Soul Snack 8/175 ... Sweet Attraction
Harriet Beecher Stowe dives into the desperate depths of 19th century America when she reflects '... we may submit to God, it is rather by constant painful effort than sweet attraction.' Surely this is NOT how the God who has already suffered indescribably would have it.
In this world of suffering, now the 21st century, sadly nothing has changed or apparently learned!
At the root of the problem is the reality that I must increase so therefore He must decrease
That wild and hirsute desert dweller, John the Baptist, had a far superior grip on life two millenia ago than many a king, general or corporate captain even today.
He must become greater; I must become less. John 3:30
Another desert dweller Jacob (very roughly, two millenia again prior to John) too wrestled with the submission that Harriet Beecher Stowe speaks of. This is the simple and enduring wrestle of who would be my king.
One night in massive pain and weariness, Jacob held onto God never to release Him again (Gen 32:22-32). Jacob felt pain before favour. He did not know until some dreadfully wearisome evening what John knew.
John knew the sweet attraction of Jesus, Jacob knew the constant painful effort. Still, they both found God.
Jacob had led life at war with God. John had lived life that was won with God.
Jacob knew the painful effort, John enjoyed the sweet attraction.