Romans 15:4 "For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope."
2 So you, my son, be strong [constantly strengthened] and empowered in the grace that is [to be found only] in Christ Jesus. 2 The things [the doctrine, the precepts, the admonitions, the sum of my ministry] which you have heard me teach [a]in the presence of many witnesses, entrust [as a treasure] to reliable and faithful men who will also be capable and qualified to teach others. 3 Take with me your share of hardship [passing through the difficulties which you are called to endure], like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No soldier in active service gets entangled in the [ordinary business] affairs of civilian life; [he avoids them] so that he may please the one who enlisted him to serve. 5 And if anyone competes as an athlete [in competitive games], he is not crowned [with the wreath of victory] unless he competes according to the rules. 6 The hard-working farmer [who labors to produce crops] ought to be the first to receive his share of the crops. 7 Think over the things I am saying [grasp their application], for the Lord will grant you insight and understanding in everything.
The Word of God for the Children of God. Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia! Amen.
Our lives today are pretty easy.
We expect that others (conscientious Christians) will automatically work hard, ponder how they will sacrifice over much just to make our lives easier for us.
We don’t know what it means to wait for something anymore.
If you want food, simply go to a fast food joint.
If you want a new record, click a link on your computer instead of waiting in line at a record store.
If you want to know what a friend is doing, text them instead of calling or check out their Facebook or Twitter page.
We have became a people who consume food, entertainment, news, and so on.
But the obvious observation to be made here is – have we become a people who consume the manna of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.
Unfortunately we have brought this into the church as well.
We go to church because we know we can consume a great worship experience.
We don’t have to do anything on our part because the lights are set low, the music is excellently performed, and we don’t have to think about the Bible because we are told by our Pastors precisely what to believe and how to act.
It dawned on me: this can foster a consumerist mentality in the body of Christ.
The consumerist mentality not only deals with our experience at church, but extends back into our personal experience as we read the Bible individually.
We have a study Bible which gives us the answer right away, or we are one click away from a Bible site to explain to us the meaning of a given text.
Or even the daily devotion in the email every morning (yes we know). These are not bad resources, but can cause us to be dependent on them instead of God.
In 2 Timothy, Paul is imparting his wisdom, giving instructions to Timothy.
Some of these instructions were hard to understand, even harder to grasp and then give it application and Paul did not want Timothy to just depend on him.
Instead, he said Timothy should “read Paul’s words” “try to understand the message,” but depend on God, the Holy Spirit alone that was dwelling in Him.
Paul’s message to his student Timothy: We must be very careful that we don’t become a simple consumer, but learn to pray over everything, think long and hard over what we have read and ask God to give us wisdom, understanding.
Through my own experience, there tends to be much greater joy in God’s word when we think and pray often over it than just read what others have said of it.
The Apostle Paul was acutely aware that at any time the Emperor himself could come down from his throne, knock on Paul’s prison door and demand his life.
The Apostle Paul here knows and accepts that his life is near its appointed end and he feels deep within his soul the message of Savior Christ must go forth.
When we become older, and prayerfully wiser, we start pondering our spiritual heritage and too our “faith-filled” faith in Jesus Christ, and we begin to wonder whether or not the succeeding generations will carry on what we have learned.
So, we try to provide up and coming generations of young and younger people with positive exposure to our morals, ethics, worship attitudes and practices, hoping against hope that our values and worship practices will rub off on them;
However, it can sometimes be very difficult to efficiently, effectively instill our hard fought, harder won morals ethics, “Godly” values in another generation.
Usually, when separate generations convene together, viewpoints tend to clash.
In families we witness the soils of bitterness and divisiveness raise up between young people and adults, leading to sowing the seeds of generational divisions.
There are a few examples in Scripture that might lead us to strongly conclude that it’s difficult to accomplish the task of ministering into other generations.
For example,
Acts 13:36 says, “For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep, and was laid among his fathers, and underwent decay.”
This verse from Dr. Luke implies his deep and deeper belief that the ‘great’ King David was only able to effectively “reach,” to disciple, “of his own generation.”
The pages of Scripture frequently records that it “normally” takes a new and younger generation to provide leadership to communicate to new generations.
Perhaps the best example in the Bible is that of Moses and Joshua.
God selected Moses to lead the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt, but he used Joshua, not Moses, to teach, lead, reach a new generation into a new land.
It appears as though, even in 2022 we are only able to effectively minister to our own generation, but we still observe with a crystal clarity in the Bible where we are supposed to try and reach other generations with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
For example, David said in Psalm 71:17-18,
“Since my youth, O God, you have taught me, and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds. Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your might to all who are to come.”
We can see from these verses that we are not exempt from sharing the love of Christ with our generation but with the “next generation” and with “all who are to come.” We might not be as effective with another age group as with our own, but we still need to teach the ways of Jesus to the succeeding generations.
Put yourself into Timothy’s shoes for a moment – he was the pastoral leader of his rather sizable faith community – he has just read this letter from his mentor Apostle Paul – which leads him to think he will not be hearing from him again.
He still has his responsibilities to the people he leads – but n0w what becomes of the future where the words and writings of Paul cease to come from Paul?
There is suddenly this vacuum – and all one’s hope seems to get sucked out.
Have you ever been in a situation when you just didn’t know what to do?
There just didn’t seem to be any good options or maybe there were several good possibilities but you didn’t know which one to pursue? You’ve made pro and con lists of all your choices, but it’s not clear what your next step should be.
Your heart cries out,
“I wish God would just tell me what to do.”
But all you get is silence.
Wouldn’t it be nice if we could talk to God just like we talk to our friends and ask Him what to do?
Imagine this scenario as Timothy might have:
You ask God a question.
He answers. You hear His voice. You answer. He responds, then asks you a question. You respond. He tells you what to do. You have a conversation.
How do you have a conversation with anyone?
You ask questions.
You share your ideas.
More importantly, you listen ….
Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything. 2 Timothy 2:7 ESV
Imagine young Timothy trying to have a “final” conversation with his mentor:
Timothy: Okay, wait a minute, Paul. You tell me to think before I preach and act, but isn’t the organ of our thinking fallen and unreliable and unwise too?
Paul: Yes, your mind lacks wisdom is fallen and fallible. Yes, it is prone to self-justifying errors. But Christ alone is in the business of “renewing our minds” (Romans 12:2; Ephesians 4:23).
Do you think there is some unfallen part of you that you could substitute for your mind? We are fallen and depraved in every part. You can’t retreat from thinking yourself into some other safe, untainted faculty of knowing.
Take note, Timothy: even in raising the objection against thinking you are thinking! You can’t escape the necessity of thinking. God’s call is to do it well.
Timothy: But, Paul, I don’t want to become a cold, impersonal intellectual.
Paul: There is danger on both sides, Timothy. There is cold knowledge, and there is a red hot zeal that “is not according to knowledge” (Romans 10:2).
But thinking does not have to cool your zeal. In fact, in my life the vigorous exercise of my mind in spiritual things causes me to boil inside, not to freeze.
You are right not to want to become “impersonal.”
That happens when thinking is emphasized to the exclusion of feeling about people; and reason is exalted above love.
But note this, Timothy: abandonment of thinking is the destruction of persons.
Yes, there is significantly more to personal relationships than thinking, but they are less human without it. God honored his image in us when he said, “Come, let us reason together” (Isaiah 1:18). Should we do less?
Timothy: But, Paul, should I not just take you at your obviously wiser words, and not ‘think’ ask so many questions? You’re an apostle, and speak for God.
Paul: Take what, Timothy?
Timothy: Your words, what you say in your letters.
Paul: Do you mean the black marks on some fleeting piece of parchment?
Timothy: No. What they are meant to stand for. You know. What they mean.
Paul: How do you think or believe you genuinely know what I mean, Timothy?
Timothy: I carefully and deeply read each word and though of what you write.
Paul: You mean you pass your eyes over the black marks on the parchment?
Timothy: No, do not just glance over them – I . . . I try hard to think about it. I pray and ask how the words and sentences fit together. I look for what it means.
Paul: That’s right, Timothy. Thinking and asking questions is the only way you will ever understand what I want to communicate in my letters.
And either you do it poorly, or you do it well. So “do not be a child in your thinking: be a babe in evil, but in thinking be mature” (1 Corinthians 14:20).
As the Master said, “wise as serpents and innocent as doves” (Matthew 10:16).
Timothy: But, Paul, I am confused here – won’t I become arrogant and boastful by using my mind on my own won’t I discover not too Godly things on my own?
Paul: Timothy, you never have and never will discover anything “on your own.”
And you would know this if you had thought more deeply about what I said.
What I said was:
And what you apparently overlooked was …
“Think over and about what I say, but remember this only exhortation:
“for God ALONE will grant you a measure of understanding in everything.”
The Lord, Timothy, the Lord! “From him, through him, and to him are all things. To him be the glory!” (Romans 11:36)
He is the only ground on which all the Word of God stands and speaks to us.
He is the only true Foundation of your faith and only true goal of all thought.
So, be strong, Timothy – for you stand upon the faith of your fathers who stood most upright, the firmest, surest on ALL of the promises of the Lord your God.
So think, Timothy. Gird up your mind and think on all of the Promises of God!
Pray to God the Holy Spirit to Bring this wisdom to the forefront of your mind …
Savior Jesus said, 33 But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being right—the attitude and character of God], and all these things will be given to you also.
34 “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.(Matthew 6:33-34 Amplified)
Remain steadfast and immovable upon all of the promises of God which came true through the coming of Christ – his life – his ministry – his teachings – his crucifixion – his death – his resurrection and ascension – grasp them – to LIVE!
In the name of God the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
God of my whole life, My God of encouragement, there are so many philosophies and views out there. Give me an acceptable measure of understanding of your truth, so I can know what is right. May the Word of God through the Holy Spirit of God guide me into a daily measure of all truth. May I also be taught by Spirit-filled ministers and teachers of your word. I pray that through Your Scriptures, I will be pure in heart and mind, so that I don’t block your truth through my sin and stubbornness. I know your truth is my only foundation for spiritual maturity and for wisdom in all parts of my life. As I walk in your truth, help me better live out your purpose for my life. Amen.
13 How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? 2 How long must I take counsel in my soul, Having sorrow in my heart day after day? How long will my enemy exalt himself and triumph over me?
3 Consider and answer me, O Lord my God; Give light (life) to my eyes, or I will sleep the sleep of death, 4 And my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,” And my adversaries will rejoice when I am shaken.
5 But I have trusted and relied on and been confident in Your lovingkindness and faithfulness; My heart shall rejoice and delight in Your salvation. 6 I will sing to the Lord, Because He has dealt bountifully with me.
The Word of God for the Children of God. Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia! Amen.
Silence, disappointment, doubt, and suffering are not things that are foreign to Christians – they are common to us all.
When we are at our end, desperate, alone, surrounded by darkness, it seems like God is not there, is deliberately, intentionally maliciously hiding his face; those feeling of abandonment can be devastating to the maximum.
It can feel worse than the trouble itself to feel alone in our pain.
As we set our hopes and prayers on something, someone, our trust, our heart, and it shatters at our feet, this can hurt more than to have never hoped at all.
