Our place in his story

Every day we're reading or listening to part of the Bible together and sharing thoughts with you. Today it’s Bern Leckie:

What did I like about today’s passage?

There are things I love and, at the same time, feel uncomfortable about in the big picture presented here.

I love the familiarity of the story, the concrete reminders of the power and love of God at work in the shaping of a national family. What a heritage to hold onto, remembering ancestors who were saved and sustained by God’s miraculous power. And what a culture to be part of, where important “hidden things” like people’s significance in the world and our relationship with the creator of the universe can be revealed through sharing stories that children can understand and remember.

So what is difficult about this? It’s in the stories – we can know them but still forget them. We can know God but still live as if we don’t. We can believe that we are part of God’s family and be surrounded by so many reminders of Father God’s love for us, but we can still prioritise other things, replace God with other gods and keep making the same mistakes.

However, I love that God’s story does not get derailed by this. Instead, God set out a plan through history to bring us back to him. From the writer’s point of view, David is seen as the servant shepherd chosen to look after the flock. From our point of view, we can see flaws in David but fulfilment of what he represented in Jesus.

What did it show me about Father God, Jesus or the Holy Spirit?

God wants everyone to know him. In the past, God chose one people to show what relationship with him was like, but his purpose was to show the world that making him Lord in our lives is good. Whatever our background, and in spite of our mixtures of motives and patchy track records at keeping our own commitments, God loves and leads us with integrity. He can show us that we are not alone or insignificant but connected with huge things he has been doing with people which continue, and are vitally needed, today.

What am I going to do differently as a result?

I need to reflect on who God says I am and make sure I’m living by this, as well as sharing it with others. This week I had a sudden spike in people checking out my (not up to date) LinkedIn profile, as well as some good news about future work. Both of these things made me wonder if I should put more effort into representing myself well online through showing off stuff I’ve been doing. But I’d love to get even better at showing what God has been doing in and around me. I’m reminded here that my biggest significance in the world isn’t down to any project or job I’ve done, but in my place in God’s much bigger story. I’m still looking for what else he wants to do through me and my family!

Who am I going to share this with?

My family and others I follow Jesus with.