Daniel Moore: 0:04
Our true purpose may not to be chased after an elusive happily ever after, but rather to find meaning, fulfillment and connection in our everyday experiences. It's about being present in the moment, appreciating the journey and finding joy in the process of growth and figuring out who we really are. By aligning our goals with our values and staying true to ourselves, we can find purpose and contentment, even if we never reach a fairytale. Ending this week on Connecting the Gap, we wrap up our series on feeling unqualified as we come into episode 12 of this series, and we'll be back right after this.
Daniel Moore: 1:02
Welcome to Connecting the Gap.
Daniel Moore: 1:25
I'm Daniel Moore, your host. Thank you, guys, for joining us this week. If you're not familiar with our show, you can check out our website at wwwconnectingthegapnet and there you'll find all of our platforms that we're released on every Thursday of every week of the year. Our YouTube and Rumble links are there as well, and we're also on the Christian podcasting app, edify. You can also visit us on social at facebookcom, forward slash ctgaponline. If you're a fan of our show, please subscribe and feel free to leave a comment on our platforms and give us a thumbs up or a five-star review on Apple Podcast. We'd be eternally grateful to you for doing that, and we thank you once again for checking out our episodes each week here on Connecting the Gap. Well, as I write my series and I have all these different parts like 12 parts or 17 parts or whatever it is I think, wow. You know that's going to take a while to get through all of that, but then we get started on it and then the moment comes that's like this week we reached the last episode of the series. So it's hard to believe, but we're already at the very end of this series called Unqualified, and my prayer is that throughout these last 11 weeks here and as we combine this week with that to finish up this series, that hopefully something has clicked inside of you. If you've ever felt that you were unqualified, or if you were less than or not good enough. I just pray that something throughout this series has triggered something in your mind to understand that where you are with God is all that really matters, because what God thinks is what matters to us, because he's our Creator and he's created all of us for a purpose and for a reason, and sometimes we don't know what that is exactly. But if we just stay with God and follow Him in faith, let Him lead and guide us in everything that we do. I truly believe that God eventually lets us see what our true purpose is all about. So I hope that you guys have got something from this and I'd like to hear from you. My email is daniel at connectingthegapnet. You can reach out that way or just message me through Facebook if you'd like. I'd like to hear if this episode, if there's any testimony that you could give to maybe some strongholds that have been broken down inside of you throughout this series, or maybe it's give you a different outlook on life and you see things a little bit differently. I'd love to hear that. So please reach out and let me know about that. Today, as I also finish this series here, I want to kind of give you a little heads up about what's coming here in the future and starting next week we're going to be getting into probably about four to five weeks or so of just random episodes about different things. I do have an interview coming up with a new author in the middle of all of that. I think that you'll really enjoy that. And then here about the middle to the end of October, my wife is going to join me for an extensive marriage series. I've been kind of teasing about this over the last month or so and we're going to be going through the four laws of love. We're going to kick that off with our testimony.
Daniel Moore: 4:32
My wife and I have been down a rocky path in our 20 plus years of marriage. We've been through a lot. A lot of people don't like to tell other people about their baggage and the things that they've been through, but with the ministry here that we have, michelle and I, we think that a lot of people could benefit from what we've been through. We are madly in love with each other at this point and we just want to share what we've been through, maybe to help others. Maybe some of you guys out there are going through some really tough times in your marriage. There's a lot of things that you don't understand. So we just want you to know that God is in the redeeming business. He will redeem your marriage. When you're almost on the verge of divorce and separation, split lives going opposite directions, god can turn all of that around. My wife and I are a proof, living example of that exact miracle. So we're going to be sharing all of that, starting in October, there towards the end of October, and then we'll get to that extensive series on the four laws of love, and I don't know how long it's going to go, because this series we're going to be flying by the seat of our pants. I don't have nothing written out, really. We're just going to be going through the episodes each week and when it finally ends, it ends. We'll see how that goes, but that's what we're looking forward to here in the near future, here on Connecting the Gaps. So if you know anybody that's having issues with their marriage, or maybe if you aren't even married yet, there's going to be a lot of good things that you can glean from this series as we go through it, that you can take into your marriage as you begin off your life together, so I just encourage anyone out there that's married right now or has that on their radar in the future check into this series, and again, it's going to launch here towards the end of October. Well before that happens, though, we have to finish up our series here on Unqualified, and this week, as I said, we're in the final episode of that series, episode 12. And this week we're going to be talking about the God of Jacob.
