Tapestry
This past week, the following thought crossed my mind. I do not journal my thoughts, I know I probably should, but I wrote this down:
Do you believe that God’s good will for someone else is His good will for you, even though it is not the way you envision what you have planned? I suppose the question is: How do I embrace God’s Will when it is not my will, when I am trying to be faithful to what I believe at this instance?
The Bible verse that immediately comes to mind is Romans 8:28: We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, for those who are called according to his purpose. I think I can grasp the “big picture” tapestry of salvation history from The Garden to Jesus’ return on The Last Day. It’s just that I am one thread in that tapestry: that thread is my life. I am part of the tapestry, and I touch the threads around me, and I think the threads near me should be like me, to present a unified field. I think I know what the tapestry should look like, based on my small view of the tapestry.
However, what about when God weaves something into the tapestry, or more to the point, changes a thread near us? Changes the angle of the thread, adds to the thread, changes the hue, all the while my thread holds the tapestry together. I think you may see the problem: Although I have been told what the tapestry should look like, I have no idea how to assemble the pieces to make the work complete.
Another verse that came to mind is from the last chapter of John, the beach scene where Jesus “reinstates” Peter.
Peter turned and saw the disciple Jesus loved following them. This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and asked, “Lord, who is going to betray you?” When Peter saw him, he asked Jesus, “Lord, what about him?” If I want him to remain until I come,” Jesus answered, “what is that to you? You follow me.”
From <https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+21&version=EHV>
“What is that to you? You follow me” are some of Jesus’ most profound and difficult words to pursue, right up there with “Go, and sin no more.” In the John 21 context, Peter previously denied Jesus three times, Jesus, after his resurrection, asked Peter three times “Do you love me? Feed my sheep.” Peter, forgiven, and given direction from Jesus’ lips, still misunderstands the tapestry and the threads near him. Peter is concerned about John. And if you will indulge me reading into the story… Peter is concerned with how John will help Peter carry out the directions just given by Jesus. Peter had a different view of the tapestry. From our vantage point of salvation history, we see more of the threads that connect us to Peter, to John, to Jesus. We see more, yet our view of the tapestry is incomplete. Jesus sees the complete tapestry. Jesus sees your thread. What is good for any one thread brings us closer to the completion of the tapestry, and that is good for all the threads.
If I did journal, I would make a note next to my original thought from above: Prayed about it, confessed my sin at the foot of the cross, repented of wanting to have my will God’s Will, cleansed by the Blood from the Cross, forgiven. Go, and sin no more.
What is that to you? “You follow me,” says Jesus.
Trust the Promises
Steve Skiver
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