Not to be Hoarded.....

God gave me a verse yesterday.  I was listening to the Bible CD and it caught my hearing.  It's what I love about listening to a version that I didn't grow up with, you hear what is being said, you don't just pass over it because you "know" it.  I heard it, and then had to rewind and listen to it again.  I had my husband listen to it.

Philippians 2:6 NIV "Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,"  I mostly listened to just the "did not consider equality with God something to be grasped" 

I have always heard it like this, "...thought it not robbery to be equal with God"  Well, to me that's a completely different statement.  He is God, so of course it wouldn't be robbery to be equal with God.  BUT the first translation said, "did NOT consider equality with God something to be grasped"  Now that's a bit different in meaning right?  Meaning He didn't take hold of being equal with God.  Now before you freak out on me, and think I'm saying that Jesus wasn't God in the flesh, let me state right now, that's NOT what I'm saying.  You see, it just kinda made my head spin.  It was thinking about the Trinity and getting the complete grasp on it....my finite head just can't go all the way there. 

So it stuck with me, I couldn't get it out of my head, or get rid of the feeling that there's more to this than the obvious.  BUT, it's Sunday, and I have things to do, and places to go, and people in the house that I'm in charge of moving along to do and go with me!  So into the day we go.

I wanted to bring it up at church in the hallways between class and service, no time.....after church we were off to a party.  We ate, then I had to go quick and do some service, then back to the party.  I couldn't contain it any longer, I had to ask for a Bible and get opinions from all those around.  NOW let me take a little rabbit trail at this point.  I am extremely blessed with friend who love the Bible, love digging in God's Word, and have that "I love to study and learn" attitude when it comes to the Bible.  So all of them dove in to figure this phrase out!  We had NIV, ESV, NKJV, KJV, there was even a Bulgarian Bible and a app, from a smart phone in the mix.  So fun!

ESV "Who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,"
NKJV "Who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,
Holman "Who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be   used for His own advantage.

I just love the web, and I know that I don't need to explain why, it's a world full of resources to be looked up in seconds!  This is what I got from one commentator.  Bibletools.org - looked up the reference and this is part of their comment

          Further study has shown that harpagmos refers to a thing that a person has in his possession
          but chooses not to use to his own advantage. This makes clear that Jesus really was equal
          with God when he determined to become a human for our sakes.

Okay, then, this is what I was thinking this whole time, and what made my head spin.  Jesus was God, but when he became human like us, the Bible says he was tempted in every point just like us, but didn't sin.  He chose what was right to do.  Well, the very first sin was what?  Satan told Eve that if she ate of the fruit she would be like God.  Isn't this in all of us?  Haven't we all at one point of another played the part of God?  I have, in fact, I have so often jumped into that role and fallen, my face is getting flat!  So bring it back this phrase, Jesus - even though He is God, had to deny Himself falling for the temptation of playing God.  BUT how in the world do you not "play" God, when YOU ARE GOD?  You see if He had taken what was fully His right during this first tenure on Earth, would he have then committed the "sin" that we have all fallen to of "being like God"?

Here is the glorious thing though - he didn't.  This is where the other versions, and the commentator come into play.  He didn't use it to his OWN ADVANTAGE.  When we "play God", it is usually for our own purposes, or our own glory.  Jesus was not here for that - He was here for our salvation -OUR benefit, and for God the Fathers' glory. 

I am pausing here because you see I didn't figure it all out until the end of the day, and I want to share the sequence of events.  Hair, CD, replay, church, party, service, party, Bibles, go home, nap, wake up go to evening church.  Now lets pick up the story in full again.

I am, of course, a bit late for church.  They are showing a video by Louie Giglio.  I had not really heard of him.  He was showing the universe.  He was showing the wonders of God, and the expanse that he made.  He points out that maybe there isn't life out there because maybe God (as told repeatedly in His Word) used the universe to  display His handiwork.  The universe helps us see that God is bigger and greater than what He has made.  He showed pictures, and gave stats to back up what he was explaining about God.  Now I'm listening and am filling with praise and honor for God.  I know that God created all this, and yet He looks to me.  I have learned that He not only knows what I go through, but he is "acquainted" with my personal pain, and takes my pain personally!  How amazing that the God Who created this known and unknown space cares about me.  I am sitting and crying sometimes thinking of Him!

Then it happens - Mr Giglio is showing these pictures and then says, "I'm gonna show you something thats way, way, way, way, way, way, way, way, way, way, way, way, way, way out there (he might have had a few more ways even!).  He then shows a still picture from the Passion, of Christ on the cross - battered and bruised, hanging on the cross!  (by the way, I forgot to mention that at the afore mentioned party we had talked about that movie and what seeing it had meant to us)  Then what scripture does Mr Giglio read?

6 "Who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped. 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
8 and being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 So that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 
11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

Here is the conclusion (I know your thinking "finally"!) NOTE: I was raised Baptist so that conclusion could be as long as the letter itself!  God completed what He started me on in the first place.  Jesus didn't sin because He chose to be obedient to the Father.  He had every right to claim His creation when He was here, but he kept the goal in sight. He kept His orders straight.  He didn't get prideful and say, "I want what is mine, and I want it now!"  Timing is everything!  "did not consider equality with God as something to be used for His own advantage."

This is what I got from yesterdays events.  God is good.  God is personal.  He is to be praised!  Do you think that I didn't have a praise sessions on my way home, and that it really hasn't stopped since?  He is worthy!  He is AWESOME!  He is beyond comprehension!  He is mine!  How in the world can I do less than to be His whatever He wants?