Daniel Moore: 6:44
An illustration was once used. A pastor once said a couple of times a year that he would teach a class called Generations for a small group of students at church. During one of the sessions, he would ask the students to teach him how to sound cool. He had given up hopes of actually being cool. Of course, he was in his 30s, which was essentially prehistoric to his students, but it was a good way to connect and get conversations started, and if they could help him sound cool, at least in spurts, well, that's a win-win right. So he'd say, hey, I need a vocabulary update. My children aren't teenagers yet. So what do kids these days say? Well, first of all, he never thought he'd ever use the phrase kids these days. It was kind of depressing.
Daniel Moore: 7:35
One of his recent generations groups was very helpful. They taught him the correct usage of bay, for example. They also taught him the meaning of the term on fleek. He said use that in a sentence because I don't get it. Someone replied okay, your sneakers are on fleek. He's like oh, that's like on point. They're like huh. He thought wow, I am old.
Daniel Moore: 8:02
Then one of them spoke up and said goals. He said goals. You think that's a new word? Come on, man, I'm not. That old Student said no, no, the hashtag. People use it for everything. Now you can put it on almost anything. You know hashtag goals? Well, he was intrigued, so he searched the hashtag on Instagram. And you know hashtag goals? Well, he was intrigued, so he searched the hashtag on Instagram. And you know what the student was right, it was everywhere. Then he decided to do more official research on the hashtag, an act that is really inherently uncool. But hey, you have to start somewhere. He even came across an article in Elle magazine about the trend. I mean, he'd already turned in his cool card, so why not turn in his man card also? Well, the writer, justine Harmon, shared a great insight and explanation.
Daniel Moore: 8:58
The trending term hashtag goals, which also pairs neatly with prefixes such as life, which also pairs neatly with prefixes such as life, body, hair, squad and relationship is tongue-in-cheek, lazy and purposefully self-deprecating. A goal in this context is something aspirational and outlandish, a perceived quality of life that we categorize as unattainable. Here's an example of what she is describing. Let's say you see a picture of Jay-Z and Beyonce in their Gulfstream 650, cuddling under a blanket made of organic zebra skin, and you comment on the photo using the hashtag goals. It's a way of saying yeah, right and I wish all at once. And the pastor said it left him wondering isn't this a dangerous perversion of the real purpose of goals? He knew it was meant to be playful and this certainly wasn't a rant about quote-unquote kids these days, but it got him thinking.
Daniel Moore: 10:06
The goals meme is a tragic commentary on how the human race handles goals we don't feel qualified to achieve. It describes how a lot of us react mentally and emotionally when we compare where we are now to where we wish we could be. Our unfulfilled goals become the voices that mock us. They are a commentary on our failure and a reminder that we aren't good enough and we never will be. Isn't the proliferation of ridiculous hashtag goals just a modern manifestation of Jacob's struggle?
Daniel Moore: 10:42
Jacob's struggle with his identity and worth stemmed from a deep insecurity and fear of not measuring up to what he believed he was destined to be. He felt the weight of his inadequacies and constantly sought validation and fulfillment through his own efforts rather than trusting in God's plan for his life, despite his strong ambition and desire for greatness. His life, despite his strong ambition and desire for greatness, jacob's lack of faith and reliance on himself led a cycle of deceit, manipulation and comparison with others. He believed that he needed to constantly prove his worth and achieve success on his own terms, rather than surrendering to God's will for his life. Jacob's inability to bridge the gap between who he was and who he wanted to be ultimately caused him much pain and struggle. It was only after a series of trials and encounters with God that he began to understand the importance of surrendering to God's plan and trusting in His grace to fulfill his destiny.
