Which one are you?

Dear friends

I was thinking that at different times in my walk with GOD, I had been reminded of different people in the bible.

I mean, what I was experiencing, what GOD was teaching me, what I needed to learn at the time…. and I seemed to find the right person to take as a role model, as an advisor, as an example of how this problem could be solved – no matter what I was facing or going through, there was someone in the bible who had some sort of solution for it.

Isn’t that fascinating?

Have you come across the same findings?

When we speak about Christianity, we are often times so focused on JESUS and what HE has done and what HE has said, and I am most certainly not negating or doubting the importance of any of it and I am not saying we needn’t study HIS teachings first and foremost.
Same goes for GOD in the Old Testament, GOD the Father, GOD in the ways HE interacted with mankind before JESUS was born and before HE came down to earth as a human being.

But the other people, the ones GOD and JESUS and THE HOLY SPIRIT interacted with, even the prophets sometimes, they are the ones who can teach us as well!
And I don’t mean only the “big heroes” of the bible, the ones whom everyone knows and remembers, the ones who wrote history – like David for instance – had HE not defeated Goliath or had Goliath killed him, David being a direct ancestor of JESUS, all that happened after David’s victory over Goliath couldn’t have happened the way it did and JESUS may not have been born where and when HE was…. of course, GOD could have still made it happen somehow, as HE can do anything, but it wouldn’t have been the same as it was…..
But I am not only talking about these great characters who made an enormous impact on the narrative of Christianity, I am also speaking of even the smallest encounters or even the people who are not even mentioned by name in the bible.

Take the widow for instance, the one whom Elijah visited when she only had a bit of oil left and thought she was going to die – and then “what she had in the house” turned into a source of income for the rest of her life – supernaturally, with the help of a man of GOD.
This story is so inspiring and so encouraging, it reminds us that GOD has given each and every one of us a talent, something we can make a living of with HIS help – I have used this so many times to bring clients back to their gifts, to help them discover their purpose, to speak to their soul, to help them believe in themselves – and even I myself, I have often thought about this, in hours of despair or in moments of insecurity or weariness, it has helped me remember that GOD will always make a way for me and will show me how I can make some money if needed, and I am probably in the middle of my 5th and about to enter my 6th career path in my life by HIS grace and there are also ideas growing in me – watch this space, I am working on something that I may share here soon…
What I am saying is that the bible is not a novel and not a history book – it’s a supernatural source of wisdom, inspiration, guidance and isn’t it fascinating that we will never know everything in there, that we will always discover something new all the time, even if we have studied it a lot and for many years and that we can sometimes open the bible and find the exact thing we need to hear or learn in that very moment…?

But the characters fascinate me.

Take David for instance, HIS posture of worship and submission to GOD, even though HE also made great mistakes, but I think that’s what defined him, how he repented and admitted his wrong to GOD, perhaps that’s why GOD called him a man after HIS own heart, because he was able to repent, wasn’t “too king” to humble himself, wasn’t too noble to be foolish for GOD and dance naked for HIM no matter if others understood or looked down on him….
And those expressions of deep love and worship, the psalms, the best poems and prayers ever written for GOD….. they are beautiful beyond measure, and so full of wisdom, they are the best prayers, they are encouraging, and also so relatable at the same time, when David speaks of feeling like GOD has forgotten him…. haven’t we all felt like this at some point in our walk with GOD?
And his expression of gratitude for GOD’s love and HIS blessings – incomparable!
Also the loving relationship between him and Jonathan is distinct and not many other friendships have been given so much emphasis in the bible.

This is just one example where I think following a character in the bible and observing their walk with GOD and their relationship with HIM can teach us so much.

Or how would we truly understand JESUS’ teachings in the New Testament without Paul?
Not only his explanations, but also his life story, being a hater and persecutor, then transforming into one of the greatest teachers of JESUS’ doctrine and ending up writing many books of the bible, being completely devoted to the cause and to GOD.
Haven’t we all sinned against GOD at some point?
Me, I was living in sin, in the occult – I don’t know where you came from, if you have been a Christian all your life or if GOD has saved you out of some sort of darkness like me, but even if you haven’t been as deeply involved in false things as I have, you are likely to have committed some sort of sin at some point in your life – and isn’t it great to have Paul?
To take him as proof that GOD can use anyone, no matter what we have done in the past?
That HE will forgive us, that HE can still use us….
And even Paul’s trials are an inspiration, I believe – the “thorn” in his flesh, or when he speaks of not being able to always be ruled by the spirit….
I find that relatable and it helps me to fully grasp that the bible is practical and relevant for me today, not just back in the days to those people who lived there, it still has the same truth for me now.

Or how could we have gone through some tests and trials and suffering without Job?
His story is so soothing – isn’t it?

Or would you say that it’s easier to obey GOD when we remember Jonah?
Me, I would.

I could go on and on…. with the people of the bible and what they have taught me…….and perhaps I will make a series of it or write more about some people in the bible that I love and that I learned a lot from.

And I find that my main “buddies” or the people I think the most of or identify the most with or learn the most from change and that there seem to be different “influencers” in my life depending on what is happening at the time, different people who are speaking more to me for my current situation…

I was wondering if you have the same experience, my friend?

And if that is so, who is it that you are currently thinking of, being inspired by, learning from?

Would love to hear about it!

But whoever it is, I am sure it will enrich your life as anything coming from “the book” will.

I hope and pray that this will encourage, bless, inspire and heal you. And that THE LORD will bless you abundantly in all areas of your life; that HE will keep you and shine HIS face upon you and bring you PEACE. In JESUS’ name I pray. AMEN.