And the award goes to....

As part of my Global University studies I started my Old Testament class this month. I have completed 13 courses with GU and with only 6 left I can apply for licensing with the Assemblies of God. I’ve learned a lot to say the least, when you allow the Spirit to lead it’s not just a bunch of doctrine or theological right and wrong, it’s the encouragement of the heart, the increase in knowledge, and a deeper love for the Word and standard God has blessed us with to live by; a blessing that reaches far beyond the pages of any textbook or commentary.

I have to be honest when I say I was NOT looking forward to my OT class. The textbook is a monster with 800+ pages and also with a strong recommendation to read the Old Testament as you go along. I could see it already, me sitting with my bible and this behemoth of a text book for months and not understanding a single word. However, this class has been just the opposite. I have learned so much and it has been really worth the reading. Studying the patriarchs, the character of God, and history and geography of the Holy Land has been mind blowing. It’s also not taking as much time as I thought it would be.

The thing that has stood out the most though is God’s precision. From creation in Genesis to the blueprints of the Tabernacle in Exodus, God’s precision and organization is truly out of this world.

In India, organization is like pulling teeth, there are stoplights that serve as suggestions rather than commands, and a six o’clock meeting is mostly always at least an hour later or cancelled because of a last minute stop for tea. With that in mind, believers here tend to think that God is a kick-back God also, and that time or efficiency really isn’t a big issue. God is put in the box of their own cultural understanding.

In the states we live with the blessings of an organized economy (for the most part)
efficient service, the highest quality technology, and 3 second-out-the-door microwave pop tarts(that’s for you Ang) If the service isn’t good enough we want our money back, and if it takes too long then forget it, someone else can do it faster. Now this might hurt, but is that our expectation of God also? Do we place God in the box of our culture?

I’ve given two extreme sides of the spectrum and I have to admit that I get caught up in the 3 second pop-tart view all the time. I expect God to be on it, hear my prayer and within three seconds I should be out the door with what I want. I am learning God doesn’t always work that way…with Nehemiah he said a prayer, and gained almost immediate favor with the King of Persia, with Abraham it took some time to finally get his promised son Isaac. In each instance God’s precision was evident, his timing perfect. So many questions we have…why, when, how God?!?! Biblical history shows God was always on time and his word is always fulfilled, no matter the circumstance, person, or cultural influence. The God that worked with Abraham, Moses, and David is the same God that works with us today.

Today’s revelation: We serve a perfect God who is precise and he holds the all-time perfect attendance and punctuality award…