Daniel Moore: 11:43
Jacob seemed to forget that true fulfillment and greatness comes from aligning oneself with God's will rather than relying on one's own efforts and ambitions. But then he wrestled an angel and he accepted himself and he got a new name. And it would be nice if we could say that this process fixed all of Jacob's problems and that he had a definitive transformation in his life and never had to wrestle with being less than ever again. That by him embracing who he was ultimately freed him from any chains and struggles that he had in his life, that he got a name change and it fixed everything and he lived in his life. That he got a name change and it fixed everything and he lived happily ever after. But we can't.
Daniel Moore: 12:31
In real life, the difference between the hero and the villain is a little bit blurred. In real life, growth and transformation are ongoing processes that never truly have a definitive endpoint. Jacob may have had a powerful moment of self-realization and growth, but that doesn't mean he would never struggle again or make mistakes. Just like in real life, heroes and villains are not always clearly defined and people are complex beings who can exhibit both positive and negative traits. Life is a journey with ups and downs, victories and setbacks. The goal is not to reach a perfect ending where everything is fixed and happiness is guaranteed. The goal is to learn and grow from our experiences, to continue striving to be the best version of ourselves, even if we stumble along the way. Happiness is not the absence of struggles, but the ability to navigate through them with resilience and a complete awareness of where we are in our journey. Jacob's name change to Israel may have symbolized a significant moment in his life, but true transformation comes from within, from a continuous process of self-reflection and self-improvement.
Daniel Moore: 13:49
There is no magical fix or quick solution to life's challenges. It's about embracing the journey, embracing the flaws and imperfections, and finding meaning and fulfillment in the ongoing process of personal growth. Fulfillment in the ongoing process of personal growth that is the messy, beautiful reality of life. Living in a state of confusion and uncertainty, constantly yearning for a perfect happily ever after that may never come, can be a frustrating and disheartening experience. It can feel like being stuck in limbo between reality and an idealized destiny, where the gap between what we desire and what we actually experience can seem insurmountable. The notion of a happily ever after can be a powerful and alluring concept, representing the idea of ultimate fulfillment, happiness and resolution of all of our struggles. However, the reality is that life is much messier and more complex than fairy tales. There are highs and lows, victories and defeats, joys and sorrows. It is the ups and downs that shape us and make us who we are.
Daniel Moore: 15:01
While having goals and aspiration is important for growth and progress, it's also crucial to understand that the journey itself is just as significant as the destination. Goals can provide direction and motivation, but they should not define our worth or happiness. It's important to embrace the process of striving towards our goals, learning from our failures and successes along the way. Our true purpose may not be to chase after an elusive happily ever after, but rather to find meaning, fulfillment, connection in our everyday experiences. It's about being present in the moment, appreciating the journey and finding joy in the process of growth and figuring out who we really are. By aligning our goals with our values and staying true to ourselves, we can find purpose and contentment, even if we never reach a fairytale. Ending.
Daniel Moore: 15:56
Setting and achieving goals is not necessarily the issue, but rather the quality and alignment of those goals with our true desires and values. The quality and alignment of those goals with our true desires and values. Just like Jacob, who initially had misguided goals and priorities, many of us may find ourselves pursuing goals that do not ultimately lead to fulfillment or genuine happiness. It's important to not only evaluate whether we are reaching our goals, but also to reflect on the nature of those goals themselves. Are they truly meaningful to us? Do they align with our core values, beliefs and aspirations? Are they leading us towards a sense of purpose and fulfillment, or are they simply superficial markers of success? Committing to the wrong goals may provide a sense of progress on the surface, but it can ultimately leave us feeling unfulfilled and disconnected from our true selves. It's essential to constantly reassess and reflect on the goals we are pursuing to ensure that they are authentic, meaningful and truly resonant with our innermost desires and objectives. Asking ourselves whether a goal is truly good or the best for us can help us move beyond simply chasing success for the sake of it and instead focus on cultivating a sense of purpose and genuine fulfillment in our lives. By setting goals that are aligned with our deepest values and aspirations, we can not only achieve success, but also nurture a sense of wholeness, meaning and contentment.
