Notes from TR

So yesterday was my first TR meeting. The first ones all always the most interesting aren't they? What I especially enjoyed, was Nathan and Jesse's topic and the way they led it. It was for the most part concise and very interesting. However, I'm afraid I'm someone who always learns more from the rabbit trails rather than the main thrust of any given message. Trails that call and beckon me. They know my name and ask me to follow. It is in this way that I have learned at least half of every meaningful theological truth that I know.

Anyhow, I felt that it would be beneficial for me to outline some of the things I learned. Most of the following trails were brought to the table by Nathan.

The Solidity of God's love

Probably the most important thing I learned was that nothing can seperate me from Jesus' love. In the past year it has seemed like God's love has grown, then faded. It seemed to ebe and flow depending on my life. It was so easy to fall into the trap of thinking that Jesus loved me less cause of my actions. And it was so discouraging.

But in reality, it is far different. It's not God's love who changes, it's my perception of God's love that changes. By believing that God's love changes depending on me ultimately blinds me to the same. It then takes a massive amount of love to open my eyes again. It's so sad.

As I put it to my good friend Timmy, it's sort of like the story of Paul. We see God's love so blindingly that we go blind to some of the other things He's doing in our lives. It takes another loving touch for the scales to fall off our eyes.

How Sin is never absent

This point I found particularly helpful. The knowledge that even our righteous acts are tainted by sin is somewhat freeing. I have struggled so much within the last couple years with how twisted everything is. I'm always examining my motives for any act of charity I want to perform, and it's always been very disturbing to find that there always is a sinful motive lurking somewhere along the line. But to know that everyone has to struggle with that and that it's natural is so relieving.

The Glorious Ministry

I ran across these verses. Jesse stopped the verse before, but I kept going. I'll let them speak for themselves.

2 Corinthians 3:7-9
"But if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passing away.
How will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious?
For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry of righteousness exceeds much more in glory."

Thinking of last saturday night, I know I saw many countenances bright with that glory.