King of Kings

"A king’s rage is like the roar of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass." -Proverbs 19:12

I have been puzzled by who He is.

I recognize that arriving at a final answer anytime soon is unrealistic. I understand that I do not have the capacity to fully or maybe even nearly understand who he is, what he does, and what he allows.

I have been bewildered by who He is.

From gore and vengeance to loving one’s enemy. Surely there is no easy explanation.

I have been astounded by who He is.

Love for the imperfect and the weak like me, who should have been His footstool but instead I am his heir (Galatians 4).

Who is this King of Glory?

I take comfort in knowing that even David pondered the question (Psalms 24). I take special comfort in Proverbs 19, “A king’s rage is like the roar of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass”. The questions do not go away, and it is no final answer, but it does reframe for me my King.

The imagery of power and violence within the lion’s roar is mysteriously beautiful. How could its roar be so beautiful while all the while so terrifying?

His favor being like the early morning dew, blanketing anything left uncovered. So comforting is the thought of his renewal every morning, his peace, his mercy, his love.

There is no tidy conclusion for these thoughts of mine which may be fiting since these things are still evolving in me. So I will toss it to you. What has helped you understand our King?

-Wes

Breaking the Silence

In Pilgrim Heart; the Way of Jesus in Everyday Life, by Darryl Tippens, Tippens discusses spiritual disciplines that can be practiced without your removal from the world. In fact, they are dependent on our interaction with a Christian community and/or the world.

Currently I am reading the section on confession. This quote mentioned by the author really stands out to me:

"In a room where people unanimously maintain a conspiracy of silence, one word of truth sounds like a pistol shot." -Czeslaw Milosv

For me this quote has even more relevance today in the area of accountability.

There was a time when I rarely felt uncomfortable (if I even noticed) in those silent moments when I was among other Believers and we began to journey down a troublesome road where there existed no holiness. Today I have a great conviction that when I arrive at such forks I am obligated to choose the path of holiness. This is not to say that I always do choose holiness (which goes without saying), but a persevering voice does resonate inside of me, beckoning me to choose the road less traveled.

By practicing the gift of accountability we become sensitive to the Voice that beckons us to beckon others, to break the silence.

Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. -Galatians 6:1

-Wes