Gaps
I don't know about you but I am a Bible believer, yeah I believe what it says to be true, accurate, literal - where the context is literal - I believe it to be inspired and perfect. So, with that I see gaps, there are gaps all over the Bible where God doesn't give us the whole picture. Some might say there are no gaps the missing pieces just haven't been found yet, ahhh - maybe, but I don't think so. I believe God has intentionally left gaps for us to fill and we are to fill those gaps with personal conviction and application. If you think about the the fact that the Bible was written in a different era, a different space and time this fits.
One of the rules I have learned in Bible study is consistency - God makes it fit - The Bible is consistent front to back, if you think you've found an inconsistency, keep looking, God is trying to get your attention to somewhere else. Apparent inconsistencies are like gaps they cause us to think. Hmmm, what is going on here? Or, how come he doesn't just come out and say it?
This idea of intentional gaps is consistent with how God is in life. There are areas of life where God lays the answer out clear, the problem is not knowing the problem may be obeying but it is clear. There are other areas of life where God does not give us specific information, his principles apply but he doesn't tell us exactly what to do - Gaps. We are free within obedience to him, with in trusting and submitting to him, to make choices within those gaps.
In my life this is true, usually I don't like this, I would rather God put the solution, the answer the direction right in front of me so I don't have to decide, I am confident that my deciding will screw things up somewhere. With Michael there are many gaps, should I push him more, should I get this device or aid for him? Should I step in, in areas where I think he's not being cared for at the moment? Should I be quiet and let others make decisions? I have freedom, I also have reasonability - what do I do? I think and re-think, I some times decide, then I re-think (although I try to do less of this one) Maybe our Lord just wants us to do something on our own for him, he wants us to make some of those hard decisions, and the easy ones with him in mind instead of simply telling us what to do.
I pray that you and I will trust God in the gaps, not blame him for leaving us, not do just what we want to do and leave him, but trust him and live in the grace and liberty that he's given us. In these gaps we can freely express our love and trust toward him. We are not dictated exactly what to do, we are free to love him, in the person he made us to be. -Think about that, isn't that the kind of love that you want to receive?