Here's a promise from Jesus that doesn't get much attention. "In the world you have tribulation, but take courage I have overcome the world." What is tribulation? One dictionary defines it as "great misery or distress, as from oppression." Jesus acknowledges that trouble is a part of our human condition. In the Old Testament the story of Job records his words as saying, "Man who is born of woman is short lived and full of trouble. Like a flower he comes forth, and withers. He also flees like a shadow and does not remain."
Tribulation is a real part of life and although it comes in varying degrees, we all experience it sometime. It seems to be woven into this world as people suffer sicknesses, disasters, or fall victim to crime. But to return to the promise of Jesus. He said that we should take courage because not only does he say we will have troubles in this world, but that He has overcome the world.
What this means for us is that His work of redemption and salvation has struck the root of all human sufferings and sorrows, which is the problem of sin. He went through tribulation as He went to the cross for our sake. He was oppressed as false charges were levied against Him. He experienced misery as His back was struck with the cruel whips. Pain caused great suffering for Him as He was nailed to that cross. Yet, He has overcome the world. As He overcame the forces of sin, evil and darkness, He proved to all the world that He was and is today, the Son of God.
So how does His overcoming give us grounds to take courage? By believing in Him we become born again, and as such are now part of His unique and distinct people. As such we are privileged to have within us all the resources of the God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. There is nothing that life or this world can bring upon us that will nullify what Christ has accomplished in us and for us. Because He lives, we will live. Because He has overcome, we will overcome, today and in that final day of judgment. This gives us a sure basis to face life with confidence and yes, courage.
Have unwise choices made life difficult for you and those around you? Are you distressed because of what life has become? Is sin oppressing you and making you addicted to some life controlling habit or pattern? Jesus has overcome all that, and is able to help you overcome today. Might not be easy and is certainly no quick fix to some of these situations, but you can begin fresh, today. Believe Him for the forgiveness of all your sins. Let salvation be yours, and restoration will soon follow. Let today as you read, be your day to start over. You can overcome in the name of Jesus!
Tuesday, May 14, 2019
Wednesday, May 8, 2019
Two Ways
I've often heard, as I'm sure you have, charges brought against the christian faith concerning God and Jesus. They usually go something like this, if God is a God of love why is there such injustices in the world? Why do people go hungry, suffer deadly diseases, become victims of hatred, etc.? How does God allow this to happen and why? I think you get the gist of these types of questions.
These questions take nothing away from the goodness of God, in fact they are legitimate questions that are indicative of a deeper issue than the whys of human suffering. What they indicate is the voice of the human race that is in open defiance against God, our Creator. By voicing the question of God's supposed lack of compassion and concern we are voicing the first accusation against God made at the beginning of history, in the garden of Eden. There the serpent also accused God of withholding good from our first ancestors. He lied to them and said," God knows that if you eat {of the fruit} you will be like God, knowing good and evil." He implied God was not fair or honest with them Adam and Eve. They fell for it and chose their way rather than God's.
There is the basis for all the evil and wrongs this world has seen since that day. We have in effect told God that we do not accept His instructions, His standard for life, for reality, or of decency. We will determine for ourselves what is right and wrong, just or unjust, and if God's way be out of step with what we say is good, then He is the one who is wrong, unjust, fickle, or irrelevant. But God calls throughout history and says, "Is My way not right? Is it not your ways that are not right?"
We are in dangerous days in our nation. We have called God's way an imposition of anothers' belief. We have called perversions, immorality, infanticide, constitutionally protected rights. We have mistaken subversive crimes that weaken our system of government and threaten our freedoms as hardball politics as usual. There are injustices in this fallen world, but they are not God's fault. They are totally our fault. We are the ones who must return to God's way, and confess our wrong ways.
God still offers revival, through the Gospel of His Son Jesus Christ. His teachings are the true and the only hope of salvation, and are the basis for all law and justice, they are foundational for the preservation of decency and order. My prayer has been that you, and we as a nation, would consider His word, turn to Him and see once again, that His way is the best way.
Two ways are in front of us. Which one will it be?
These questions take nothing away from the goodness of God, in fact they are legitimate questions that are indicative of a deeper issue than the whys of human suffering. What they indicate is the voice of the human race that is in open defiance against God, our Creator. By voicing the question of God's supposed lack of compassion and concern we are voicing the first accusation against God made at the beginning of history, in the garden of Eden. There the serpent also accused God of withholding good from our first ancestors. He lied to them and said," God knows that if you eat {of the fruit} you will be like God, knowing good and evil." He implied God was not fair or honest with them Adam and Eve. They fell for it and chose their way rather than God's.
