Theological Commentary: Click Here
Discipleship Focus: D2
- D2 is the step in the discipleship process where God builds character as we begin to help in God's work. Often it involves us taking a good long look at ourselves and seeing what needs to be cut away. Affectionately, this process is referred to as “the pit of despair” because when we see ourselves for who we really are it is easy to despair and feel like we’ll never get it right, we’ll never be right, and we’ll never be useful to God. It is easy to feel like a failure in the pit of despair.
We need
to remember something in the pit of despair.
Romans 5:3-5 says that “we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that
suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character
produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame.” When we are in the pit of despair and
suffering, God is actually using that time to build character within us! D2 is difficult. It is hard to suffer. It is hard to endure. It is hard to build character. It is hard to be a disciple. But in the end, it is worth it!
I believe
this is exactly what God is doing to Nebuchadnezzar in this chapter. Up until now, God has demonstrated His power
to Nebuchadnezzar. Nebuchadnezzar has
seen God’s power and been impressed. But
Nebuchadnezzar still hasn’t let go of his pride. He still hasn’t humbled himself before
God. If Nebuchadnezzar is going to truly
be in relationship with God, he needs to take a good long look in the mirror
and see his prideful self for what it is.
That’s D2 if I’ve ever seen it. God is building character in Nebuchadnezzar
by humbling him to be like a beast so he can consider the truth about his ways.
So how do
we get out of the pit of despair and build character? Through time, vision, and grace. We can see each of these three elements today
in God’s dealing with Nebuchadnezzar.
- Time: God gives Nebuchadnezzar seven years to see himself as he really is.
- Vision: God gives Nebuchadnezzar the ability to see himself as he really is – a beast following his own passions – and know that there is a better way.
- Grace: Nebuchadnezzar was a pagan king worshipping false gods. The fact that God continues to search after Nebuchadnezzar’s heart at all is a huge display of grace!
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