So, remember the title to this post?  Me either, let me scroll up for a second.  "Not to be hoarded"  I'm sharing this because when God does something like this in your ordinary day, you're supposed to tell everyone that the Super-natural, touched that day.  The presence of God has dwelled among men and women.  He touched me yesterday, and I wanted to share it with you, so that you may be touched by God as well.  This is not for my glory because nothing that happened came out of me it was God showing Himself, revealing Himself, sharing Himself in my life.  It's glorious, and my desire is that it will be a reality in your life as well.

BUT, if nobody reads this, it's okay.  I was touched, and will not be the same.  Praise, honor and glory be to Your Holy Name

"10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow - of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth
11 and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

I listened to a quote by C.S. Lewis tonight that really struck me.  It said, "The hardness of God is kinder than the softness of men and His compulsion is our liberation."

Is this not what is so difficult about being a parent that truly loves your child?  If you as a parent are able to say no to a child, and "harden" your heart to their selfish desires, so that in the end they will be built up in character you are truly giving them freedom from the "bondage of sin".

I think that this is the great challenge among Christians with other Christians.  You have to be able to say no to the sin.  You are not being kind or merciful when you overlook the sin.  You are wrapping the chains of bondage tighter around the person and leaving them in a worse state than when they began!  God NEVER overlooked the sin of anyone in the Bible!  He forgave them, but the consequences remained.  We must do the same.  I offer forgiveness, and a way to come back into fellowship, but to say that nothing happened is in itself a sin, and the "Truth" does not abide in you!

This should also not be confused with "judgement".  I don't pronounce judgement and inflict the punishment.  I simply state the facts as a lawyer is to lay out the evidence for "The Judge" (which is funny because God as Judge knows already more than anyone what really happened way before it actually occurred!).  No, then it is not to lay it out like a lawyer.  It is to recognize sin for ourselves, beware of it, deal with it properly, stand against sin because is it just that....sin!  It has no place in a believers life.  We are to purge it, not let it fester and grow.  So then the verse that says to confront in love, but beware lest you fall into the same temptation is applied here.  Watch out for that sin - recognize it as sin, call it what it is.  Don't explain it away, don't legitimize it, don't give it an excuse or call it an illness.  It is sin, in need of repentance and forgiveness - from God!  Psalm 51 states it clearly, "Against You, and You alone have I sinned...."  Of course we make things right with others, but our sin is against God, and we will not be truly forgiven and freed from the sin, until we come to Him on bended knee, confess the sin against Him and His law, and accept His free forgiveness and pardon!

A name by any other name......

Nanette

root: Ann, Anne, from Hannah, an English form of Hannah
Hebrew: "graceful"
Expression - she loves a good joke
Personality - she develops one's aesthetic sense
Natural - love to dance the night away
Emotional - she is tender and gentle
Character - one who makes do with the little things in life
Physical - she has an angelic look about her
Mental - someone who is analytical
Motivation - dedicated, a supreme soul

A friend bought me a little name title, and this is what it said about my name.  I remember once when I was in my early teens hearing that my name meant "Graceful", and one of my close relatives laughed outright and said rather harshly, "Graceful!? Ha! That isn't you!"  I suppose what really hurt was it's true.  I grew up a tomboy, and I had no "grace" to speak of.  I did gymnastics, and I would suffer through the dance portion of my routine so I could get to the power parts.  If you could say I was graceful in playing football, softball, soccer, basketball, tennis, wrestling......then maybe, but those don't usually count for "graceful"  My hands are short and thick, and they move like they know what they're doing, but straight to the point - no softness or grace.  I had callouses from playing on the monkey bars.  "Grace" just didn't seem to point to me.

You read of names in the Bible and what those names meant.  I always wondered how it was that people fit into those names.  How did a Mom know that they would live up or down to the name given.  Oftentimes God would change a name for someone.  Abram became Abraham, Sarai became Sarah, Saul became Paul.  I think of Jabez - one who brings pain.  Now that's a name that would be tough to get over.  He seems to have worked hard at living in opposition to the title.

Nanette - I have always loved my name! It is unique...there are not too many with this name, or spelled this way.  I enjoy meeting Nanettes.  What is graceful though....really?  It is "Full" of "Grace".
Now, that is something that has nothing to do with the physical aspects of the word.  Unfortunately, I really wasn't full of that either.  Grace is unmerited favor.  You don't deserve the favor, but get it anyway.  I don't mean the favor like would you do something for me....I mean the favor as in love, or care, or likability....or forgiveness.  I have been rather harsh in my perspective of "forgiveness of what people have done"  I have been known to make statements like,  "Well they got themselves into that mess.....they deserve what they get."  "Too bad for them, they should have thought of that to start with"  "They're not worth it anyway"  Not a whole lot of grace there.

The funny thing is, I've always known of God's grace, well at least the logical, pat answer to the description of  how God works.  He's full of Grace, He gives Grace....."so grace my abound....."  God is a God of grace.  I have always known that!  In fact I accepted His Grace at age 14 when I accepted His forgiveness for my sinful state of being.   I was born a sinner - capable of the worst, incapable of correcting my position no matter how hard I tried in my "works" of filthy rags.  I received God's Grace.

I have ,down through the years, continued receiving grace from God in my life.  He's so good at it!  Giving it is another thing.  This I have worked on for years.  It is, of course, much easier to give it when I keep myself in remembrance of the grace imparted to me for my many, many infractions!  So as I think of my name, I know that I will never be graceful, but I most certainly can be "Full of Grace", not only received grace, but in giving grace to others.

So my name is Nanette, and lest one would think that the title of this blog is about me and my name - let me straighten that thought out.  It's not about me, but about the Grace given to me, and I will be telling you more about that in the future!