"Now before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus knowing that His hour had come that He would depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. During supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to betray Him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God and was going back to God, got up from supper, and laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He girded Himself." John 13:1-4
Life is great. Whether we acknowledge it or not, we are all blessed beyond measure. The reality is, however, that there are times when terrible and traumatic things happen within our blessed existence. We lose jobs, relationships fall apart, health fails and we suffer the loss of loved ones. At times like these, we can feel that we are at the very bottom of our existence and are without hope. How do we handle it? How do we survive? What do we do?
Consider Jesus' worst day ever. Unlike most of us, he knew that his worst day was coming for most, if not all of his life, most certainly throughout his 3 year ministry. He repeatedly warned his followers that it would come. He endured betrayal by one of his inner circle. And when he took his closest companions to keep watch with him while he agonized over what was about to happen and they couldn't even stay awake. Of course these and other things are just the preamble to the horror of his trial, scourging and crucifixion. Most of us would have called down the legion of angels or responded in some other way that would have stopped the suffering and closed the disrespectful mouths that taunted him but Jesus did not. How did he do it?
Beloved, there are several keys from which we can learn that Jesus himself revealed in John 13:1-4:
"He knew that his hour had come"-This tells us that Jesus understood his purpose. Not only did he come to "seek and save the lost" but he also came to take on the sins of the world and be the sacrifice for us all, thus making that salvation possible. We too have a purpose. We are to share the good news with the lost and to make ourselves a "living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God." Likewise, we know as he did that tough times will come. We can and should be prepared.
"He loved them to the end"-As Jesus was motivated by love for the Father and love for us in all that he did, we likewise must be ruled by it. Jesus once said, "Love others as I have loved you." He loved sacrificially. As we endure trials, we must keep his love for us and our love for him at the forefront of our minds and hearts. This will help us endure and succeed.
"Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands..."-Jesus had power, might and control of everything. At any time he could have brought all of his suffering to an end but he chose to use that power to endure for the greater good. We may not have power to stop our own suffering but we know that "We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us." We have power. That power can help us endure, succeed and win, all while encouraging others as Christ's example encourages us.
"He had come forth from God and was going back to God"-Jesus was in touch with his identity. He knew exactly who he was and did what was necessary to live up to his name, his purpose and his calling. He also knew his destination and looked forward to returning home. We must likewise know who we are and more importantly whose we are. The Lord has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." When we are in the depth of despair and suffering, we must know and believe that we are not alone but that God is with us every step of the way. We must also know that our Lord has gone to prepare a place for us and will return to collect us. We, like he, have a destination to which to look forward.
When the tough times come, and they inevitably will, let us reflect on the ultimate example of our Savior. He has endured on our behalf and have equipped us to do so for his glory.
One,
Lee
Showing posts with label Endurance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Endurance. Show all posts
Monday, June 16, 2014
Monday, January 23, 2012
Handling Adversity-1/23/2012
"And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely: Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks." Acts 16:23-24
Paul and Silas find themselves in one of the worst situations that we can imagine. Two questions that come to mind are, "How did this happen to them" and "How did they handle it?"
The answer to the first question, simply put, is that they were doing the work of the Lord. During Paul's second missionary journey, he freed a woman of the spirit that possessed her. In that she was a bit of a fortune teller and a source of income for her "handlers," they dragged Paul and Silas into the market place, reported them to the local authorities, libeled them and had them beaten and thrown into prison. Even in prison, they were put in the innermost cell and shackled.
How did they handle it? "And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises unto god: and the prisoners heard them," Acts 16:25.
Beloved, in this life, we have many things about which we can complain if we so choose. They can range from the mundane inconveniences of having to cut grass to the concerns of serious health issues. The reality of living is that bad things happen, even to good people. The measure of a person, however, is how these things are handled. For the Christian, our faith is in the Lord through whom we can do all things (Phi 4:13). We are to "count it all joy when we enter in to various trials," (James 1:2). We remember that our salvation is tied to endurance (Matt 24:13). Lastly, we acknowledge that Christ suffered for our souls.
Knowing these things, it becomes clear that we should praise God in every circumstance imaginable! There is no place we can go that we are not in His sight. There is nothing that can happen that He does not know about. He alone has truthfully said that He would never leave us nor forsake us. For this reason, we can have confidence that everything is going to work out fine. God Himself caused Paul and Silas to be freed. Based on their faith and their public praise of God, the same jailer who was charged with locking them up obeyed the gospel and he and his family received salvation.
Sometimes, the way we handle adversity, particularly while actually doing the work of the Lord, can mean life to others.
Rejoicing in the Lord,
Lee
Paul and Silas find themselves in one of the worst situations that we can imagine. Two questions that come to mind are, "How did this happen to them" and "How did they handle it?"
