"Witness Humility"

"How long, LORD? Wilt thou hide thyself for ever? Shall thy wrath burn like fire?" (Psalms 89:46)
Can't see it? Then look a little longer, maybe? No, that does not work. How about, we look a little closer? Nope, that will not work either. I just don't get it! You know those obscure pictures that were really something back in the 80's; you know, the ones that you look at and a hidden three dimensional picture pops out at you? Well I have one of them still, the one called, "The Christ." It was a present to my wife and I from my dad, and I know the secret of getting the picture to blossom out of all of that obscurity. The first thing that you need is a reflection of yourself; a plate of glass over the picture is perfect for making that happen, along with a little in-direct lighting. Once you have a pin-pointed the reflection of yourself, find your eyes, and stare into your own eyes, making sure to try and look deeply into yourself. Bam! Just like that, the picture emerges, so close, that you can almost reach out and touch it. We waste so much time looking for something that is thought to be obvious, when it isn't going to be found until we look into ourselves. We might even complain and whine about being in a certain situation, when all the while, we have the ability to step out of it, any time that we want to. It's all a matter of perception! It's all a matter of dying to ourselves and being alive in Christ! Which reminds me about a message I heard yesterday from Pastor Jon. He was sharing about the Last Supper, and when Jesus said, "A new commandment I give unto you." As Jon was setting this up, he asked, "What new commandment?" "I thought the whole law was established and hung on two, Love God and love your neighbor?" And then he went on to read the rest of what Jesus said, "That you love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another." (John 13:34) Paul gives a really good picture of how Jesus loves His church, in the way that he tells husbands to love their wives: "Even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish." It might seem like something out of reach, and it actually is, if you are trying to reach it in your flesh! We cannot love the way that God calls us to love, if we are trying to do it in our flesh; we can only love the way that God calls us to love, if we are in the Spirit, and if He is loving through us. The flesh will always get in the way of real love! So where's the connection? I just don't get it...
"You have come to Jesus, the one who mediates the new covenant between God and people, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks of forgiveness instead of crying out for vengeance like the blood of Abel. Be careful that you do not refuse to listen to the One who is speaking. For if the people of Israel did not escape when they refused to listen to Moses, the earthly messenger, we will certainly not escape if we reject the One who speaks to us from heaven! When God spoke from Mount Sinai his voice shook the earth, but now he makes another promise: "Once again I will shake not only the earth but the heavens also." This means that all of creation will be shaken and removed, so that only unshakable things remain. Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshipping him with holy fear and awe. For our God is a devouring fire."  (Hebrews 12:24-29) NLT