My heart hasn't hurt for someone else in a long while like it did today at work. A lady came into the store today. She was a nice, upbeat lady with two kids. But she seemed stressed and I think I understand why. She has been trying to sell her house for weeks now, maybe even months, and no one is buying. So she came in today asking for a statue of Saint Joseph. And to my surprise, we sell those. Apparently, if you put this small porcelain 3-inch statue of Joseph in your yard, your garden, or even if you bury him in your front yard, St. Joseph will help you sell your house quickly. I just couldn't believe it.
What about Jesus? What about the Sovereignty of God? Have we traded a never-failing God for trinkets and statues? No wonder this poor lady seemed to have no peace, comfort, and assurance but rather loads of anxiety, worry, and uncertainty. She had nothing certain to trust in. She did not find herself able to rest in the unchanging arms of God - the God who is created the world and who sustains and controls all that happens with his perfect strength. We are over 500 years past the Reformation....past the days where people bought certificates assuring them tickets out of hell and purgatory and yet people are still looking to everyone everywhere but the great, loving God that we have for help.
She said to me, "I know it's probably not the best thing, but, at least Joseph was in the Bible! At least I'm not buying a devil statue." Biblical character, devil, or anywhere inbetween - it does not matter. Whenever we put our lives, our trust, and our faith in anything or anything other than Jesus, we sin a great sin. The sin of idolatry is no small sin. It is actually breaking the first and greatest commandment, "You shall have no other Gods before me."
But this I am no different than this lady. I trust in myself all the time. I think I can do things by myself, without Jesus. I find myself trying to do "good things" so that God will love me. But I forget that he already does love me, and that I should obey him not so that he will love me, but because he already has loved me enough to die for me and to forgive me and save me from my sins. So in reality, we are all like this lady sometimes. I just pray that she will toss the idol and worship the one, true, living God by trusting him in this situation. What idols do you need to toss out and replace with the One who is truly worthy to be worshipped?
Resting in the arms of Jesus is the best place to be.
--Aaron
1 comment:
Great job on the blog! I got a chance to check it out for the first time today. Looks like good stuff. Caroline and I really liked the animal clips, especially the one where the cat jumps for the flashlight beam and falls behind the couch. (BTW, she's just about to link the blog from the OMV website, as soon as I get done here.)
Man, the situation with the lady in the bookstore is so sad. I'm glad God has put you there. You may find that half of your ministry consists of steering people away from junk and towards the good stuff y'all sell. You're right that it's tragic to trade the sovereign God of the Bible who "does according to His will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth" (Dan. 4:35) for saint Joseph. I'd much rather throw in my lot with God.
Keep up the good work. See you all at church tomorrow.
Kyle
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