Daniel Moore: 17:29
In our journey, you know I've talked to many parents, especially moms, that say you need to cherish the moments you have while your kids are at home. I always look forward to being the empty nester. But when you meet others that have been that way for a while, they always say cherish the moments. Time flies by so fast. I was always thinking, yeah right, you say that because your kids are gone while mine are still terrorizing everything. We always tried to keep the floors clean and stuff picked up. No matter how hard we tried, they always seemed to mess it up. Those parents always said that they seemed to have the wrong goals. I was like what do you mean by that? They would say, instead of worrying about the floors and toys, they now miss the sound of feet on the hardwoods and the sounds of the toy box being dumped. They always reached the goal of cleaner floors, but that wasn't the most important goal.
Daniel Moore: 18:30
When I was younger, I had friends that would always try to sleep with every girl they came across. It was an opportunity for them to impress their friends and get the stud muffin compliments. They were always voted most popular and most likely to be successful. Yet years later, you meet them and they are now divorced, sometimes multiple times over, paying child support and feeling nothing but an emptiness inside. They thought they were accomplishing great feats in life, but in reality they were, piece by piece, giving themselves away. They reached their goal, but reaching the goal was only as significant as the quality of it. They reached their goal but, no matter how badly they would ever want it, they would never get any of that time back.
Daniel Moore: 19:19
So if living happily ever after isn't the goal, then what is? Well? The answer to this question is illustrated in Jacob's life-changing encounter with the angel. In Genesis 32-28, god tells Jacob Jacob probably interpreted this as a blessing and validation of his transformation and struggle towards finding a new identity. He may have felt like he had finally achieved his goal of establishing a new name and identity for himself. However, god's renaming of Jacob as Israel was not merely an affirmation of his personal growth and change. It symbolized a deeper spiritual transformation and calling for Jacob. The name Israel means God contended or God rules, which indicated that Jacob's true identity and purpose was to be a ruler and contender for God's kingdom on earth.
Daniel Moore: 20:27
Jacob may have initially thought he hit the jackpot in terms of finding a new identity, but God's renaming of him as Israel was a call to a greater and more important purpose that transcended his personal desires and struggles. It was a reminder that his identity was ultimately rooted in his relationship with God and his role in God's plan for redemption and salvation. You know we would think that many years after this, god referred to himself as the God of Jacob, but God doesn't always work the way that we think he will work. He does this to make a point. In Exodus 3.15,. God identifies himself to Moses as the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. This naming of God as the God of Jacob rather than the God of Israel emphasizes a significant aspect of God's relationship with His people.
Daniel Moore: 21:20
Despite receiving the new name Israel from God, jacob's identity was not completely detached from his past as a deceitful and flawed individual. By identifying himself as the God of Jacob, god is highlighting the fact that he is the God of all aspects of Jacob's life, including his struggles, mistakes and failures. This serves as a reminder to the Israelites and to us today that God's love and presence are not contingent on our successes or perfection, but it extends to all parts of our being. Through this naming, god communicates to His people that he is a God of grace, mercy and redemption. He embraces us in our brokenness and imperfections and walks with us through our struggles and defeats. He is not just the God of our victories, but the God of our defeats as well. This revelation of God's character invites us to come to Him as we are, knowing that he loves us unconditionally and desires to be in relationships with us, flaws and all. It is a reminder that God's love and grace extend to every part of our lives and that he is ever-present, even in our weakness and struggles.