They say it is better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all, but the pain and loss of not knowing love or having known true love are very real.
Silence hurts.
Theodicy, the issue of how a loving God can allow suffering, is a perennial atheist question, and a legitimate and honest one.
But I think it is first and foremost a question for believers.
It is of vital importance to us, precisely because we do believe in a good and sovereign God, that we resolve this issue with ourselves and with God.
It’s crucial and vital to our spiritual development and a healthy growing trust with God that we face these questions and our pain head on.
That is what this devotional is prayerfully going to be about.
Theodicy is not a cold theological question.
It is one of passion. “I cry to you God but you do not answer. I stand before you, and you don’t even bother to look” screams Job in genuine state of desperation.
Clever intellectual answers won’t cut it here.
The deeply desperate answer we each seek in our pain is not so much one of explanation but of relief.
When we desperately cry “Why!” what we genuinely mean is “Make it stop.”
Before we can really approach an answer to the problem we need to stop for a moment, realize just how close this question is intertwined with our very being.
We cannot approach this from a distance.
This is not even close to being a neutral subject, or anonymous topic for us.
It deals with our entire lives in the most intimate and central way imaginable.
So long as we, our allegedly not too foolish theories, stay on an intellectual level and do not touch us so close to where we live, they will remain merely academic.
We must yet each approach these questions from a different angle, a personal angle, a Father, Son and Holy Spirit angle, if we truly want an answer that will touch us and heal us rather than only a superficial and theoretical explanation.
Whether atheist, believer, or never introduced to God, these are our questions, no amount of mental gymnastics can make the questions, our needs, go away.
We have all these myriad questions because God has placed them in our hearts.
God always wants us to ask – when we stop asking we stop being truly human.
God wants us to perpetually, persistently, perseveringly, ask Him “why me?!”“why must I long suffer like this?!” “Why must my suffering persist?”(Luke 18:1-8)
Jesus said, deeply pleaded, Matthew 6:33 AKJV: But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
God is to bring it to a point where even our darkness asks: “why am I yet here?”
God has given all of us an inborn need for love and meaning – Psalm 139:1-18
139 O Lord, you have searched me [thoroughly] and have known me. 2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up [my entire life, everything I do]; You understand my thought from afar. 3 You scrutinize my path and my lying down, And You are intimately acquainted with all my ways. 4 Even before there is a word on my tongue [still unspoken], Behold, O Lord, You know it all. 5 You have enclosed me behind and before, And [You have] placed Your hand upon me. 6 Such [infinite] knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is too high [above me], I cannot reach it.
7 Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? 8 If I ascend to heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead), behold, You are there. 9 If I take the wings of the dawn, If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, 10 Even there Your hand will lead me, And Your right hand will take hold of me. 11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will cover me, And the night will be the only light around me,” 12 Even the darkness is not dark to You and conceals nothing from You, But the night shines as bright as the day; Darkness and light are alike to You.
13 For You formed my innermost parts; You knit me [together] in my mother’s womb. 14 I will give thanks and praise to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well. 15 My frame was not hidden from You, When I was being formed in secret, And intricately and skillfully formed [as if embroidered with many colors] in the depths of the earth. 16 Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Your book were all written The days that were appointed for me, When as yet there was not one of them [even taking shape].
17 How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How vast is the sum of them! 18 If I could count them, they would outnumber the sand. When I awake, I am still with You.
Ultimately, until “every tear is wiped away” we will silently carry these heavy, and very deeply intimate questions around with us – in the silence of our hearts.
As soon as we stop asking why, as soon as we stop yearning for justice, yearning for God to step in unannounced, to touch, to heal, to restore, as we all dispel the reality, the devastating effects and the affects of spiritual darkness, as soon as we casually justify suffering, Hell, there will be something very wrong with us.
God gave us His Spoken Word – The Words of God for His Beloved Children.
Through however many opportunities for ancient scriptural editors to modify, to remove those passages which might be too harsh for future contemplation,
Guess what?
We still have these “ancient words, these “ancient truths” as God spoke them.
Keeping ancient desperate pleas like Psalm 13 in the Scriptural Canon means God has a very specific 2022 intention for them which ancient New Testament writers and ancient biblical editors and too interpreters succinctly recognized:
We should never stop asking these “why me” questions on our side of eternity!
It is absolutely fundamental to who we are, how Father God reveals His Image.
What we need to learn and know is how to live healthily with these questions.
13 How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? 2 How long must I take counsel in my soul, Having sorrow in my heart day after day? How long will my enemy exalt himself and triumph over me?
The importance of persistent prayer, how to live in the raising tension of being in a fallen world, full of pain, injustice, but having hope and trust in a good God.
3 Consider and answer me, O Lord my God; Give light (life) to my eyes, or I will sleep the sleep of death, 4 And my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,” And my adversaries will rejoice when I am shaken.
These eternally complex, “unanswerable,” “unknowable” questions – because they are so deeply ingrained in our being, so crucial to us – have the potential to pull us into despair and away from God, or, if we have the courage to face them, can tell us a great deal about ourselves, about what life is about, and who God is.
Psalm 23 (Authorized King James Version)
1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
The real question becomes, “what does God want to tell us by making us ask?”
5 But I have trusted and relied on and been confident in Your lovingkindness and faithfulness; My heart shall rejoice and delight in Your salvation. 6 I will sing to the Lord, Because He has dealt bountifully with me.
But sometimes trusting and relying on God is easier said than done.
When your health is failing, your finances are taking a beating, or you lose someone you love, or your job or marriage is on the line, or something happens to your child, it’s not always easy to say, “But I trust in your unfailing love.”
When life becomes a valley, it can be a challenge to “sing the LORD’s praise.”
And yet the only way to live is by trusting the Lord through persistent Prayer.
You can’t always trust your health or your investments because they can fail you at any time. You can’t bank on your government because its power is quite firm, expansive. The only one we can really trust is the Lord. He never fails us.
It is only God’s grace that enables us to perpetually, persistently, perseveringly say, shout and sing: “I will sing the LORD’s praise, for he has been good to me.”
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us persistently, perpetually, perseveringly, Pray,
God, my Fortress, what a joy it is to have a friend in Jesus. Even when I am overcome by feelings of abandonment, prolonged silence, You are there with me. I know that I am never truly alone. Fill me with Your love and direct me in the way I am to love all neighbors. Change my priorities away from needing approval from other people to instead having comfort in knowing that I am accepted by You. Thank You, Father. Thank You Jesus and Holy Spirit. Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia! Alleluia! Amen.
7 The Lord said, “I have in fact seen the affliction (suffering, desolation) of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters (oppressors); for I know their pain and suffering. 8 So I have come down to rescue them from the hand (power) of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a land [that is] good and spacious, to a land [a]flowing with milk and honey [a land of plenty]—to the place of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite. 9 Now, behold, the cry of the children of Israel has come to Me; and I have also seen how the Egyptians oppress them.
The Word of God for the Children of God. Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia! Amen.
This is probably one of the more difficult devotions or teachings I’ve had to present, because of the overarching question of how can I bring comfort and 0.01% peace to those who are in pain and going through a time of suffering?
But then I realized that I cannot, only God can, and so my prayer for you now is that God would intercede and bring you the healing and peace that you need.
Because we have all been born with the sin nature, we will, therefore, from the time of our birth to the time of our death, experience diverse kinds and levels of pain and suffering, whether it is either physical, emotional, or spiritual, which are caused by various reasons, like acute, chronic illnesses, persecution, abuse.
Since pain and suffering begins from childbirth, when we are developmentally not yet aware of it, then the moments we recognize the pain and suffering and its source, we spend much of our time and energy trying to avoid or eliminate it.
If you watch TV commercials, you have probably noticed that many of them advertise how to manage pain.
They advertise Aspirin, Tylenol, Advil, Aleve, and a dozens of other OTC drugs.
However, such solutions are only, most likely, temporary and transient.
They manage the pain, but they do not necessarily eliminate it.
But no matter which type of pain and suffering it is, it is still pain and suffering, and shouldn’t be so easily and casually sloughed off as if it doesn’t hurt.
Because to us, who are in pain, it does, and the pain is real, and trying to tell ourselves or tell others that it isn’t real, just causes additional pain usually in the form of depressive thinking that no one really understands or cares.
Now, some try to avoid or eliminate the pain and suffering through drugs and alcohol, but these never eliminate the pain or suffering, rather they mask it.
As an inevitable and definitely tragic result it spins and whisks us away into a ceaseless cycle of addictions which only exasperates our pain and suffering.
For some they turn to religion attempting to coax God to help them by keeping religion’s many rules and regulations, only to be discouraged, disappointed and deeply disillusioned when they realize that through all their manipulations and maneuverings nothing has really changed, and they are in just as much pain, or experiencing the same amount, or find an increase in their overall suffering.
This has caused many to turn away from religion, which isn’t a bad idea, because in truth religion doesn’t help one bit.
The only thing, or should I say person that will help is the Lord God of the Bible, our Comforter and Great Physician, the One who created us and knows all about us, and from beginning to end, knows what we need, what is best for our lives.
From the beginning of all things, God has always been acutely aware of the presence and catastrophically destructive nature of both chaos and disorder.
From the beginning of all things, God had a decisive plan to address it and s in the beginning of all things we have these words spoken by the mouth of God:
Genesis 1:1-5 AmplifiedIn the beginning God ([a]Elohim) [b]created [by forming from nothing] the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was [c]formless and void or a waste and emptiness, and darkness was upon the face of the deep [primeval ocean that covered the unformed earth]. The Spirit of God was moving (hovering, brooding) over the face of the waters. 3 And God said, [d]“Let there be light”; and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good (pleasing, useful) and [e]He affirmed and sustained it; and God separated the light [distinguishing it] from the darkness. 5 And God called the light day, and the darkness He called night. And there was [f]evening and there was [g]morning, one day.
Now, in the beginning God’s plan was for us to live in perfect harmony with Him in a place where pain and suffering never existed: the Garden of Eden.
But the wily serpent opened his mouth and spit out its venom and sin entered the “perfect” picture resulting in pain and suffering, even with the earth itself.
To Adam the Lord said, “Cursed is the ground for your sake; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you” (Genesis 3:17b-18a NKJV)
The key to those verses is where the Lord tells Adam that the earth is cursed through Adam’s sin.
Because of this curse, the Word of God says that all of creation is waiting for humanity’s final redemption when it will be liberated from its ongoing decay, for which it is groaning for even today, which is the cause of all these natural disasters that are bringing suffering to many around the world (Romans 8:22).
And so, no matter where we go, why we choose to go there or what we try to do to escape ‘from there’, pain and suffering are a part of the human existence.
It is this, probably more than anything else that has caused many to turn away from God saying how hard it is believing in a God who would allow such deep, rampant evil, pain, and suffering to go unchecked, not eliminate it altogether.
A common statement is, “Why do bad things happen to good people?” But the reality is that good and bad things happen to both good and bad people.
Jesus said that God causes the sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous” (Matthew 5:45).
So, to the question of why we are going through pain and suffering, I simply have no easy answer,
but let me try to with you share what I do know, and what I have experienced.