The answer to the first question, simply put, is that they were doing the work of the Lord. During Paul's second missionary journey, he freed a woman of the spirit that possessed her. In that she was a bit of a fortune teller and a source of income for her "handlers," they dragged Paul and Silas into the market place, reported them to the local authorities, libeled them and had them beaten and thrown into prison. Even in prison, they were put in the innermost cell and shackled.
How did they handle it? "And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises unto god: and the prisoners heard them," Acts 16:25.
Beloved, in this life, we have many things about which we can complain if we so choose. They can range from the mundane inconveniences of having to cut grass to the concerns of serious health issues. The reality of living is that bad things happen, even to good people. The measure of a person, however, is how these things are handled. For the Christian, our faith is in the Lord through whom we can do all things (Phi 4:13). We are to "count it all joy when we enter in to various trials," (James 1:2). We remember that our salvation is tied to endurance (Matt 24:13). Lastly, we acknowledge that Christ suffered for our souls.
Knowing these things, it becomes clear that we should praise God in every circumstance imaginable! There is no place we can go that we are not in His sight. There is nothing that can happen that He does not know about. He alone has truthfully said that He would never leave us nor forsake us. For this reason, we can have confidence that everything is going to work out fine. God Himself caused Paul and Silas to be freed. Based on their faith and their public praise of God, the same jailer who was charged with locking them up obeyed the gospel and he and his family received salvation.
Sometimes, the way we handle adversity, particularly while actually doing the work of the Lord, can mean life to others.
Rejoicing in the Lord,
Lee
Monday, November 21, 2011
Keep Going and Going and Going...11/21/2011 (rp)
"But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary of doing good." 2 Thess 3:13
The Christian life lived right involves a lot of work. To be sure, the work is good, fulfilling, rewarding, beneficial and the right thing to do. In fact, we were made for it. It can, however, get tiresome from time to time.
We all lead busy lives. While most of our "mandatory" time is spent earning a living, getting an education or taking care of a household, for some of us, most of the rest of our time is built on pursuing the things of the Lord. There are classes to be prepared for and taught. There are members to visit in both homes and hospitals. There are things to be done to maintain the place of worship. There are meetings to be had, people to be counseled, administrative work to be done and prayer time to be spent.
Sounds exhausting right? For those who are doing it, there is no doubt that it can be and often is. But the encouragement today beloved, is to not become weary in the good that you are doing. Let us continually be motivated by the tiresome good that is done to us by God, despite the fact that we could not possibly hope to deserve it. Let us also be encouraged by the promises that have been made to us. The greatest of rewards awaits those who remain diligent.
The Christian life is a race of endurance rather than of speed. We need to remain consistent, steadfast and committed to doing that for which we were made. Let us be living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God. When He calls for us, let us not be asleep, but working while it is day, for night surely is on its way.
Loving Like Jesus,
Lee
The Christian life lived right involves a lot of work. To be sure, the work is good, fulfilling, rewarding, beneficial and the right thing to do. In fact, we were made for it. It can, however, get tiresome from time to time.
We all lead busy lives. While most of our "mandatory" time is spent earning a living, getting an education or taking care of a household, for some of us, most of the rest of our time is built on pursuing the things of the Lord. There are classes to be prepared for and taught. There are members to visit in both homes and hospitals. There are things to be done to maintain the place of worship. There are meetings to be had, people to be counseled, administrative work to be done and prayer time to be spent.
Sounds exhausting right? For those who are doing it, there is no doubt that it can be and often is. But the encouragement today beloved, is to not become weary in the good that you are doing. Let us continually be motivated by the tiresome good that is done to us by God, despite the fact that we could not possibly hope to deserve it. Let us also be encouraged by the promises that have been made to us. The greatest of rewards awaits those who remain diligent.
The Christian life is a race of endurance rather than of speed. We need to remain consistent, steadfast and committed to doing that for which we were made. Let us be living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God. When He calls for us, let us not be asleep, but working while it is day, for night surely is on its way.
Loving Like Jesus,
Lee
Friday, November 11, 2011
The Cost of Christianity-11/11/2011 (rp)
"If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me." Luke 9:23
What an eloquent verse this is that describes the requirements of the Christian faith.
First, you must believe. Heb 11:6 tells us that "He that cometh unto God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him." Following Jesus necessarily involves belief. No one would get on a plane that they did not feel could fly nor a boat they did not think could float. The desire to follow him means that the individual has been compelled to do so by recommendation, personal experience, need or fear of the alternative. All of these have belief as a foundational component.
Denying oneself contextually means to die to oneself. Clarity is found in Rom 12: 1 where we are told to make our bodies a living sacrifice. Otherwise said, we are no longer our own but now are to lead lives dedicated to the service of the Lord. Through baptism, we die to the flesh spiritually, are buried as dead and are resurrected into the newness of life even as Christ was. In so doing, we live lives dedicated to the accomplishing of his will rather than our own.