Daniel Moore: 22:35
We can understand ourselves as both Israel and Jacob simultaneously, because, like Jacob, we still struggle with our weaknesses and imperfections. Just as Jacob faced challenges and made mistakes, we too grapple with our own shortcomings and foolishions. Just as Jacob faced challenges and made mistakes, we too grapple with our own shortcomings and foolish decisions. However, like Israel, god has spoken victory over us and given us a new identity. In Him, he has declared us His beloved children and called us to live in the fullness of His grace and power.
Daniel Moore: 23:07
Embracing both aspects of our identity as Jacob, with our struggles, and as Israel, with God's victory declared over us is key to experiencing true fulfillment and growth in our faith. Recognizing that we are both Jacob and Israel helps us understand that our weaknesses and mistakes do not define us. Instead, they are opportunities for God to work in and through us, transforming our struggles into strengths by His power and grace. As we continue to grasp the truth of being Israel in God's eyes, we will find ourselves moving away from behaving like Jacob. Understanding our identity as Israel empowers us to live in the victory and purpose that God has declared over us, allowing His transformation work to take place in our lives. Our weaknesses, struggles and mistakes are continually being converted into strengths through the power of God, leading us to a deeper relationship with Him and a more fulfilling life in His presence. We're going to take a break here for a moment. When we come back, we're going to continue and wrap up this series on feeling unqualified as we are in part 12 this week and we'll be back right after this.
Daniel Moore: 24:34
All right, raise your hand if you're looking for something to make you happy. How about both hands, unless you're driving? The problem with living for a moment of pleasure is that it's so short and doesn't last. It's like waiting in line for four hours at an amusement park for a ride that lasts only two or three minutes. You anxiously wait for the weekend to do your own thing, yet you know that deep down inside of you that something is missing. That something is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, the God of the universe. You say what do I have to do? Well, first you must repent of sin. Repent means change your mind and go the other way. Talk to God and say God, I've sinned against you. I'm sorry that I've done that. I'm willing to change my way of living. Ask God to come into your life to take over and help you change the way you live. You'll be a new person and you'll find long-lasting joy. Call 888-NEED-HIM and learn how to have a relationship with Jesus.
chataboutjesus.com: 25:42
That's 888-NEED-HIM movie star and a room in my house just for my guitar and if I have money then I only wear sean john, even cereal with gray coupon. In the swimming pool, about one mile long speakers underwater playing this song welcome back to connecting the gap podcast.
Daniel Moore: 26:01
I'm daniel moore, your host. Thank you for being here this week and checking out the last part of this series on Unqualified. As we are in part 12 of our series this week, this one is called the God of Jacob. The narrative of Jacob's life presents us with a man who continuously engages in conflict and struggle with those around him. From his wrestling with Esau in the womb, his deception to his father Isaac, to his contentious relationship with his uncle Laban, jacob's life is marked by ongoing battles and challenges as he prepares to face his brother Esau once again. After many years, it becomes evident that Jacob's external struggles are a reflection of his internal turmoil. Jacob's constant conflicts with others were symptomatic of his inner search for identity, transformation and acceptance. Despite his attempts to find fulfillment and validation through his interactions with those around him, he ultimately discovers that his true struggle is with himself, him. He ultimately discovers that his true struggle is with himself. The night that he wrestles with the angel is a pivotal moment in Jacob's journey, as he comes face to face with his own inner turmoil and wrestles with God for a blessing. In this encounter, jacob realizes that the true opponent he has been grappling with all along is not Esau or any external foe, but his own inner demons and insecurities. God orchestrates this meeting with the angel not just to prepare Jacob for reconciliation with Esau, but to bring him to a place of reconciliation with himself. It is a transformative moment for Jacob, where he must confront his past, his mistakes and his fears in order to fully embrace his true identity as Israel and receive God's blessing. The name Israel given to Jacob by God symbolizes the purpose and transformation that God would bring forth through him. It signifies a journey of change and growth rather than perfection. Israel represents the process of becoming who God intended Jacob to be, as well as the ongoing relationship with God, who loved him as Jacob and transformed him into Israel.