There are three major reasons as to why we experience pain and suffering.
Three Major Reasons For Pain and Suffering
1. Sin
“Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned.” (Romans 5:12 NKJV)
There is great hesitation on my part to list this as a reason, and that’s because the damage that the faith movement has done.
But the truth is that disease, illness, and death are a direct result of sin.
Yet, at the same time, pain and suffering isn’t necessary a punishment for our sins, but rather we experience these things because we are trying to live, survive in a deeply sin-filled and sin-broken and sin-shattered and sin-diseased world.
And this really shouldn’t surprise anyone, and if you really start boiling down the reasons people give as to why there is evil, pain, and suffering, they have to admit, while they are mad and upset with God for not stopping it, the reason for the evil lies deep in the secret recesses of the heart of man, not the heart of God.
The evil that is found in the world today is generally the result of our own or other’s destructive behaviors, like drinking and doing drugs, or cheating, lying, coveting, any number of other egocentric self-centered attitudes and habits.
Many diseases come through humanity’s sin and our neglect of God’s laws, which throughout the generations has mutated causing genetic defects, which have, like sin, been passed down from one generation to another.
But sin is not the only thing that brings pain and suffering, the author of that sin is also a culprit.
2. Satan
“He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.” (1 John 3:8 NKJV)
What the Bible says is that Satan was the original source of sin and evil. In fact, Satan’s name means adversary or opponent.
He is the one that opposes and stands against everything that is of God.
It began when he was the guardian angel full of wisdom and beautiful beyond compare.
But we are told that pride and wickedness entered into his heart making him think that he was all that plus a bag of chips, and that he was just as wise and powerful as God, and God tossed him out for it.
Satan is then what we might call the author of sin.
He was the one who tempted humanity and got them to fall (Genesis 3:1-6), so, thus as the tempter he has been responsible for much of the sin that we find in the world today.
Whenever we consider suffering, Job immediately comes to mind. And from what happened to Job we see that everything he suffered, and the pain he endured, was the direct the result of Satan’s manipulations.
And yet, while Satan authored what happened to Job, God allowed it, but God put limits on what Satan could do.
To Satan, God said, “Everything he has is in your power, but on the man himself do not lay a finger” (Job 1:12).
And even after losing everything, including his children, Job didn’t crack, but still gave glory to God.
Satan then said that Job would curse God if he were allowed to strike him with disease and pain, and while the Lord allowed it, He said, “He is in your hands; but you must spare his life” (Job 2:6).
And still Job did not sin, even in His words.
What this story tells us is that God is not the cause of our suffering, and as such is not the cause of our illnesses and pain.
Yes, it does pass through the hands of God, but Satan authors it.
I have heard it said and quoted from a few places …
“There is nothing–no circumstance, no trouble, no testing–that can ever touch me until, first of all, it has gone past God and past Christ right through to me. If it has come that far, it has come with a great purpose, which I may not understand at the moment.”
And let’s not forget the age-old reason why we have pain and suffering:
3. Age
“And the Lord said, ‘My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh; yet his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.’” (Genesis 6:3 NKJV)
God created humanity as perfect, but when sin entered the picture, so did decay and death.
And so it boils down to sin, because it is the sin of Adam, which has been passed down to all of us that we get old and die.
And so, age is a reason why we deal with the pain and suffering that we do.
The older I get the more my body will start breaking down, and therefore such pain shouldn’t take me by surprise.
And when I take this attitude toward what I am going through, I don’t have to suffer emotionally by getting depressed and disappointed with life.
Therefore, the longer we live, the more likely it is that we will have physical problems, have to rely on the Grace of Jesus Christ to keep us ‘young,’ strong.
Hindrances to Healing
Since we pray and ask God for His healing touch, what are some of the hindrances that prevent healings from taking place.
1. Doubting God’s Goodness
How will we handle trouble?
Will it bring us closer to God, or will it turn us away from God?
Satan uses pain to make people doubt God’s goodness.
He wants to inject doubt into our minds until we distrust the nature and character of God.
Satan seeks to promote bitterness and hatred towards God because of pain.
If Satan can make us angry with God or make us react with bitterness and hatred toward God or others,
he will be directing, guiding, and leading us down a path of self-destruction.
2. Wrong Counsel
There is a lot of bad counsel and doctrine within the church today, and it centers upon why people are in pain and suffering.
They are told that it is a direct result of their own sin. Now, as we have look at so far, we have seen that this mostly bogus, and infinitely far from being biblical.
And this really isn’t new thinking, it was around all the way back to Job, which is actually before the time of Moses and the Law.
We see this thinking in those who came to consul and counsel Job through this time of intense suffering and pain.
They believed that suffering was the result of an unavoidable law that every cause produces an effect.
In other words, we reap what we sow.
Basically they said, “Job, acknowledge your sinfulness and confess.”
But Job held on to his conviction regarding his personal integrity.
And as we see in the Scriptures, Job’s pain and suffering wasn’t through anything evil or sinful that he did; it was because He was good and upright, which is God’s own description of Job (Job 1:8).
And so, another hindrance to healing is wrong counsel, which produces wrong praying on our part.
3. Not Waiting long enough on God
The Bible says that those who wait upon the Lord will renew their strength (Isaiah 40:31).
The Apostle James tells us to be patient until the Lord comes back, and in so doing reminds us that in the midst of whatever it is that we are going through that there is an end in sight.
And for us as believers that end is heaven in the presence of God for all eternity.
Our problem is that we don’t want to hear this.
We don’t like to hear the word “wait,” or “soon.”
We want our healing now, so we not so reluctantly settle for temporary fixes rather than waiting and growing deeper in our connection and relationship with God to be the one to direct, guide us through these times of suffering and pain.
Suffering and pain sometimes are the best teacher we have, because it forces us to focus on God, allowing the Holy Spirit to dig deeper into our lives so that we can come out as precious gems, and as refined gold through the fiery trials.
However, if we are not waiting on God because we do not feel God’s presence in whatever we are going through, we will rush forward only to find ourselves out of God’s will.
Please understand feelings lie, and feelings can also be manipulated by Satan.
So instead of trusting in our feelings, let’s trust in God that He has a plan and a purpose that is the hope of our future.
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11 NJKV)
4. Resignation
Resignation and acceptance are not the same.
Instead they are two different things.
Resignation accepts that pain and suffering is something that we’re meant to go through, and therefore, there’s nothing that we can do about it.
Whereas acceptance meets the tragedies of life with God’s destiny, that God has a plan and purpose.
What acceptance says is that while we have to go through times of pain and suffering, we can do all things through Christ Jesus who gives us the strength (Philippians 4:13).
Now, before we move on to what the Bible says about the reasons for pain and suffering, let’s take a look at a couple of examples from the Bible.
Example from Job’s Life
I think it’s interesting to note that pain and suffering were the first things God communicates to humanity, seeing that Job was before the time of Moses, and hence the Law.
Instead of first giving us the Ten Commandments, God tells us about a man named Job, and shows us how to handle the difficulties that life presents.
Now, as we have seen, God allowed Satan to bring pain and suffering to Job’s life, even though Job was blameless and upright.
But instead of bringing an accusation against God for his apparent mistreatment, Job never sinned in His response.
Job said, “‘Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.’ In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong” (Job 1:21-22 NKJV)
Later when his wife told him to curse God and die, Job said, “‘Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?’ In all this Job did not sin with his lips” (Job 2:10 NKJV).
Job spoke and acted in a right way to the indescribable pain and suffering he was undeniably going through, even though he didn’t fully understand why.
We must take such a response to heart, because this is one of the best witnesses we have for God.
It is where we trust in His faithfulness and rely upon His mercy and grace.
Example from Paul’s Life
The Apostle Paul, like Job, had a great handle on God’s purpose and plan for suffering, and the only reasonable answer came directly from the Lord Himself.
Consider all that Paul went through in his life: he was whipped and beaten within an inch of his life several times, he was stoned and left for dead, he suffered shipwrecks, mistreated, threatened with death by both the Jews and Romans, and was suffering through an incurable disease.
It is this last issue, that is, his incurable disease that we find God’s answer.
God gave Paul a glimpse of heaven, but to keep Paul humble, God allowed Satan to buffet Paul with what he describes as a thorn in the flesh.
Paul said, “And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2 Corinthians 12:7-9 NKJV).
Paul suffered greatly in many ways, but it was all for God’s glory, that is, God got all the glory as Paul was able to say, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13 NKJV)
Biblical Reasons for Pain and Suffering
In regards to the suffering of God’s people, the prophet Isaiah said that God responded to their suffering with sympathy and compassion.
He wrote, “In all their affliction He was afflicted, and the Angel of His Presence saved them; in His love and in His pity He redeemed them; and He bore them and carried them all the days of old” (Isaiah 63:9 NKJV).
What I see is that God gets no pleasure from what we suffer, but rather has something planned out for good.
“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28 NKJV)
1. God’s Glory
As we saw in Paul’s life, in all situations and circumstances, good, bad and catastrophic, God’s grace is sufficient to comfort and strengthen us. While Paul prayed for a healing, God said that He would get him through it by His grace.
The diverse and various measures and degrees of painful circumstances that we are feeling cannot compare to the joy that’s coming was Paul’s take in the end.
He said, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” (Romans 8:18 NKJV)
Consider those three young men, from the Book of Daniel: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego who were thrown into the Nebuchadnezzar fiery furnace. They weren’t delivered from the flames, but rather, with God, through the flames.
And God got all the glory as Nebuchadnezzar said,
“Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who sent His Angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him, and they have frustrated the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they should not serve nor worship any god except their own God!” (Daniel 3:28 NKJV)
And speaking to this horrendously wrong counsel of a person’s suffering as a direct result of their sin, Jesus said that the man who was born blind wasn’t due to his or his parent’s sin, but for the distinct purpose that through his healing God would receive all the glory.
“Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. And His disciples asked Him, saying, ‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?’ Jesus answered, ‘Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him’” (John 9:1-3 NKJV).
2. Our Witness
Earlier, while looking at the example of Job, I said that how we handle our pain and suffering is one of the best witnesses we have for God.
It is where we trust in His faithfulness and rely upon His mercy and grace.
The suffering we experience is our chance to tell the world, especially those within our sphere of influence, that our lives are consistent with our beliefs.
And our lives cannot be consistent until we learn to be consistent in our time with God.
But look at what the Bible says is one of the reasons we go through these times of pain and suffering.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)
Sometimes are we are the only Bible people will ever read.
People tend to form their opinions and conclusions about Jesus Christ based a lot upon how we live our lives during these times of trials and tribulations.
It is how we live and endure these times of pain and suffering that will make a difference in the lives of others.
We witness for the Lord through our living for eternity rather than for the temporary, and it by not losing hope when everything seems to be hopeless.
3. Our Character
In James 5:11 it says, “Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord–that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.”
James uses the example of the prophets and Job, people whose lives were marked by difficult circumstances that often times they didn’t understand, but through which God forged their spiritual character.
I really and truly believe that James wants to shift our attention from what is happening to us in order to use what God is forming inside us. He uses Job to show us what grief, patience and following God in the midst of pain can do.