There is the basis for all the evil and wrongs this world has seen since that day. We have in effect told God that we do not accept His instructions, His standard for life, for reality, or of decency. We will determine for ourselves what is right and wrong, just or unjust, and if God's way be out of step with what we say is good, then He is the one who is wrong, unjust, fickle, or irrelevant. But God calls throughout history and says, "Is My way not right? Is it not your ways that are not right?"
We are in dangerous days in our nation. We have called God's way an imposition of anothers' belief. We have called perversions, immorality, infanticide, constitutionally protected rights. We have mistaken subversive crimes that weaken our system of government and threaten our freedoms as hardball politics as usual. There are injustices in this fallen world, but they are not God's fault. They are totally our fault. We are the ones who must return to God's way, and confess our wrong ways.
God still offers revival, through the Gospel of His Son Jesus Christ. His teachings are the true and the only hope of salvation, and are the basis for all law and justice, they are foundational for the preservation of decency and order. My prayer has been that you, and we as a nation, would consider His word, turn to Him and see once again, that His way is the best way.
Two ways are in front of us. Which one will it be?
Wednesday, May 1, 2019
Run To Win!
I think most of us have some goal, or sense of aspiration, something that we want to work toward. It's good if we do, and if we don't we should set some time aside and really think about it. What is it that we would really like to do or to bring about in our lives? Then see what steps we can take toward making it a reality. The Bible gives us a clue of the kind of attitude that will be helpful not only in reaching our goals, but in our spiritual lives also. First Corinthians reads," Run in such a way that you may win. Everyone who competes in the games exercises self control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable."
When it comes to working toward our goals, we know to stay focused and not let distractions and setbacks get in the way and dull our resolve. We press on, diligently working. This same kind of attitude and volition should be even more evident when it comes to our walk with the Lord Jesus. As Christians we know that there is a reward someday. We know that the day will come when our lives and all of history will be finished and we will stand before the Lord of all creation. The awareness of this coming day can be something that spurs us onward to greater service, deeper holiness, and a broader perspective on the condition of the world around us. We should run to win.
Paul was a great Apostle, sent by Christ to preach His word and establish churches throughout that region of the world. He was faithful in that calling and endured many hardships in it's fulfillment, yet was not deterred from his goal and mission. Why? Partly because he knew the day was coming when the reward of long years of service would be gained. He knew that someday his sorrows and tears of endurance would be turned to joy and glory as his prize was granted. The great Apostle ran to win.
The best investment we can make with our lives is to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and to follow Him in service and obedience. If we give the same diligence to our spiritual lives as we do to the temporal goals of this world, we will find a level of satisfaction and contentment that nothing can shake. Our striving in faith will bring everything about our lives to serve one noble goal-to know Jesus and the power of His resurrection. That is a worthy goal and an excellent return for our time effort.
Don't just coast along in life. Don't just run because everyone else is running. Run to win!
When it comes to working toward our goals, we know to stay focused and not let distractions and setbacks get in the way and dull our resolve. We press on, diligently working. This same kind of attitude and volition should be even more evident when it comes to our walk with the Lord Jesus. As Christians we know that there is a reward someday. We know that the day will come when our lives and all of history will be finished and we will stand before the Lord of all creation. The awareness of this coming day can be something that spurs us onward to greater service, deeper holiness, and a broader perspective on the condition of the world around us. We should run to win.
Paul was a great Apostle, sent by Christ to preach His word and establish churches throughout that region of the world. He was faithful in that calling and endured many hardships in it's fulfillment, yet was not deterred from his goal and mission. Why? Partly because he knew the day was coming when the reward of long years of service would be gained. He knew that someday his sorrows and tears of endurance would be turned to joy and glory as his prize was granted. The great Apostle ran to win.
The best investment we can make with our lives is to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and to follow Him in service and obedience. If we give the same diligence to our spiritual lives as we do to the temporal goals of this world, we will find a level of satisfaction and contentment that nothing can shake. Our striving in faith will bring everything about our lives to serve one noble goal-to know Jesus and the power of His resurrection. That is a worthy goal and an excellent return for our time effort.
Don't just coast along in life. Don't just run because everyone else is running. Run to win!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)