Daniel Moore: 28:23
In the aftermath of Jacob's intense wrestling match with the angel, his encounter with his brother, esau, is a stark contrast. Jacob had spent many years running from Esau, anticipating a confrontation that he believed would require him to win back his brother's forgiveness through gifts and appeasement. However, when they finally meet in Genesis 33-4, the resolution is surprisingly peaceful and reconciliatory. Standing face-to-face with the brother he had feared and avoided for so long, jacob comes to a realization that is very universal. The true battle to be won is within oneself. The external conflicts with others, such as Esau, are ultimately reflections of internal struggles and insecurities. Jacob's journey of transformation and growth culminates in this moment of self-awareness, where he understands that the real battle is not with his brother, but with his own inner demons and fears. Your real struggle isn't with your money, demons and fears. Your real struggle isn't with your money. It's not your employer. Your real struggle isn't with your mother-in-law and you may be saying, well, you haven't met my mother-in-law. Well, that's a good point, but true nonetheless.
Daniel Moore: 29:43
We've all met awesome people that seem to have it all together. You know the people with eight packs who talk about how fat they are, the beauty queens that think they are never pretty enough. Acceptance, belonging, security, value, significance the list goes on and on. We might manifest our needs differently, but we all desire the same things. Manifest our needs differently, but we all desire the same things. You know I'm not a fan of Oprah, but she once said I've done over 35,000 interviews in my career and as soon as the camera shuts off, everyone always turns to me and inevitably, in their own way, asks this question Was that okay?
Daniel Moore: 30:25
I heard it from President Bush. I heard it from President Obama. I heard it from President Obama. I've heard it from heroes and from housewives. I've heard it from victims and perpetrators of crimes. I even heard it from Beyonce and all her Beyonce-ness. They all want to know one thing Was that okay? Well, only God has the right answer to that question. Was that okay? Am I okay? Allowing God to answer questions about our worth and identity is crucial in winning the war within our hearts. When we seek validation and acceptance from God rather than relying on external sources, we can find peace and fulfillment. Embracing who we are and recognizing that we are in a process of growth and transformation allows us to overcome internal insecurities and self-doubt. By focusing on winning the battles within ourselves, we can rise above any external challenges or obstacles that come our way, regardless of struggles, shortcomings, financial situations, health issues, adversaries or criticism. When we have conquered our internal battles and embraced our true identity in God, we have the strength and resilience to overcome anything. All we really have to do is win within.
Daniel Moore: 31:48
Jacob's lifelong struggle culminated in a moment of realization that the essence of life is to live in the light of God's acceptance. Despite Jacob's many flaws, failures and moments of imperfection, he came to understand that the ultimate purpose of existence is not to strive for perfection, but to cultivate a deep and meaningful relationship with God. Throughout his life, jacob grappled with his identity, made mistakes and faced numerous challenges. However, his transformative journey led him to the revelation that true fulfillment and meaning are found in embracing God's acceptance, grace and love. He realized that perfection is not the goal, but rather it is the authentic and intimate relationship with God that brings true significance to life. This realization exposes the truth that life's messy and imperfect moments are opportunities to experience God's unconditional love, and imperfect moments are opportunities to experience God's unconditional love, forgiveness and guidance. It is in the midst of our failures and struggles that we can draw closer to God and deepen our relationship with Him. By living in the light of God's acceptance, we can find peace, purpose and fulfillment regardless of our imperfections. And you know, jacob wasn't the only Bible hero who had to figure that out. If we fast forward a couple thousand years to the New Testament, we find that Peter and Paul both have something to teach us about reaching goals and finding fulfillment. They make an interesting contrast, actually, because the one you would expect to be closest to the goal ends up being the further one behind.