Character isn’t built when life is easy, but rather it is when life gets tough and we make the choice and the decision remain faithful to our Great Physician.
“But we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope.” (Romans 5:3-4 NKJV)
Job said, “He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.” (Job 23:10 NKJV)
But there is no refinement without the flames and roaring bonfires of affliction.
What Can We Do?
1. Get Into God’s Word
“My son, give attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart; for they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh.” (Proverbs 4:20-22 NKJV)
2. Prayer
Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord … pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” (James 5:14, 16b NKJV)
3. Believe
“Do not let your heart be troubled (afraid, cowardly). Believe [confidently] in God and trust in Him, [have faith, hold on to it, rely on it, keep going and] believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many dwelling places. If it were not so, I would have told you, because I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and I will take you to Myself, so that where I am you may be also. (John 14:1-3)
“The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up.” (James 5:15a NKJV)
4. Live in such a manner that others may see the Gospel of Jesus Christ in you.
15 Therefore see that you walk carefully [living life with honor, purpose, and courage; shunning those who tolerate and enable evil], not as the unwise, but as wise [sensible, intelligent, discerning people], 16 [a]making the very most of your time [on earth, recognizing and taking advantage of each opportunity and using it with wisdom and diligence], because the days are [filled with] evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish and thoughtless, but understand and firmly grasp what the will of the Lord is. 18 Do not get drunk with wine, for that is wickedness (corruption, stupidity), but be filled with the [Holy] Spirit and constantly guided by Him. 19 [b]Speak to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, [offering praise by] singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for all things, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;21 being subject to one another out of reverence for Christ.(Ephesians 5:15-21)
In Conclusion ….
When it comes to pain and suffering, let’s first go to God and pray for a healing, along with getting His take on what’s going on.
We also need to secure services of those in the medical profession, let’s pray for our doctors and healthcare team members God would give them the wisdom to deal rightly and with wisdom not their own, with what we are going through.
We need to go to our Great Physician being God for answers and deliverance, but please catch this, that is, God goes one step further. He gives to us Himself.
God gives Himself as a husband to the divorced, the orphaned and widowed, the pilgrim and the refugee and the “strangers in a strange land – not of their own.
He gives Himself as the bridegroom to those who are single.
And to the orphan, He becomes their Father.
God becomes the great physician to those who are sick, and the Wonderful Counselor to those who are depressed and going through emotional turmoil.
And God becomes the bread of life, and the living waters to those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.
Having that relationship with our Savior Christ Jesus is the genuine answer, as He is the Word that was made flesh, and who died upon the cross for our sins so that we can have a right connection, koinonia, relationship with Him, and then live for all eternity in heaven where there is no more crying, pain or suffering.
God is good, not because he explains or gives us reasons why we suffer, or takes pain and suffering away, but because He fully experienced more than enough pain and suffering for all of us, explained Himself, His plan for our salvation there upon the cross. God is good because Jesus Christ fully gave Himself for us.
God is not the author of suffering; instead God is the author of good (James 1:13-17).
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Gracious Father, my heart has grown a little cold for some reason, and I am have lost touch with Your love and compassion for others. I ask You to please touch my heart of stone and give me a heart of flesh that beats in unison with Your compassionate heart for those around me. Please open my spiritual eyes and lead me in Your love to others. My Righteous God, the general atmosphere in the world today is one of hatred and anger, pain and anguish. Help me, Lord, to not fall prey to this way of thinking. Please help me go against society’s typical hatred and anger. Instead, enable me to look at and react to people through the lens of Your compassionate love. Let my life be lived as one who only magnifies my Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
17 Deal bountifully with Your servant, That I may live and keep Your word [treasuring it and being guided by it day by day]. 18 Open my eyes [to spiritual truth] so that I may behold Wonderful things from Your law. 19 I am a stranger on the earth; Do not hide Your commandments from me. 20 My soul is crushed with longing For Your ordinances at all times. 21 You rebuke the presumptuous and arrogant, the cursed ones, Who wander from Your commandments. 22 Take reproach and contempt away from me, For I observe Your testimonies. 23 Even though princes sit and talk to one another against me, Your servant meditates on Your statutes. 24 Your testimonies also are my delight And my counselors.
The Word of God for the Children of God. Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia! Amen.
“Let courage rise with danger, and strength to strength oppose!”
Let’s face it! As Christians, we are beginning to feel more and more like strangers in enemy occupied territory.
However, “With God on our side, how can we lose?”
It feels like we are strangers because, with the world coming into our living rooms via television, we witness the radical treatment Christians are being subjected to in anti-Christian parts of the world, and in our own country we are increasingly told we must exclude Christ from public display and conversation.
Whereas our devotion to the Word of God has always been an identifying mark of God’s servants, such devotion nowadays risks alienating and dividing us too.
Thus, we can understand why we could say what the psalmist said many years ago – “I am a stranger on earth” (119:19a). God’s servant felt it then. We feel it today. We are all pilgrims passing through, but, with a message and a mission.
Our message is God’s Word. Our mission is Be true to God’s Word – with an openness to learning it and living it, and with the courage to profess it, practice it, and proclaim it in the face of opposition.
Thus, we can say with the psalmist that we have been
“Blessed with an ever living Courage by the Word of God” – Psalm 119:17-24
God’s Word gives us courage.
Courageous Christians, when rooted in God’s Word, stand upright and strong during the storms of life!
Psalm 31:23-24 Amplified23 O love the Lord, all you His godly ones! The Lord preserves the faithful [those with moral and spiritual integrity] And fully repays the [self-righteousness of the] arrogant. 24 Be strong and let your hearts take courage, All you who wait for and confidently expect the Lord.
That being the case, would not we want to pray as did the psalmist?
“Open my eyes so that I may contemplate (meditate upon) wonderful things (blessed assurances) from Your Word . . . Your instruction . . . Your commands . . . Your judgments . . . Your decrees . . . Your statutes.” In other words:
Whatever God has communicated to you and me about His ways and His Will . . . taught us on how to conduct our lives as His children . . . ordered us to do in how we relate to Him and to others . . . decided about requests we have made of Him and petitions we have presented to Him . . . foreordained to be . . . said as if it has already been carved in stone (Job 19:23-27)– all of this constitutes God’s Word.
The imagery of “eyesight” is used by the psalmist as we should use it: Ask God to turn our eyes away from those things in life that have no “lasting” value – i.e., teachings, values or actions, morals and ethics which are opposed to the Word of LORD God. Ask God to help us stay focused on His Word and His ways.
From time to time our spiritual vision becomes a bit blurred by distractions and disruptions which interferes with our daily prayer routine – and, before I know it, our spiritual discernment loses its cutting edge and we find ourselves in need of renewed vision – clarity – something which won’t happen on our own effort.
We need the help of someone greater than ourselves.
I need the prescribed meditations that the psalmist recommends. “Open my eyes that I may contemplate (meditate on) the wonderful things in Your Law.”
When we contemplate . . . meditate . . . think intensely, intently in a quiet place about greater wisdom, God’s Word, that which inevitably jumps out at us is a renewed understanding of Who God is – His character traits . . . that, if adopted by us and indelibly impressed upon our minds, becomes a part of who we are.
This “merger” of our spirit with the Spirit of God is the dynamic that blesses us with the real courage to do His Will in a world that opposes God and His people.
Psalm 119:23-24 English Standard Version
23 Even though princes sit plotting against me, your servant will meditate on your statutes. 24 Your testimonies are my delight; they are my counselors.
The Wisdom and Words and Precepts of God are not simply a thick rule book God threw down from atop Mount Sinai or E-Mails or Tweets to stir things up.
Rather, it’s a collection of testimonies, or the story of God coming through for his people.
Though Scripture does contain lists like the Ten Commandments and books like Leviticus with its Laws, it is primarily comprised of the stories of God’s people.
In short, the Bible is a book about God written by him through people.
The very way that he chose to reveal himself to us displays that he wants to be in relationship with us.
And, like the Psalmist, those very ancient testimonies should be our delight!
We should delight in them because:
They are true and unflinching (John 17:17; Mark 14:66-72).
They speak to every direction of life because God’s scope is unlimited (Isaiah 48:3).
They are infinitely wise (Proverbs 3, Proverbs 8, Isaiah 55:10-13, 1 Corinthians 1:18-25; 2 Timothy 3:16-17), even if too many of the people in them were not.
Revisit these Scriptures when you meet with God in his word and be thankful.
From God’s first words of the Book of Genesis to God’s last word in Revelation, we have the greatest source of truth, direction and wisdom that has ever been.
And again, how did God choose to teach and reveal these to us?
Through the stories of both the faithful and unfaithful in Scripture.
Not only do we witness the blessing of the righteous but the end result of wickedness.
God shows us in real life through real people how real Christianity ought to be really lived.
He has not left us in the dark.
He has brought us into His Marvelous Light ….
Psalm 118:22-24English Standard Version
22 The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.[a] 23 This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. 24 This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Ancient Words …. Ever True …. Forever …. Changing Me …. Changing You ….
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Father, faithful One, teach me your divine wisdom. Inspire me, Empower me to understand wise teaching. Give insight to my simple mind. Help me to live a life that is disciplined and successful, based on the wise teachings of your word. Give me the portion of knowledge I need to make smart decisions and glorify you in all that I do. I know that reverence for you is the beginning of wisdom. Help me listen when you correct me, and not neglect your instruction. I know when I follow your wisdom, I read, listen and give heed to the ancient testimonies, I will receive grace and honor and magnify my Jesus. Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Amen.
18 “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord. “[a]Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be like wool. 19 “If you are willing and obedient, You shall eat the best of the land; 20 But if you refuse and rebel, You shall be devoured by the sword.” For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.
The Word of God for the Children of God. Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia! Amen.
I want to begin by looking at this three thousand year old open invitation.
“Now come and let us reason together saith the Lord.”
You know it seems to me as the more we read the Bible and study God’s Word that we find the Lord is constantly calling and inviting mankind to come to him.
And of all the wonderful things God is, He is genuinely Reasonable, He is Just.
A God who offers who does not “stay mad for very long” offers His rebellious children a voice of reason, and a call to the sinner and the backslider to return.
Romans 12:1 God’s personal invitation says, “Present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God which is your reasonable service.”
In Jeremiah 3:22 the Lord God’s personal invitation says, “Return ye backsliding children and I will heal your backsliding.”
In Jeremiah 29:10-14 the Lord’s promise to His rebellious children about to be taken into a 70 year exile in Babylon reads like a giant sized God type bear hug:
10 “For thus says the Lord, ‘When seventy years [of exile] have been completed for Babylon, I will visit (inspect) you and keep My good promise to you, to bring you back to this place. 11 For I know the plans and thoughts that I have for you,’ says the Lord, ‘plans for peace and well-being and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call on Me and you will come and pray to Me, and I will hear [your voice] and I will listen to you. 13 Then [with a deep longing] you will seek Me and require Me [as a vital necessity] and [you will] find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,’ says the Lord, ‘and I will restore your fortunes and I will [free you and] gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you,’ says the Lord, ‘and I will bring you back to the place from where I sent you into exile.’”
