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Do You Know What This Means?

We could read every verse there is in the Bible and always end up with the same question. Do you know what this means?!? But it wouldn’t be us asking as if we were confused. Sure, there are scriptures that confuse us. But that’s not what I am talking about. 

Consider John 3:16. Half of you just stopped reading because you assume I’m trying to reach a third grade Sunday School class. The half that stick with me will, I hope, be thankful they did. 

Truths That Should Leave Us In Awe
John 3:16 tells us that God loved the world so much He sent His Son, Jesus, to die for our sins. Any fragment of that verse is amazing to think about, but for the sake of time, I’ll assume you’re not glossing over the idea that the supreme, all-powerful, all-knowing God who created everything perfectly and that watched as His creation messed everything entirely up, still chooses to love us and substitute His perfect Son in exchange for our sinful. Selves. 

You didn’t gloss over that, right? Because if you did, you missed some mighty fine truth. 

My larger point is that, if we choose to open up the Bible on any given day, we should be amazed at what we read. We would be stating the question Do you know what this means?!?, rather than asking it. We would be saying the words, understanding the potential of what it means to actually live out the truth of that verse. 

Time For A History Lesson
Let me give you another example, from a verse tucked away in the Old Testament Minor Propehets.  

But I am very angry with the other nations that are now enjoying peace and security. I was only a little angry with my people, but the nations inflicted harm on them far beyond my intentions. ~Zechariah 1:15

Ok, quick history lesson. When God’s chosen nation of Israel decided to reject Him, God sent other nations to discipline them. History lesson done!

In light of that stirring and thorough history lesson, do you realize what Zechariah 1:15 means? This verse tells us we have the potential to act out God’s plans. That, in itself, would be amazing enough. Just consider it. The God of the universe decides He wants something done, but instead of doing it Himself, He invites us to help. 

This is like deciding you want to start supper and allowing your toddler to come help. Because, for whatever reason, you decided you wanted dinner prep to take five times as long.  

God chooses to involve us. We should be forever grateful. But we also have the potential to mess those plans up. What you may have missed in the history lesson, and what Zechariah 1:15 only hints at, is that God wanted the other nations to wake Israel up to the fact that they had abandoned God. But these other nations abused Israel to a level that wasn’t called for.

God allowed the other nations to be a part of His plan, and they messed it up. 

What This Means
See, many of our problems come from underestimating our potential, not overestimating it. Yes, many of us struggle with pride, but hang with me here for a second. 

Too often we assume that only the person best equipped for doing a job should, in fact, be doing that job. But that’s not how God operates. Yes, He does indeed give us gifts that we are to use. But too many don’t do anything because they assume they’ll mess it up. 

The good news is you, in fact, have the potential to mess it up. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try anyway. You should approach the process much like you do the invitation. 

If you were honored and humbled by the idea that God would invite you in to be a part of His plan, good! Now be honored and humbled as you work out the plan as well. I believe we could change the world when we begin to understand that God is with us. And when God is with us, success is a guarantee. 

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