Daniel Moore: 33:26
Peter was known for being impulsive and often speaking before thinking. In the Bible, he frequently displayed this trait, sometimes leading to mistakes and misunderstandings. However, in Acts 3, we see a transformation in Peter's actions and words. When a beggar asks for money at the temple, peter responds initially by saying he has no money to give. But then Peter goes on to do something unprecedented he tells the beggar to rise and walk in the name of Jesus. This act of faith and healing demonstrates a new level of boldness and confidence in Peter as he steps out in faith and performs a miraculous deed. It also landed him in jail. The religious leaders put him away because they didn't know what else to do with him.
Daniel Moore: 34:16
Despite facing resistance and persecution from the religious leaders, peter continues to preach the gospel and share the message of Jesus with unwavering courage and conviction. In Acts 4.13, the religious leaders acknowledge Peter and John as quote-unquote unschooled ordinary men, but recognizes that they have been with Jesus. This acknowledgement shows the transformative power of their faith and relationship with Jesus, which empowers them to carry out miracles and bold proclamations of the gospel. Peter and John's lack of formal education or status did not hinder their ability to spread the message of Jesus Christ. Their willingness to follow Jesus, despite their shortcomings and societal expectations, led to an outpouring of miracles and conversions. Acts 4 records that, even when faced with imprisonment, their steadfast faith and commitment to spreading the gospel attracted even 2,000 more believers to join the early church. They were uniquely unqualified for the task of taking the gospel to the whole world. Qualified for the task of taking the gospel to the whole world.
Daniel Moore: 35:25
In Philippians 3, verses 4 through 6, paul describes his qualifications to the Jewish leaders and people. He states that he was circumcised on the eighth day, born of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews and a Pharisee in terms of zeal and favor for his faith. He also mentions that he persecuted the church relentlessly, which was seen as a commendable action by the Jewish leaders as it showed his dedication to upholding the Jewish traditions and laws. In the eyes of the Jewish leaders and people. Paul's background and credentials made him supremely qualified to speak on matters related to Judaism and the Jewish faith. His strict adherence to the law, his fervor for his beliefs and his persecution of those who deviated from traditional Jewish teachings all contributed to his credibility and authority among the Jewish community To reach the goals associated with being a good Jew, peter would have needed to become more like Paul, because Paul's strong adherence to the Jewish customs, traditions and zills for faith set him apart as a highly respected figure among the Jewish leaders and people. Peter, on the other hand, initially struggled with fully embracing and understanding the teachings of Jesus, especially in relation to the Jewish laws and traditions. However, for the goals of the gospel to be accomplished, paul actually had to become more like Peter. This is because Peter, as one of the original disciples of Jesus, had a deep understanding of Jesus' teachings and the significance of his mission. Peter's experiences with Jesus, his boldness in preaching the gospel and his ability to communicate with Jewish and Gentile audiences made him a key figure in spreading the message of Christianity.
Daniel Moore: 37:15
The primary goal that God has for us in this life is not simply to quote-unquote arrive at a specific destination, but rather to continuously reach for a deeper relationship with Him and to grow in our understanding of His will for our lives. This idea is exemplified in the life of Paul, who is constantly striving to know Jesus more intimately and to fulfill his purposes. In this sense, being more like Paul means being focused on the journey of faith and constantly seeking to align our will with God's will. It involves a constant process of spiritual growth, learning and transformation that ultimately shapes us into the image of Christ. The journey itself becomes the destination and the process becomes the goal. While the ultimate destination for believers is heaven, where we will experience complete relationship with God, holiness and perfection, the journey of knowing and following Jesus is equally important. It is through this journey that we are refined, sanctified and prepared for our eternal destiny with God. Sanctified and prepared for our eternal destiny with God. Therefore, the emphasis is not solely on reaching the final destination of heaven, but on the transformative journey of becoming more like Christ and aligning our lives with His will. This perspective reminds us of the importance of the process of spiritual growth and the ongoing pursuit of a deeper relationship with God as the ultimate goal of our lives as believers.