In Malachi 3:7 the Lord said, “Return unto me and I will return unto you.”
Our text today from Isaiah 1:18 says, “Come now and let us reason together.”
As I read this, I just realized that this is not a call to trial or a call to judgement.
It’s an open invitation to forgiveness an mercy, to open up our hearts and listen to what the Lord might just speak to us, that we might hear His voice of reason.
I think of the prodigal son. You know, the Bible says he came to himself from the midst the moment of watching pigs, joyously eating their food in a pig sty, and I believe that suddenly the voice of reason could speak and reach out to him.
Luke 15:14-17 “14 Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began to do without and be in need. 15 So he went and forced himself on one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to [a]feed pigs. 16 He would have gladly eaten the [carob] pods that the pigs were eating [but they could not satisfy his hunger], and no one was giving anything to him. 17 But when he [finally] came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have more than enough food, while I am dying here of hunger!”
The voice of reason, an inner voice, spoke some very important facts to him:
He had spent his entire inheritance, he had no job and had no source of income.
There is a great famine in the land and the food is running out.
I am slowly starving and I don’t have very many people to rely on for help.
The only job I can get is “feeding someone else’s pigs.”
The only food my stomach desires are the Carob pods found in a filthy pig sty.
He’d gladly get filthy, fight the pigs, steal those filthy Carob pods from the pigs.
With each thought he had, he got progressively closer to his “maximum worst” image of “exactly how much worsen that worse can this whole situation get?”
The greater the degree and measure of “worsen than worse” got, the greater the sound of the voice, the greater the impact of the “voice of reason” became.
Now his thoughts were turning away from the worst of the worst possible ….
And becoming “There is bread enough to spare in my father’s house.”
He didn’t know and probably did not even care over much if his father would accept him as a son again or not, but he knew he would not let himself starve.
Luke 15:18-19 “18 I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; [just] treat me like one of your hired men.”
The Voice of Reason redirected, humbled his thoughts – “I am GOING HOME!”
The voice of reason sent him back and brought him back to his father’s house.
His father’s love restored his sonship.
Luke 15:20-24“20 So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 But the father said to his servants, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe [for the guest of honor] and put it on him; and give him a [a]ring for his hand, and sandals for his feet. 23 And bring the fattened calf and slaughter it, and let us [invite everyone and] feast and celebrate; 24 for this son of mine was [as good as] dead and is alive again; he was lost and has been found.’ So they began to celebrate.”
I believe the voice of reason spoke to Saul on the road to Damascus.
Jesus “impeded, interceded, questioned and reasoned” with Saul.
And didn’t He do so in a decisively, directly, definitively humbling manner?
Acts 9:1-9 Now [a]Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord [and relentless in his search for believers], went to the [b]high priest, 2 and he asked for letters [of authority] from him to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any men or women there belonging to [c]the Way [believers, followers of Jesus the Messiah], men and women alike, he could arrest them and bring them bound [with chains] to Jerusalem. 3 As he traveled he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him [displaying the glory and majesty of Christ]; 4 and he fell to the ground and heard a voice [from heaven] saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting and oppressing Me?” 5 And Saul said, “Who are You, Lord?” And He answered, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting, 6 now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” 7 The men who were traveling with him [were terrified and] stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. 8 Saul got up from the ground, but though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And he was unable to see for three days, and he neither ate nor drank.
He asked Saul, “Why are you persecuting and oppressing me?”
When God has a plan for your life, and you decide you have a better plan, things are going to be very hard.
When we get into our maximum mode of maximum impact sinful rebellion ….
You can count on getting God’s attention – and then God is going to get Yours!
The Voice of Reason – gong to start seriously banging against your conscience.
Ask brother Jonah – Him and his smartphone are in the belly of a “great fish.”
And I hope and pray there is some seriously outstanding reception down there!
I’d be willing to “bet the farm” Jonah had a whale of a conversation with God!
The truth of the matter – from the first verse of Genesis through the very last verse of Book of Revelation – God’s invitation is 100% consistently available,
but, ….
and isn’t there always a but (sometimes spelled “butt”) to be kicked around:
The road away from God is always going to be an extraordinarily rough road.
God reasoned with Abraham over Sodom and Gomorrah.
God repeatedly reasoned with Moses on the back side of the desert and Moses could not find a question nor an excuse that God did not have an answer for.
Now it is 2022! God is calling a meeting. What should we say at this meeting?
Should we plead our innocence?
Surely not, for we all have sinned, fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)
Should we list our excuses?
No. This meeting is not to discuss guilt or innocence.
That part is already been more than adequately and sufficiently stated by God.
Our sins are as scarlet.
We can’t hide our sin from God. (Genesis 3:7-13 NKJV)
7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves [a]coverings.
8 And they heard the [b]sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the [c]cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.
9 Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?”
10 So he said, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.”
11 And He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?”
12 Then the man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.”
13 And the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?”
The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”
How many voices do you hear here?
The Serpents, Eve’s and Adam’s ….
The Voice of the master deceiver ….
The Voices of those who were so easily deceived ….
The Voice of God ….
Whose voice, whose voices are we most apt to listen to or want to hear?
Answers depends on where your heart and soul and whole life are in the exact moment the voices are “clearly and unmistakably heard” and considered too.
From the text of today’s devotional passage from Isaiah 1:18-20 …
It sticks out like a blood red orange on a newly fallen patch of fresh snow.
God is calling a meeting with him, not to establish guilt, but to arrange pardon.
God is not asking for compensation or for retribution for your past.
Jesus took care of that at Calvary.
God is asking us, not demanding from us, for our obedience and repentance.
See how reasonable he is?
As with all invitations there is an appointed time.
Verse 18 says the time for this meeting is NOW.
Now God has already stated his will in this.
He said what he would do.
He is willing to blot out all our transgressions and make us white and clean.
The price has already been paid.
But, verse 19 & 20 tells us he is going to leave the choice up to us.
Only believe?
The devils believe.
You can believe in salvation and never be saved.
You must act on what you believe.
Verse 19 says, If ye be willing and obedient.
Some are willing to be saved, but not obedient to the instruction.
To be saved or renewed today, we will not only have to be willing to hear and prayerfully consider the words of God’s invitation, but also willingly obedient.
You and I are not hearing a call in our collective hearts that is for someone else.
God didn’t dial the wrong number.
God does not dial wrong numbers.
Even in the Year of our Lord, Savior 2022
The Lord says,
Come now, let us reason together. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land.If we are not willing – the sword will also be another choice.
Most people are willing to be blessed, but not willing to live for Jesus.
We can know peace, love, joy, and comfort, if not the sword of the world will devour or overcome us.
That is not a threat, it is just the way things are.
It is just the unmistakable reality, harsh truth of how God has ordered things.
Listen to the Voice of Reason today.
Listen to the Voice of God …
Listen to the Words of the Logos – Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior …
Listen to the whispers of the Holy Spirit as we are reminded of God’s Voice.
There will always and forever be bread enough to spare in the Father’s house.
COME LET US EAT AND LET US REASON TOGETHER, SAITH THE LORD.
And ponder the question:
“What is the Voice of Reason and Truth telling me in this exact moment …?”
In the name of God the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
God of all truth and wisdom, sometimes I not sure if I’m actually hearing your voice, or if it’s just my own thoughts or even another spirit. Sharpen my spiritual hearing, Lord, so I can recognize your words when you are speaking to me. Help me know it’s really you, with no doubt or second-guessing. When I’m asking for your guidance in important decisions, give me your peace that surpasses understanding with your answer. Help me to always remember that your words to me will never go against your written word in the Bible. Give me a clear mind and push out all my confusion. Let me always exalt, always magnify my Savior Jesus! Alleluia! Alleluia! Amen.
17 For Christ did not send me [as an apostle] to baptize, but [commissioned and empowered me] to preach the good news [of salvation]—not with clever and eloquent speech [as an orator], so that the cross of Christ would not be [a]made ineffective [deprived of its saving power].
The Wisdom of God
18 For the message of the cross is foolishness [absurd and illogical] to those who are perishing and spiritually dead [because they reject it], but to us who are being saved [by God’s grace] it is [the manifestation of] the power of God. 19 For it is written and forever remains written,
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise [the philosophy of the philosophers], And the cleverness of the clever [who do not know Me] I will nullify.”
20 Where is the wise man (philosopher)? Where is the scribe (scholar)? Where is the debater (logician, orator) of this age? Has God not exposed the foolishness of this world’s wisdom? 21 For since the world through all its [earthly] wisdom failed to recognize God, God in His wisdom was well-pleased through the [b] foolishness of the message preached [regarding salvation] to save those who believe [in Christ and welcome Him as Savior]. 22 For Jews demand signs (attesting miracles), and Greeks pursue [worldly] wisdom and philosophy, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, [a message which is] to Jews a stumbling block [that provokes their opposition], and to Gentiles foolishness [just utter nonsense], 24 but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks (Gentiles), Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 [This is] because the foolishness of God [is not foolishness at all and] is wiser than men [far beyond human comprehension], and the weakness of God is stronger than men [far beyond the limits of human effort].
26 Just look at your own calling, believers; not many [of you were considered] wise according to human standards, not many powerful or influential, not many of high and noble birth. 27 But God has selected [for His purpose] the foolish things of the world to shame the wise [revealing their ignorance], and God has selected [for His purpose] the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong [revealing their frailty]. 28 God has selected [for His purpose] the insignificant (base) things of the world, and the things that are despised and treated with contempt, [even] the things that are nothing, so that He might reduce to nothing the things that are, 29 so that no one may [be able to] boast in the presence of God. 30 But it is from Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God [revealing His plan of salvation], and righteousness [making us acceptable to God], and sanctification [making us holy and setting us apart for God], and redemption [providing our ransom from the penalty for sin], 31 so then, as it is written [in Scripture], “He who boasts and glories, let him boast and glory in the Lord.”
The Word of God for the Children of God. Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia! Amen.
Is the Christian faith a reasonable religion?
Some believers throughout church history have agreed with many nonbelievers in proclaiming that Christianity is not a reasonable religion.
Nevertheless, a powerful theological-philosophical consensus within the history of the faith has argued that the historic Christian religion involves knowledge and is indeed, remarkably compatible with logic and with reason.
This historic agreement has often been expressed in the common statement: “faith seeking understanding.”
Its most articulate and persuasive spokespersons through the centuries have been such distinguished Christian thinkers as Augustine and Thomas Aquinas.
The question of whether Christianity is reasonable all depends on what answer you are looking for. What answers does the world seek for itself and what is it about the answer the Cross gives which is better than what many folks want?
I once read about a dishonest manager who was desperately wanting to hire someone for his accounting department who thought like he did. He ended up with 3 applicants for the job and he proceeded to interview them the next day.
The first applicant came in and sat nervously at the desk and he and the manager engaged in some small talk.
But eventually, the manager asked the applicant this question:
“What does two plus two equal?”
The man was just a bit puzzled, scratched his head, got out his smartphone calculator, but eventually answered, “Well, that’s simple: the answer is four.”