Taking up our cross demonstrates that our commitment is not to be entered into lightly. It involves the gritty reality of suffering, pain, ridicule, persecution, sacrifice and potentially, literal and figurative death. The cross is a heavy burden, but it is one that Christ shouldered for us. He now invites all that are weary and burdened to come to him from whom rest is available.
Finally beloved, we cannot just talk about it, but we must be about it. Calling ourselves Christians is meaningless without living the life that exemplifies that calling. A young man of many great possessions and authority was once invited to follow Christ but turned it down, once he heard what it involved. We must follow him in word, thought and deed regardless of the cost. Remember that we are bought with a price paid for by the blood of our savior.
One might ask why we should endure such things since they have already been done for us. The answer is that we should endure such things because they have been done for us. By taking up his own cross, Christ serves as an example for us. The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared to the glory that will be revealed in us. Though we may sometimes find our faith to be challenging to maintain, we will find that the benefits to doing so are out of this world.
Loving Like Jesus,
Lee
What an eloquent verse this is that describes the requirements of the Christian faith.
First, you must believe. Heb 11:6 tells us that "He that cometh unto God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him." Following Jesus necessarily involves belief. No one would get on a plane that they did not feel could fly nor a boat they did not think could float. The desire to follow him means that the individual has been compelled to do so by recommendation, personal experience, need or fear of the alternative. All of these have belief as a foundational component.
Denying oneself contextually means to die to oneself. Clarity is found in Rom 12: 1 where we are told to make our bodies a living sacrifice. Otherwise said, we are no longer our own but now are to lead lives dedicated to the service of the Lord. Through baptism, we die to the flesh spiritually, are buried as dead and are resurrected into the newness of life even as Christ was. In so doing, we live lives dedicated to the accomplishing of his will rather than our own.
Taking up our cross demonstrates that our commitment is not to be entered into lightly. It involves the gritty reality of suffering, pain, ridicule, persecution, sacrifice and potentially, literal and figurative death. The cross is a heavy burden, but it is one that Christ shouldered for us. He now invites all that are weary and burdened to come to him from whom rest is available.
Finally beloved, we cannot just talk about it, but we must be about it. Calling ourselves Christians is meaningless without living the life that exemplifies that calling. A young man of many great possessions and authority was once invited to follow Christ but turned it down, once he heard what it involved. We must follow him in word, thought and deed regardless of the cost. Remember that we are bought with a price paid for by the blood of our savior.
One might ask why we should endure such things since they have already been done for us. The answer is that we should endure such things because they have been done for us. By taking up his own cross, Christ serves as an example for us. The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared to the glory that will be revealed in us. Though we may sometimes find our faith to be challenging to maintain, we will find that the benefits to doing so are out of this world.
Loving Like Jesus,
Lee
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
The Purpose of the Thorn-10/26/2011
"And by reason of the exceeding greatness of the revelations, that I should not be exalted overmuch, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, that I should not be exalted overmuch." 2 Cor 12:7
Most Christians and many non-Christians are familiar with the plight of Paul's thorn in the flesh. He attributes it to having visited heaven and witnessed things too amazing to describe. He then specifically states that the discomfort he was given (not a literal thorn in literal flesh) was given, for all intents and purposes, to keep him humble.
Beloved there are at least two messages here. To the Christian, the benefits of a relationship with God should be obvious. In fact, it would exceed the available space to even try to list them all, however, this would be a great place to pause and give quiet thought to how good God has been to you throughout your lifetime. That done, none of us have to look far to see those who have been so blessed by God that they think they have accomplished and acquired everything in and of themselves and therefore do not need God. These folks have missed the point entirely. In situations like this, it would be better to have some sort of reminder of both the hierarchy associated with our very existence and the source of every blessing than to lose sight of both because of His overwhelming goodness. One might think, "Why does such a reminder necessarily involve pain?" We should not assume that Paul's malady involved pain, however we know that whatever it was not only kept him in line but served as an example to others and glorified God. Have you ever been inspired by the faith of someone less fortunate than you?
To the non-Christian considering membership in God's family, it should be known that it is not all cookies and cream. God never promised us an easy row to hoe. In fact, there is full disclosure given regarding the difficulties that can be expected from faithfully living the Christian life. Our purpose in life is to glorify Him through our praise, worship, love, obedience and sharing with others. In so doing, we may become scuffed or inconvenienced, but the benefits of being a child of God are beyond imagination and eternal. Paul experienced the highest highs and the lowest lows, but learned ultimately to depend on God for everything and accept His will in all things. That is the purpose of the thorn.
