For you!

Sometimes it happens. Sometimes I speak and actually hear what I’m saying. Sometimes when I speak, I realise that what I’m saying to others is what I need to hear. That should probably happen more than it does, but I’m a flawed human being who is not always at his best. And this morning, as I was speaking, it struck me that I needed to hear what I was saying. I absolutely love the truth that God is “for” me. I’ve not always believed that this is true, but now I think I’m growing to believe it is true. It’s always been true for you. Just not quite so true for me. And, probably, you would say the same. Some truth is easier to believe for others than it is to believe for ourselves. But Paul says that “if God is for us, who can be against us?” (Roma. 8:31) The idea that God is “for” me is, transforming. I’m still being transformed. I’m still trying to get my head around what it really means. But I am choosing to believe it is a deep, deep truth. I don’t always act like it’s true and I sometimes struggle to believe that it’s true. But I choose to believe that it is true. Believing it, is, I think, slowly having an impact on the way I think, the way I behave, the way I work and the way I understand myself. Because if God is “for” me, I don’t have to impress him or worry that he’ll give up on me. But here’s what struck this morning as I was speaking: if God is “for” me, then he is for you. And everyone I meet. And I everyone I don’t meet. In fact, he is “for” everyone. God doesn’t hate anyone. Ever! He might be disappointed in me, or you, or anyone else for that matter. He might, (actually he will because we’re all fallen human beings) mourn over some of the things I do or say, the things you do or say, but he will still be “for” us. Always. And if God is “for” everyone, then that makes a difference to the way I see them. Doesn’t it? Well…maybe it would if I grasped the truth of it. So this morning it struck me that when I really struggle with someone, it might be a good thing to look at them and think: “God is for you!” Hmmm. I can already see myself finding that difficult. Especially with the people I don’t actually like. Or find it hard to get along with. Or who have a different theology to mine. Or who don’t like what I’ve written in this blog…But maybe it’s worth a try. Really worth a try. And maybe the more I grasp that God is “for” me, the more I will be able to live that out in front of others, and let them know that God is “for” them too! Maybe I should listen to myself more!