The manager stood up from his chair, walked around his desk, thanked the man profusely for his time and then unceremoniously ushered him out of the office.
The next applicant came in and again the manager engaged him in a pleasant conversation.
But eventually he got around to asking this man the same question.
And the 2nd man responded,
“Well, there are several possibilities: two and two make four, but so does three and one — or two point five and one point five — they also make four. There are a probably number of ways to arrive at that approximate same answer.”
The manager thought that was a pretty good reply, got up from behind his desk, shook his hand, told him he might get back to him in the next several of days.
Finally, the 3rd applicant came in and again the manager some time talking about several subjects, but eventually the man was asked the same question as the others: “What does 2 plus 2 equal. The man seemed startled by the question.
He looked at the manager, cautiously looked around the room, got up out of his chair, went over and closed the door… then he came back and reached inside his shirt pocket, turned off his phone, leaned across the desk, said in a low voice,
“Tell me, what would you like the answer to be?”
He got the job and a hefty bonus in that very instant.
Easy questions for easy times and hard questions for hard times.
The hardest of questions for the very hardest of times,
The most impossible of questions for the most “Impossible” times ….
With those statements now lodged somewhere in your thought processes ….
Waxing philosophically I ask the question today –
“Is Christianity Reasonable?”
Is it logical?
Can you “hang your hat” on what our faith says?
And the answer to that question is this:
It all depends.
What ANSWER are you looking for?
“What would you like the answer to be?”
You see, if Christianity offers the answer you’re looking for… then it IS reasonable.
But Paul tells us in our biblical text today there are people out there who don’t like Christianity because it doesn’t offer the kind of answer they want to hear.
Paul wrote: “… we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles” 1 Corinthians 1:23
The cross is a stumbling block to many.
It’s foolishness to a lot of folks.
In fact, there’s something about the message of the cross that make people uneasy, annoyed, upset… sometimes even downright nasty.
• There was the Roman historian Tacitus who called Christianity a “pernicious superstition”.
• Sigmund Freud believed that religion in general, and Christianity in particular, was a psychotic illness.
• And former Attorney General under Bill Clinton – Janet Reno – declared:
“A cultist is one who has a strong belief in the Bible and the Second Coming of Christ; who frequently attends Bible studies; who have a high level of financial giving to a notable Christian cause; who home schools their children; who has accumulated survival foods and has a strong belief in the Second Amendment; who distrusts big government. Any of these may qualify a person as a cultist….”
Morning, folks.
Welcome to your cult! (Smile)
Tacitus, Freud and Janet Reno are just a few of those who are offended by the message of the cross.
It makes them angry to think anyone would embrace what we believe.
And yet for those of us who understand what the cross means we KNOW that the cross of Jesus Christ is the answer because it is the very POWER OF GOD to those who are saved.
As Paul wrote:
“the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”1 Corinthians 1:18
The cross IS the right answer… IF it is the answer you are genuinely looking for.
But most of the world that is NOT the answer they are genuinely looking for.
Many people only want an answer that will give them control of their lives.
They want to be “in charge!”
The Bible offends them because it declares that our lives are to be controlled by God.
The cross declares that God bought you with a price – you are not your own. If you accept the answer of the cross you cede authority in your life over to Christ.
That answer doesn’t sit well with a lot of folks.
Many even reject belief in God because they don’t want someone else in control.
Or, if they do believe in God, they do not want a God Who demands change in their lives, they want a God who will automatically change FOR them… they want to say how their lives should be run, how big a box they can put God in.
That was one of the concerns for the Jews of Jesus’ day.
Paul wrote that the Jews of his day rejected the cross because “Jews demand miraculous signs.” 1 Corinthians 1:22
They demanded signs?
But didn’t Jesus do miraculous things during His ministry on earth?
Well, yes He did.
He healed the sick. Raised the dead. And fed 1000s with just 5 loaves and 2 fish.
And because He did the multitudes followed Him. Wherever He went people would crowd the hills and seashores where He would speak. Sometimes for hours on end.
Thousands followed Jesus.
(PAUSE)
That is… until He was crucified.
That is… until he was condemned as the ultimate criminal.
Who puts their whole faith, whole belief system behind a condemned criminal?
As long as Jesus was doing what THEY wanted Him to do… they’d follow Him.
Not really having any concept or vision of the genuine life giving power of God.
They they believed, he was a good man doing many great and miraculous things no one before him had ever done – and they each hungered for more and more.
But once He was arrested, condemned and crucified… they walked, ran, away.
The cross was not the answer they were looking for and some became afraid of.
A lot of people who’ve rejected Christ in their lives have done it for that reason.
God did not answer their prayer in the way and in the time they wanted, or they needed, something happened in their lives hurt them badly, they felt betrayed because God didn’t protect them from that pain. And they walked, ran, away.
As long as God did what they wanted done, they were willing to follow.
As long as someone was actually being, finally, giving and revealing genuine compassion – over a long span of time – fantastic! outstanding! Miraculous!
But then, suddenly it happened – something so completely, utterly unexpected, something so completely contrary to what they understood and seen about God.
The Miracle Worker ….
The only one who had loved them, had unconditional compassion on then, who had told them the Father in Heaven was absolutely on their side – was betrayed!
In the end, at the cross – no one came to help him or to release him or have true, genuine compassion and mercy upon him – including Father God – saved Him.
God did not “show up” to save this miraculous healer, compassionate friend.
Jesus had promised God would always be there to protect them from suffering.
But this was different.
He did not protect Jesus from great suffering and enormous hardship.
Therefore, He didn’t protect them from suffering and hardship either.
That wasn’t what they signed up for.
That wasn’t the God they wanted nor needed nor required.
Scriptures promised many things, that is what they were taught their whole lives, that is what their parents and grand parents raised them to all believe.
It was perfectly reasonable to them to steadfastly believe all of God’s promises.
It was reasonable to want a God who would protect and shield them from all of the very worst difficulties of life – at least that is what was written in Psalm 121.
But the cross defies that notion.
The cross speaks of death, and suffering, and pain, and loss.
It speaks of a world that is often without compassion, without mercy, severely unfair and unreasonably unjust and dangerous and lethal unto the maximum.
It speaks of a world where even God’s people are often required to endure the utmost levels of suffering and tragedy… hardship and pain – wishy washy God.
The cross declares that life is not so sacred as the scriptures repeatedly teach and won’t always turn out the way YOU want it to… or need it or require it to.
But that life will ultimately turn out the way a “wishy washy” GOD wants it to.
So, who among us would choose to trust an apparently untrustworthy God who was not even true to His very own words 100% of the time as the scripture says?
A tough question to ask and a tougher question to try and answer in such a way as to rebuild an apparently irreparably broken promise and convince others too.
To repair, rebuild, restore steadfast and immovable faith and trust and hope in God in a severely shortened, rapidly changing, unaccommodating span of time.
The Ultimate Answer: Jesus said to his disciples in an isolated Upper Room:
“… In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33b
The cross declares that this world WILL be hard. (You WILL have trouble).
BUT there’s something better on the other side. (I have overcome the world).
If you are looking for GOD’S answer… then that’s perfectly reasonable.
The cross of Christ tells us the absolute truth about life.
There WILL always be ultimate suffering. There will also be ultimate pain.
But if you are faithfully willing to wait on Him, Jesus will carry you through.
As Psalm 23 says: “Yea, though I walk through …” what was that?
(The valley of the shadow of death.)
The cross tells you the absolute truth about living in and through this reality.
And that’s because it is the ultimate answer the world needs to understand.
So, 1st – the world looks for an ultimate answer allowing them to be in control.
2ndly – the world looks for a reasonable answer that allows them to be either ultimately foolish or ultimately wise.
Paul wrote that “… Greeks look for wisdom” 1 Corinthians 1:22
They wanted to be able to understand the world on THEIR terms/ according to their wisdom.
The Greeks were into wisdom… their wisdom.
They were a culture known for their philosophers and sages.
But their philosophers were looking for wisdom based on their perceptions and their views of life.
When it came to God, if they couldn’t explain Him or understand Him on their terms they weren’t going to be happy. God had to fit in the box they had built for Him.
A college student once told a Christian professor: “For me to believe in God, I have to have a God which I can reasonably be expected to fully understand.”
The professor smiled and replied, “God refuses to be that small!”
God refuses to be small enough for us to fully understand Him on our terms.
In fact, we couldn’t understand Him in that way if we wanted to.
In Isaiah 55:8-9 God declared:
“… my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
God doesn’t fit in anyone’s neat little jewelry box.
He’s not easily understood.
He’s different than we are.
He THINKS differently than we do… and He ACTS differently than we do.
And that’s why it is so important to read and study the Bible.
It tells us all we need to know about WHO God is and WHAT He’s like.
It tells us of a God we wouldn’t have guessed existed.
One of the major characteristics of God is found in the Cross.
Isaiah 59:15b-17 describes it this way:
“…The LORD looked and was displeased that there was no justice. He saw that there was no one, he was appalled that there was no one to intervene; so his own arm worked salvation for him, and his own righteousness sustained him. He put on righteousness as his breastplate, and the helmet of salvation on his head; he put on the garments of vengeance and wrapped himself in zeal as in a cloak.”
There was no one else to intercede on our behalf, so God clothed Himself with righteousness and came down to intervene on our behalf.
But the Greeks couldn’t understand that.
They couldn’t understand one single God who’d sacrifice Himself for them.
Back when I was in High School I loved to read the stories of the Greek (and later Roman gods).
They were intriguing stories of the multitude of deities the Greeks worshipped.
It was called the “Pantheon”.
But none of their gods were like the God of Scripture.
There was Zeus, Poseidon, Aphrodite – and numerous other gods and demi-gods.
But there stories described them as being egotistical, selfish, bickering, petty, vindictive, adulterous and heartless, occasionally also being compassionate.
And those were their good and bad and absolutely indifferent traits.
What’s baffling to me is that the Greeks actually worshipped these gods.
They made sacrifices to these petty, mean-spirited gods.
And you just KNOW they made these gods up out of whole-cloth.
These are all made up stories.
But why would the Greeks portray their gods as being so selfish and evil beings?
Well, perhaps because these were the kinds of lifestyles Greeks identified with.
These were the kinds of behaviors they could easily simplify and understand.
Because perhaps this was how the average Greek viewed life in the big city itself.
It’s how they lived their lives.
The Greeks could not understand a God who would sacrifice Himself for them, because they wouldn’t be willing to do that for others.
The Cross declared a God they could not understand in their own wisdom.
I’ve had several people in my life describe me as an “optimist”. An “idealist” who really doesn’t understand “reality”. And I can see where they get that.
Most people know when I’ve entered a building even before they see me… I’m whistling, or humming or singing a song. They are right! I am truly an optimist.
But that doesn’t mean I’m not a realist.
And do you know why?
Because I have a God who is real.
Not a god that I’ve cooked up in my imagination.
Not a god that is the result of my own personal wisdom.
My God is real.
My God stepped down out of heaven and took my place on the cross.
My God loved me so much that He gave His only begotten son that (since) I believe in Him I will not perish, but have everlasting life.
And if I have a God who is willing to do that… what else would He do for me?
