What Are You Then?

A quote from The Confessions of St. Augustine:

"What art Thou then, my God? What, but the Lord God?... Most hightest, most good, most potent, most omnipotent, most merciful, yet most just; most hidden, yet most present, most beautiful, yet most strong; stable, yet incomprehensible; unchangeable, yet all-changing; never new, never old; all-renewing, and bringing age upon the proud, and they know it not; ever working, ever at rest; still gathering, yet nothing lacking; supporting, filling, and overspreading; creating, nourishing, and maturing; seeking, yet having all things. Thou lovest, without passion; art jealous, without anxiety..."

- p. 3

Ineffably Good, Beautiful, and Loving Beyond Human Comprehension

A quote from Jonathan Edwards: A Life by George M. Marsden. 

"A crude interpretation of Jonathan's experience might suggest that his vision of God was a cosmic projection of his father. While there is always a grain of truth in such reductionist observations, the essence of the matter is nearly the opposite. So long as Jonathan's God was substantially a projection of his father or of other human analogies, he could not believe. If God were simply a cosmic version of the greatest imaginable human, God would still be by human standards a capricious and unreasonable tyrant, the father whose love turned out to be petty control, harsh judgments, tenderness mixed with fits of anger, unyielding disciplines, and punishments. In fact, it was only when Jonathan's vision expanded to appreciate that the triune God who controlled this vast universe must be ineffably good, beautiful, and loving beyond human comprehension that he could lose himself in God."

- pp. 42-43

Just a few thoughts...

1. I've been watching a music video every morning while I eat breakfast. The song and footage drill home that you will waste your life unless Christ is in the center. That re-enforced by Isaiah 43:11 and Psalm 33: 13-17 has opened my eyes to other functional saviors in my life. Saviors like clothes (if only I had that shirt or style), money (if I had money then I would be secure), relationship (if I had a girlfriend...), job (if I had the perfect job, I would be happy), etc. God whispers, "No, I, yes I, am the Lord, and there is no other Savior." I have confessed many times this week that I have failed by putting my trust in something or someone other than Jesus.

2. I am thankful for where I am. Its easy to wish I was somewhere else or in different circumstances, but I don't want that. Not now. I want to live here, where I am right now, living for Christ. Not neglecting the future, but living simply. Dr. Doran calls it daily simple devotion to Christ. I have to have that.

3. Integrity. I am not sure what it means, but I want it more than any other quality, and I think I lack it more than any other quality. Please God.

If anything I am writing this to myself. Still, I hope someone finds it encouraging.