Loving Like Jesus,
Lee
Most Christians and many non-Christians are familiar with the plight of Paul's thorn in the flesh. He attributes it to having visited heaven and witnessed things too amazing to describe. He then specifically states that the discomfort he was given (not a literal thorn in literal flesh) was given, for all intents and purposes, to keep him humble.
Beloved there are at least two messages here. To the Christian, the benefits of a relationship with God should be obvious. In fact, it would exceed the available space to even try to list them all, however, this would be a great place to pause and give quiet thought to how good God has been to you throughout your lifetime. That done, none of us have to look far to see those who have been so blessed by God that they think they have accomplished and acquired everything in and of themselves and therefore do not need God. These folks have missed the point entirely. In situations like this, it would be better to have some sort of reminder of both the hierarchy associated with our very existence and the source of every blessing than to lose sight of both because of His overwhelming goodness. One might think, "Why does such a reminder necessarily involve pain?" We should not assume that Paul's malady involved pain, however we know that whatever it was not only kept him in line but served as an example to others and glorified God. Have you ever been inspired by the faith of someone less fortunate than you?
To the non-Christian considering membership in God's family, it should be known that it is not all cookies and cream. God never promised us an easy row to hoe. In fact, there is full disclosure given regarding the difficulties that can be expected from faithfully living the Christian life. Our purpose in life is to glorify Him through our praise, worship, love, obedience and sharing with others. In so doing, we may become scuffed or inconvenienced, but the benefits of being a child of God are beyond imagination and eternal. Paul experienced the highest highs and the lowest lows, but learned ultimately to depend on God for everything and accept His will in all things. That is the purpose of the thorn.
Loving Like Jesus,
Lee
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
The Temporary Nature of Trials-DD 5/11/2011
"But God remembered Noah and all the beasts and all the cattle that were with him in the ark; and God caused a wind to pass over the earth, and the water subsided." Gen 8:1
There is a saying often heard from the wise and experienced lips of older women in southern congregations, "Trouble don't last always." While we are in the midst of times, trials and tribulations, it seems as though they are never ending. We sometimes feel as though we will never survive our circumstances. Things can be so onerous that we wonder if God is angry with us or has just forgotten us. With the recent storms and current floods in this country, these feelings are likely very topical to some.
Beloved, we assign many things to God. To be sure, there are definitely times when He expresses Himself through the conditions that afflict us, as was done with the great flood, the captivities of Israel, the loss of battles and even the collapse of the family unit in David's case. Before we look to Him, however, we must first examine ourselves. This is not to say that all sin results in calamity or all calamity is sourced in sin. Nevertheless, we as God's children must look in the mirror constantly to see whether we can be found in His will or not.
In any case, suffering is temporary. The psalmist has said, "Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning" Psa 30:5. Time after time God has relented from His anger and swept us up in His arms, expressing His love in ways that exceed our imagination. Think about your own life. How many difficulties can you look back on today because you are no longer suffering from them. Further, how much better off are you today? Job's whole world was ripped apart, but we know that he was in a greater position after calamity than he ever was before. If by narrow chance, you have suffered your whole life but have remained faithful, you still have Lazarus' reward to which to look forward.
Have faith in the Lord. Endure the storms that will inevitably come for a reason or a season. Then enjoy the restoration and bounty that lies beneath every rainbow that he casts.
Loving Like Jesus,
Lee
There is a saying often heard from the wise and experienced lips of older women in southern congregations, "Trouble don't last always." While we are in the midst of times, trials and tribulations, it seems as though they are never ending. We sometimes feel as though we will never survive our circumstances. Things can be so onerous that we wonder if God is angry with us or has just forgotten us. With the recent storms and current floods in this country, these feelings are likely very topical to some.
Beloved, we assign many things to God. To be sure, there are definitely times when He expresses Himself through the conditions that afflict us, as was done with the great flood, the captivities of Israel, the loss of battles and even the collapse of the family unit in David's case. Before we look to Him, however, we must first examine ourselves. This is not to say that all sin results in calamity or all calamity is sourced in sin. Nevertheless, we as God's children must look in the mirror constantly to see whether we can be found in His will or not.
In any case, suffering is temporary. The psalmist has said, "Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning" Psa 30:5. Time after time God has relented from His anger and swept us up in His arms, expressing His love in ways that exceed our imagination. Think about your own life. How many difficulties can you look back on today because you are no longer suffering from them. Further, how much better off are you today? Job's whole world was ripped apart, but we know that he was in a greater position after calamity than he ever was before. If by narrow chance, you have suffered your whole life but have remained faithful, you still have Lazarus' reward to which to look forward.
Have faith in the Lord. Endure the storms that will inevitably come for a reason or a season. Then enjoy the restoration and bounty that lies beneath every rainbow that he casts.
Loving Like Jesus,
Lee
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