He Will Have Us

My Bible buddies and I continue to work our way through the Old Testament. We are currently in Jeremiah.

Sometimes, it’s really TOUGH getting through the readings. One particular day a few weeks ago, I read a chapter and asked myself, “Now, what the heck am I supposed to take away from that?” Chapter after chapter are stories of people turning away from God, not listening to Him or his prophets, not living in ways that honor Him. (Yep, in many ways it sounds like today too).

I rejoice when I get to a verse of hope and promise. And then I am humbled and reminded that we have the privilege of reading the Old Testament with a New Testament perspective. Reading the OT shows us just how necessary Jesus was to the story of humanity and to our own stories here and now.

Putting down my Bible after one of these tougher chapters, I reached out, picked up another book, and went right to the quote:
“He will have us even though we have shown we prefer EVERYTHING ELSE to Him.”
(C.S. Lewis)

It felt like God's answer to my question, "What am I supposed to take away from that?" just moments before. I picked my Bible back up, found the very first page marked Old Testament and wrote that quote beneath the title.

The artwork for this posting was inspired by illuminated manuscripts which have always fascinated me. (Did you notice how the “H” is formed by 2 OT scrolls?). I wrote the quote in my Bible, but if you send me your address here, I will mail you a free laminated copy of my artwork for you to use as a Bible bookmark. You can request up to 2 additional ones to share with friends. (I will make a maximum of 50 of these so get your request in soon!)

Romans 8:32
If God didn't hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn't gladly and freely do for us?