His words. We have the freedom to never even read His words.
And then again, we have been offered a precious opportunity to struggle over His words.

When Jesus lived fully man on this Earth, He often taught in parables. He presented riddles and ideas that were so counter-cultural people were intrigued, even offended at times, and scratched their heads trying to grasp what He meant.

““Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭7‬:‭7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Many walked away amazed, perplexed, and some walked away sad or mad because they were unwilling to accept the invitation of Jesus. But some, asked questions. Some invited Him to dinner. Still fewer leaned in closer, and asked for understanding.

Here’s the kicker, He loved them all. And He met them at their current place of understanding and willfulness. He had compassion on the people He encountered. I think, Jesus really hoped people would engage and not judge, ask and not assume.

When I first encountered Jesus, I walked away sad because I didn’t think I was good enough to be accepted. I was so afraid of God because of all the choices I made, which though unchurched I knew were sinful. How could He love me or even like me, but eventually He won my heart with His tenacious pursuit.

But now as I look back over the decades, I’ve been leaning a long time, and asking so many questions. He’s helping me learn. He meets me in my questions, and helps me to let go of so much I think I know. Like trying to fit a wrong piece into a jigsaw puzzle, information can look like it should fit, but it just doesn’t. So, when I am open to receiving His viewpoint on my struggle He fills my cup with compassion and generosity to lead me into a deeper connection with His character.

“He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭1‬:‭7‬-‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I want so much to be like Him. To have my Father’s eyes, and my Savior’s heart. I think you do too.

Are you leaning towards Him? Are you going to tarry a while at His feet? Are you asking Jesus all your hard questions?

Look up sweet friend into His wonderful face, and recognize His anticipation. I imagine He is sitting on the edge of His Throne, leaning forward, just wanting you to simply ask.

Eyes on Jesus and Shine,

Lisa

Something to ponder with Jesus:

Read Mark 4:1-20 and 33-34

Read it slowly and enough times to catch a theme or a concept that floats to the surface. Read the same parable in Matthew 13.

What stands out to you about the character of Jesus?

What do you glean about His teaching style?

How do the disciples respond?

How are you responding to Jesus and His word? Did you understand something you’ve never recognized before?

Ask with me, seek with me, and continue knocking with me for more depth of relationship with Jesus.

Please respond with something you’ve learned today and please share my post with someone.

Thank you!

#eyesonjesusandshine #livelovebrightly #ask #youareloved #knock #seek #leanin