I am taken with how different it is to read the Bible from a Quaker perspective, about how things jump out that did not, before, about how much richer the experience is.  All of the stuff about the Spirit being the inward teacher, about a God who is available to show us what is right and empowers us to do it was always in there but I never saw so much of it as I do, now.

 

The phrase "waiting on the Lord" is an example of this.  It's so common in the Bible but before the Quaker experience the phrase had a one dimensional meaning to me and was little more than an admonition to have patience with the mysterious but undoubtedly slow pace at which things unfold in God's realm.

 

But with a perspective on waiting that says that work is being done in that period, that the transformative power of God is bringing about change in us as we wait, and that the waiting is a necessary part of the change, it all means something more.  Understanding that we are to wait is an instruction to abide in the discipline that cultivates, in us, this change, this process, this transformation.

 

For example, 1 Corinthians 4 seems to say that we have to wait to see whether or not people who are have been given trust are worthy of it.  And it does say that. 

 

"Judge nothing before the appointed time but wait until the Lord coimnes.  He will bring to light that which is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts."

 

Sooner or later if someone is pulling our chain we are going to know it because that person's actions will reveal that to us, the spirit that animates that person will lead them to telling actions, the Spirit will cause people to do convicting things no matter how hard they try to hide their weakness.

 

But it says more than than.  Aside from judging leaders and teachers it guides us in discerning our own response to every day life, discerning our leadings and movements as we respond and react to people and situations around us. 

 

When we set about things we are often moved to act from some place other than than which takes away the occasion of all war, to act in a way we have been conditioned to act by a world built on the false premises and illusions of earthly wisdom.  We are often motivated, at least in the first place, by fear or greed or hurt feelings or lust or pride.  But the Spirit will, if we wait, work on these things and over come them, show us what is going on and show us the way out of the destructive control of these motives.  The Light will expose these to us when they are in us, when they are moving us, and, once exposed, give us the strength and the power to withstand this temptation to be animated by them.  The transformative power of God will enable us, if we give it time and attention, to act in a way that edifies us and comforms us to that power. 

 

And it is in waiting on the Lord/Spirit/transformative power of God that the snares are melted away in us, in which the dross is burned away, when the scales are caused to fall.  Waiting...

 

 

 

 

6:49:11 AM