My God isn’t based on “my wisdom” and my perception of life.
My God is based on reality.
And so is my attitude.
My God is absolutely ALIVE!
And will forever and ever remain so – even beyond the ends of eternity itself.
Yes, I’m an optimist.
But since I have a God who is real, and who really cares for me, that makes me a realist too.
So, 1st – the world looks for an answer that will give them control of their lives.
2ndly – the world looks for an answer that that allows them to be wise on their own terms
And 3rd – the world is looking for an answer that will give them strength… on their terms
1 Corinthians 1:25 says
“… the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.”
Many in this world want to be strong.
If they tell you a story about themselves they come across as the heroes of that story.
That’s what my father always did.
He’d tell me a multitude of stories about himself… each and every one had him be the hero.
It wasn’t until later that I heard someone else tell me a story about how dad’s best friend had beaten him badly in a short race up and down their street.
Dad didn’t tell that side of the story.
His stories had him being the hero.
And (for the most part) so does everyone elses’.
Folks don’t like to come across as being weak.
They don’t like being shown as having failed.
They don’t like hearing that they have messed up.
They know they have messed up – they just don’t like hearing it.
And so they tend to reject the message of the cross because it describes them as having sinned.
Singer Billy Joel, for example, was very offended by the message of the cross.
“.. I viewed the whole business as a lot of very enthralling hocus pocus. There’s a guy… nailed to a cross and dripping blood, and everyone’s blaming themselves for that man’s torment, but I said to myself, ‘Forget it. I had no hand in that evil. I have no original sin. There’s no blood of any sacred martyr on my hands. I pass on all of this.”
I guess perhaps Mr. Joel didn’t like the idea his personal sin put Jesus on the cross.
That would mean he was guilty of sin.
That he was weak. That he had failed
Perhaps, He didn’t, like a great number of people, simply want to hear that.
But the message the cross isn’t so much that Billy Joel killed Jesus by his sins.
The message of the cross is that Billy Joel deserved to die on the cross for HIS OWN sins… and Jesus simply offered to take his place.
Jesus came to die for those who had failed. For the weak and broken and the losers of life. And that’s why the message of the cross is so powerful for people like that.
Jesus didn’t come for the “healthy”, He came for the sick.
One person I personally know has observed to me that:
“Anybody with an active imagination could come up with a religion whereby those who allegedly “deserved” to get into heaven might just manage do so.”
“And anybody who takes a good hit from crack cocaine or LSD could do it also.”
However, the Word of God for the Children of God reveals that at the cross God promised those who DID NOT deserve heaven could receive it. (Romans 5:8-11)
All the other religions in the world are designed to assure the “righteous”, the “deserving,” by their own strength, goodness can ‘buy’ their way into a heaven.
But the Cross declares that not only does NO ONE deserve heaven… the only way you CAN get into paradise is by accepting the sacrifice of Christ.
You have to confess with your whole heart that you are weak and undeserving and absolutely need God’s help. (Romans 10:9-13)
The world views that as an insult to their reliance on strength.
The want power not weakness.
But the cross is all about power.
Not one ounce of ours, but every last possible, maximum measure of God’s.
1 Corinthians 1:18 says “the message of the cross… to us who are being saved.. is the power of God.”
The cross supplies all the power the world does not want to accept.
It supplies an answer the world can’t provide nor willingly, readily accept.
And we have got to understand that.
The Cross IS our answer to this world, because it is only through the Cross that lives can be changed.
That’s the power of God unto salvation.
And that is the answer the world needs to hear.
1 Kings 18:20-40Amplified Bible
God or Baal on Mount Carmel
20 So Ahab sent word to all the Israelites and assembled the [pagan] prophets together at Mount Carmel. 21 Elijah approached all the people and said, “How long will you [a]hesitate between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people [of Israel] did not answer him [so much as] a word. 22 Then Elijah said to the people, “I alone remain a prophet of the Lord, while Baal’s prophets are 450 men. 23 Now let them give us two oxen, and let them choose one ox for themselves and cut it in pieces, and lay it on the wood, but put no fire under it. I will prepare the other ox and lay it on the wood, and I will not put a fire under it. 24 Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord; and the god who answers by fire, He is God.” And all the people answered, “It is well spoken.”
25 Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose one bull for yourselves and prepare it first, since there are many of you; and call on the name of your god, but put no fire under it.” 26 So they took the bull that was given to them and prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, “O Baal, hear and answer us.” But there was no voice and no one answered. And they leaped about the altar which they had made. 27 At noon Elijah mocked them, saying, “Cry out with a loud voice, for he is a god; either he is occupied, or he is out [at the moment], or he is on a journey. Perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened!” 28 So they cried out with a loud voice [to get Baal’s attention] and cut themselves with swords and lances in accordance with their custom, until the blood flowed out on them. 29 As midday passed, they played the part of prophets and raved dramatically until the time for offering the evening sacrifice; but there was no voice, no one answered, and no one paid attention.
30 Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come near to me.” So all the people approached him. And he repaired and rebuilt the [old] altar of the Lord that had been torn down [by Jezebel]. 31 Then Elijah took twelve stones in accordance with the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord had come, saying, “Israel shall be your name.” 32 So with the stones Elijah built an altar in the name of the Lord. He made a trench around the altar large enough to hold b]two measures of seed. 33 Then he laid out the wood and cut the ox in pieces and laid it on the wood. 34 And he said, “Fill four pitchers with water and pour it on the burnt offering and the wood.” And he said, “Do it the second time.” And they did it the second time. And he said, “Do it the third time.” And they did it a third time. 35 The water flowed around the altar, and he also filled the trench with water.
Elijah’s Prayer
36 At the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet approached [the altar] and said, “O Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel (Jacob), let it be known today that You are God in Israel and that I am Your servant and that I have done all these things at Your word. 37 Answer me, O Lord, answer me, so that this people may know that You, O Lord, are God, and that You have turned their hearts back [to You].” 38 Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood, and even the stones and the dust; it also licked up the water in the trench. 39 When all the people saw it, they fell face downward; and they said, “The Lord, He is God! The Lord, He is God!” 40 Then Elijah said to them, “Seize the prophets of Baal; do not let one of them escape.” They seized them; and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and [as God’s law required] killed them there.
Choosing between faith in the ‘gods’ of this world or the God of all Creation –
Was it reasonable for the priests of baal to keep ranting and raving, maiming themselves repeatedly over a long period of time waiting for their fire to come?
While completely contrary to all worldly expectations Elijah did everything reasonably possible to sabotage his own efforts – but God defied his reason?
Reasonable versus Unreasonable is only defined by God’s true righteousness.
What are the expected results of man’s efforts to control and contain ‘holy’ fire except to say they are severely flawed and only reasonably be expected to fail.
No lives are changed – but mutilated by ‘song and dance,’ pleading and praying to ‘gods and idols’ which do not and cannot ever exist and our adherence to sin.
The reasonableness of Christ and Christianity is in the forgiveness of all sins and the obviously changed lives it inevitably produces for all to witness too.
That’s the ANSWER of the Cross and the POWER of the cross .
Man’s attempts to seek to control their lives, man’s attempts to live by their own wisdom, man’s attempts to live on their own strength – they all utterly fail… because those are really never going to produce life changing answers.
Many of us reading these words are Christians.
Many more who might get around to reading these words are not and are in the categories of being hardcore pessimists, skeptics and agnostics and atheists.
We who have already accepted the answer of the cross in our lives know the changes which God has alone wrought in our lives through all circumstances.
But perhaps you know someone who doesn’t accept that.
Someone who is existing – living by answers that have convinced them to reject the cross outright and hardcore.
Maybe now is the most reasonable time to ask ourselves –
How good is it with God right now?
For those who are in that place of seeking, asking for something much more,
Maybe now is the most reasonable time – reasonably learned to ask these folks:
“How’s that “rejection” thing working out for you right now?”
“Do you sleep well at night? Or do you struggle with sleeplessness because of things you’ve done or said? Do you feel good about yourself? Do you believe that if you died tonight, you’d be able to stand up confidently, directly before God?”
As Christians we need to realize that the Cross IS the answer the world needs.
But do all these words of mine mean that if you are reading this and do not at this moment choose to believe in God, are expected to automatically believe?
The answer to that is an unequivocal NO!
It is not reasonable for me me to expect my words will instantly change how you feel about life and whether or not your life will get better with God in it.
My mere words, my alleged wisdom here, possess no such grandiose power.
What happens to your life after reading these words plus reading and digesting the Word of God for the Children of God – is solely, absolutely in God’s power!
I can only change myself through God’s Word and God’s Grace and Power ….
However, when God’s time comes, we get ‘warmed,’ we need to say with Paul:
“For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.” 1 Corinthians 2:2
The wisdom if His Words, the wisdom waiting for us in the shadow of the cross gives everyone who dares to come, all the answers to all those struggles of life.
But first you and I have to willingly lay our lives down at the foot of the cross.
Perhaps now is the most reasonable time to ask this most reasonable question:
“How reasonable or unreasonable is it with our souls exactly right now?”
In the name of God, the Father and God God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Lord of wisdom, I sometimes finding understanding the Bible to be difficult. I know you want me to apply your word to my life. I thank you for giving me your word so I can grow in my relationship with you. Help me grasp what you want me to know as I read your revealed word. Open my eyes to see the wisdom and power of the cross, the wonderful truths waiting in the shadow of the cross, in your instructions there. Be my One teacher, so I can live and obey your word. Thank you for your wise advice. Amen.
11 Soon afterward Jesus went to a city called Nain [near Nazareth], and His disciples and a large crowd accompanied Him. 12 Now as He approached the city gate, a dead man was being carried out—the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the city was with her [in the funeral procession]. 13 When the Lord saw her, He felt [great] compassion for her, and said to her, “Do not weep.” 14 And He came up and touched the bier [on which the body rested], and the pallbearers stood still. And He said, “Young man, I say to you, arise [from death]!” 15 The man who was dead sat up and began to speak. And Jesus gave him back to his mother. 16 Fear and profound awe gripped them all, and they began glorifying and honoring and praising God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and, “God has visited His people [to help and care for and provide for them]!” 17 This news about Him spread through all of Judea and in all the surrounding countryside.
The Word of God for the Children of God. Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia! Amen.
The divine image, which every single human being bears as a result of God’s indescribable and undeniable benevolence at creation, attracts us to the Divine.
Human beings are religious by nature and in order to fully realize themselves as human beings they have to be and live out the divine qualities instilled in each of them by the Creator of their Life, Author of their Life, Redeemer of their Life.
The opposite is often the case when human actions are critically evaluated.
One of the divine qualities, which we ought to acquire and practice in order to enhance good human relationship, is compassion.
This singular divine feature characterized Jesus earthly ministry in words and deeds.
In this Narrative text, the writer Luke, focuses on an episode in the life of Jesus, as recorded in the Gospel according to Luke 7: 11-17.
The man Rabbi Jesus walked into a dire situation, he had compassion on the widow who lost her only son; he consoled and restored her son back to her.
In following upon Jesus’ footsteps, demonstrating His radical counter-cultural compassion we can make our world better, be able to bear and live with others.
