060910 Steeple Article "How We Fit In"

Jesus became like us and shared our human nature (Hebrews 2:14). One of his names is Emmanuel (God with us). God did not just sit in the bleachers and jeer at us for all the bad plays and wrong referee calls made on earth. Lord knows, we take our turns loudly expressing our displeasure or embarrassment about our human condition.
Judging a trial or refereeing a game or contest requires personal knowledge of all the facts and rules. We have to “know what is going on” in spite of hostile criticism from those who would scrutinize every call you make. Quick decisions in the midst of commotion causes some to suspect you’re doing a poor job. Making decisions like these enables us to humbly understand what pressures others face in similar circumstances.
Our Lord became one of us instead of staying in the bleachers of heaven and keeping His distance. He personally knows all that we go through and continues to guide and counsel us through the Holy Spirit. Jesus comes to us as a friend, while we are yet “strangers and refugees in this world” (1 Peter 2:11). He too was despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief (Isaiah 53:3).
We are God’s valued children: loved, disciplined, protected and provided for. Nothing and no one can ever take us from God's hand through Jesus Christ (John 10:29.)
Jesus’ yoke is easy, and His burden is light (Matthew 11:30). We are fitted for our particular trials and burdens. Even though you may not feel like the yoke fits, Jesus knows our strengths and weaknesses. He works with us, in faith, so that what we do in life is not simply a burden, but an opportunity for something positive and meaningful to happen.
God reminds us of “the former things, those of long ago for I am God, and there is no other" (Isaiah 46:9). Many occurrences as they happened seemed like they were coincidences: the first time I met Annemarie, the way I moved through careers before becoming a local pastor, how I came to know Jesus Christ. At times I did not understand what God was doing, but looking back, I clearly see God’s hand working.
There are some things that God seems to want us to remember, while forgetting hurts and injuries so as to forgive ourselves and others (see last week’s Steeple article). Life seems unguided, haphazard and random, until we view life over a long time span when God performs miracles and guides us through strange and even tragic events.
Thank You, Heavenly Father, for sending Your loving Son to become one of us. Help me show my gratitude by obeying You. You made the Word become flesh and showed Your love perfectly. I am amazed that You want me to be Your child. Thank you for Your generous love and complete eternal security in Jesus Christ. Thank You for treasuring me even when I feel unloved and behave oblivious to Your love. Lead me and I will follow You. Change me. Reform me through our relationship. I want Jesus to walk with me wherever I am. Guide me oh great Jehovah! May Your will be done in my life, always. Help me to remember the past that will help guide me for the future. Help me to see God's hand in the events of my life. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.