Daniel Moore: 38:48
When we say reach, we aren't talking about just reaching out, grasping and clutching for straws. That wasn't Paul's attitude at all. Pressing on or reaching referred to the ongoing experience with God in this life that he knew would culminate into the next life. Experience with God in this life that he knew would culminate into the next life. He was talking about the walk with God that had characterized all the great men and women in scriptures. In the words of the English poet Robert Browning, all but a man's reach should exceed his grasp. Or what's a heaven for or what's a heaven for. Reaching implies process. Reaching implies change. Reaching implies relationship. Reaching implies dependency.
Daniel Moore: 39:35
In many ways, the concept of reaching for Jesus, walking with Jesus and knowing Jesus encapsulates everything we have been discussing in this series, and knowing Jesus encapsulates everything we have been discussing in this series who qualifies us and for what? God qualifies us for the journey and everything it entails. The solution to being unqualified is to know Jesus. It's to enjoy the ups and downs and the ebbs and flows of life together with Him. It's to face an uncertain future, not with the pride that comes from self-accomplishment or the fear that comes from self-loathing, but the confidence that comes with being with Jesus. If you are a follower of Jesus, you already have everything you need to live a confident, fulfilled and productive life. You can take off the mask and the armor. You can cease comparing and manipulating and pretending. You can stop trying to convince yourself that you are capable and competent in and of yourself. Charge into the gap between who you are and all that God is calling you to become. That's where the growth happens and that is what grace is for.
Daniel Moore: 40:53
Well, that's going to wrap up this episode of Connecting the Gap and also this series on feeling unqualified, and I do hope that you guys think about a lot of the things that we've discussed over the past 12 weeks, and if you're struggling today with feeling qualified or feeling unqualified, not good enough, less than whatever it may be, take a step back for a moment and look at your relationship with God. Don't forget that people around you don't qualify you your relatives don't, your friends don't, your spouses don't, your significant others don't, your siblings don't. No one can tell you your worth or who you really are. Only you know that as you walk in your life with Christ and let Him qualify you based on that price that he paid on Calvary when he died for our sins. That's what qualified us. That's what makes us who we are as Christians. If we weren't worth dying for, jesus would never have paid that price that he did. But the fact that he gave His life to save us, to give us that hope of eternal life in heaven and to give us that salvation that none of us deserved, that's qualifying enough for me and I hope that's qualifying enough for you. Well, that ends this week's episode.
Daniel Moore: 42:20
I'm Daniel Moore. Thank you, guys for listening. This show really wouldn't be possible without you. If you're a fan of the show, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts and please subscribe to us on your favorite platform. The links to those are in the show notes.
Daniel Moore: 42:34
Also, you can visit my website at connectingthegapnet and there you'll find a contact page where you can contact and reach out to us if you need saved, if you don't know God in your life and you can't tell within yourself where you stand on feeling qualified or not, read the page on how to be saved on the website, and if you have any questions or need a Bible, please reach out. We'd be glad to help you with all of that, answer any questions that you may have and just walk beside you in this walk with Christ. There's nothing worth anything else in this world, more so than having that relationship with God, knowing where eternity is going to be someday when we reach heaven. Well, that's all for this week. And as we always say as we go, we believe that God's word never fails us. God's word has stood the test of time and through Jesus' death on the cross, he has connected the gap.
Aria: 43:25
You've been listening to Connecting the Gap podcast. In this world, there are many disconnects that cause chaos in our lives. This podcast is birthed from the desire to share hope and restoration of the power of the gospel by being transparent and open in our biblical walk with God. Each week, we take a few moments as we navigate God's word and peer into other people's testimonies and encourage each other to connect the gap. We upload a new audio podcast every Thursday and a video version of it on YouTube and Rumble. We are also on the Christian podcasting app, edify. You can subscribe to our podcast on many of the available podcasting platforms, including Apple Podcast, spotify, amazon Music, iheart Radio, tunein Radio and more. We are also available on your Alexa-enabled devices. We hope you are blessed by this ministry. This is a production of Connecting the Gap Ministries.
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