Instantly upon walking into this situation, Jesus made an instant assessment of all the other’s needs, Jesus’ heart went out to this woman who was left all alone.
While many rightfully, righteously grieved and mourned with her upon the loss of her only son, the man, Rabbi Jesus’ heart was touched, longed to comfort her.
His heart was full of indescribable and undeniable compassion.
He could say what no one else could say: “Don’t cry!”
Most of us can only cry with those who have lost loved ones.
Only Jesus can wipe away our tears.
Jesus is touched by our loss, moved to compassion by our mortal limitations.
That’s why he came to earth.
We can be blessed and we can be assured He feels our losses in the same way.
Psalm 103:11-14English Standard Version
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; 12 as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. 13 As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him. 14 For he knows our frame;[a] he remembers that we are dust.
When we cry in grief, we do not cry alone.
The coming of the kingdom of God was not heralded by spectacular and dramatic victories over the powers and authorities of the world but through something much more transformative: the great compassion of its King.
Throughout their accounts of Jesus, the Gospel writers present us with encounter after encounter demonstrating Christ’s unparalleled compassion.
In these incidents, Christ’s power is revealed as His compassion is extended.
In chapter 7 of his Gospel, for instance,
Dr. Luke highlights Jesus’ compassionate response to a sorrowful widow—a response which hopefully, prayerfully, clears any doubts about His greatness.
The woman in this part of Luke’s narrative was in true need. Her husband was already gone, and now her son had just died.
In an ancient Middle-Eastern society, this meant that she had no means of protection or provision.
She faced a life of sadness, loneliness, and precariousness—and then the end of the family line.
But then Jesus entered into the extremity of this woman’s life, and “when the Lord saw her, instantly had compassion on her and said to her, ‘Do not weep.’”
All it took to arouse the compassion of our tender Shepherd was seeing this grieving woman.
Literally, that word “compassion” means “His bowels moved”—our equivalent would be “His stomach churned.”
When Jesus, through whom and for whom all things were created, sees sadness and grief in this broken world, He feels it and He feels it DEEPLY!.
Here is a King who cares deeply.
Even more beautiful is that Jesus had the power to meet this widow’s need, and so He chose to do something only He could do: to bring the dead back to life.
He didn’t just restore a deceased son alive again to a mourning mother and thereby meet her need and obliterate her grief, though.
More importantly, Jesus revealed Himself to the crowd (and to us!) in all of His power, grace, mercy, lovingkindness, authority—even authority over death.
Scenes such as this show us that Jesus doesn’t simply comment on or cry over sickness and death, those great enemies of mankind.
He overcomes them.
He hears the cries of the sorrowful, He comforts them, not only in an earthly, temporal sense but also in a final, perfect, and eternal way, by offering Himself as the only true and genuine means of salvation to all who confess and believe.
Your King is not merely infinitely powerful; He is infinitely compassionate.
And note the combination of those two qualities in Him is sufficient to bring you through every single sadness and every single grief of this world, until you and I stand in His amazed presence and He wipes every last tear from our eyes.
Now, what should we say and how should be address, what should be connect others with about a “reasonable” human response to such a magnitude of love?
Philippians 4:4-7Amplified Bible
4 Rejoice in the Lord always [delight, take pleasure in Him]; again I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your gentle spirit [your graciousness, unselfishness, mercy, tolerance, and patience] be known to all people. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything [every circumstance and situation] by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your [specific] requests known to God. 7 And the peace of God [that peace which reassures the heart, that peace] which transcends all understanding, [that peace which] stands guard over your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus [is yours].
Philippians 4:5 English Standard Version– THE REASONABLE CHRISTIAN
5 Let your reasonableness[a] be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand;
“They will know you by your love.”
This saying is often used in the church as we talk of reaching others for Jesus.
This is taken from the famous verses in John 13:34-35.
A question we need to ask ourselves though is, “What does this love look like?”
It is reasonable for us to surmise that it can be helping those around us, giving of ourselves, our time, resources to the needy, or just lending an ear or lending our quieting presence to someone as they just “desire someone to be near by.”
But, what if showing love meant being a reasonable person?
The Greek word for “reasonable” can also be translated to the word “gentle” with its definition: seemly, equitable, yielding.
Does this sound like someone you have come to know an deeply trust?
Is this one person you claim to know and trust so thoroughly – actually YOU?
Aren’t we called to be strong in our stances and to not bend in what we believe?
The answer is yes!!
But we can do it in a reasonable manner.
Too many times Christians can be looked at as a hard headed, divisive group of bickering snarky people who want argue with everyone they don’t agree with.
You know, that guy or gal who wants to always argue, never compromising and is never wrong and who has about as much compassion, mercy and forgiveness as the specks of dust on top of their bookshelves loaded down with 1000 Bibles.
I know I am definitely guilty of being one of those people at times.
We are never going to change people by belittling their views and putting them down, never seeking to find, till, seed, that reasonable piece of common ground.
We are, however, definitely going to win them over with the same measure of love, uncompromising compassion Jesus revealed to everyone at that funeral when we reasonably meet their grief, and lovingly show them Christ’s mercy.
Our reasonable, unreasonable arguments don’t and won’t change reasonable or unreasonable people, the infinitely reasonable Jesus reasonably changes people.
Beloved Child of God, God has absolutely seen your tears.
He has absolute compassion on you.
He will absolutely and reasonably respond to your needs,
He will absolutely and reasonably help you,
He will absolutely and reasonably strengthen you.
He will absolutely change your dead situation to life and celebration!
Today ….
In this point of uncompromising fact, in this exact and exacting moment ….
In these coming days and weeks ahead, challenge yourself and someone else …
How has God, in Savior Christ Jesus, been reasonably compassionate with you?
How have you been a reasonably ‘reasonable’ compassionate Christian today?
Where have you been a reasonably ‘reasonable’ compassionate Christian today?
Were you a reasonably ‘reasonable’ compassionate Christian yesterday?Why Not?
Why were you a reasonably ‘reasonable’ compassionate Christian today?
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us gather as reasonable Christians and Let us together Pray ….
God of the Helpless, I know that You want Your children to show compassion for those less fortunate. I know this, but I have failed to help others as You would like me to. I know there are so many in need of kindness, Lord. Please open my heart and fill it with Your compassion for Your creation. Please guide me on how I should reach out to each of my neighbors, as Jesus did for the widow and that grieving and mourning community at that funeral and live love for the less fortunate for Your glory. Amen.
13 Do your best to help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way; see that they are supplied and lack nothing. 14 Our people must learn to do good deeds to meet necessary demands [whatever the occasion may require], so that they will not be unproductive.
15 All who are with me greet you. Greet those who love us in the faith.
Grace be with all of you.
The Word of God for the Children of God. Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia! Amen.
These verses are Paul’s final exhortations in the book of Titus.
Paul is saying to this church leader help people to devote themselves to doing good works, and then he uses this phrase in Titus 3:14,
“so as to help cases of urgent need”.
Let that soak in, an urgent need.
Take some time to ponder the day to day stuff about your life in this moment.
Ponder and take some time to recognize where is there urgent need around you in your life, in your own family, in your church, in your community, in the city around you? Just kind of broaden it. Where is there urgent need in the world?
We are entering into the seasons of Thanksgiving and Christmas – How does this wee little tidbit of information stir up your heart and your soul and life?
First thoughts might turn to filling local church pantries, donating necessary items to local emergency or long term shelters – preparing and serving food.
There are always a host of charitable organizations to connect ourselves with.
Except the inevitable question are …. do we, will we – but not just one or twice a year depending on whether there is a major holiday or Christian celebrations?
Hours of service volunteering our services ought not to be determined that way.
God’s Word here revealed in Paul’s Letter to Titus, a Church Leader, is calling us to open wide our eyes to “urgent need” and to devote ourselves to good works.
Devote ourselves to good works – where ever and when ever God presents them.
You and I are not here by chance but by God’s choosing.
You did not invent yourself, nor did you have any part in your own creation.
You were intricately knit together in the womb (Psalm 139:13).
The hand of God formed us to be the people that we are; He created you and me at the very exact moment that He desired, and He has placed you and I at this exact point in history so that we, in Christ, by grace, through faith, might do good deeds—good deeds which He has planned for us to do (Ephesians 2:10).
In other words, we have received grace upon grace that we might do good work.
While the concept of “doing good works” is not foreign to anyone, and may not be our very first morning thought when we consider the impact on ourselves of God’s transforming grace, it was virtually number one on the apostle Paul’s list.
In his very brief letter to Titus, he writes him and his church that God, in Christ Jesus, “gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people who are zealous for good works” (Titus 2:14, emphasis added).
This emphasis appears several times throughout the letter, culminating in Paul’s closing exhortation:
“Let our people learn to devote themselves to good works.”
Paul’s particular zeal for good works was and is completely countercultural, both in his day and in our own.
We live in a 21st century world full of enticements to pursue self-centered lives of solitary leisure. How, then, are we to imitate Paul and excel in good deeds?
First, we need to ponder, recognize, be clear our pursuit of good deeds does not, cannot earn God’s favor. We do not do good to be saved but because we’re saved.
Without grace as its foundation, the call to virtuous living is pure externalism and will either exhaust us or puff us up.
Second, we need to remember that our pursuit of good deeds does bring God pleasure; we live “not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts” (1 Thessalonians 2:4).
So, we to ponder and recognize living a life to be marked by God-honoring, Christ-exalting goodness as a true, living testimony to our great salvation.
Recognize also that our ability to do good is also, Paul says, a learned behavior.
We are called to “learn to devote” ourselves to goodness.
Our actions should not just be the result of an emotional surge or come about only when we feel like it.
Instead, we all are to endeavor on a daily basis to do the kingdom work that God has planned for each one of us, recognize, and do it intentionally and habitually.
We must ponder, recognize opportunities for Kingdom Works for new believers.
Train those new to the faith to be confident, take courage and to let them know there is a definite place for them to exercise and energize their quickened lives.
Get them Started – Get them Inspired – Get them Energized – Set them on Fire for God – then release them – then Unleash them upon an unsuspecting need.
And we are to look at those further on in their faith who live this kind of life and seek to learn from them – be mentored – be groomed by God for greater works.
John 14:10-12Amplified Bible
10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words I say to you I do not say on My own initiative or authority, but the Father, abiding continually in Me, does His works [His attesting miracles and acts of power]. 11 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe [Me] because of the [very] works themselves [which you have witnessed]. 12 I assure you and most solemnly say to you, anyone who believes in Me [as Savior] will also do the things that I do; and he will do even greater things than these [in extent and outreach], because I am going to the Father.
In our Savior Christ, all of our days and all of our deeds will one day be good and beneficial, 100% divinely blessed for that someone, for something, somewhere.
Learn to recognize “God Opportunities” – Learn to begin each day asking for His help to do good to others as a response to His grace to you, trusting that He will 100% graciously enable you to give evidence of your beliefs by your actions.
Everyday is always a very great day to open wide our eyes and our souls and our hands to the “urgent needs” of others, devoting ourselves to doing good works.
Titus 3:14 Reminds Each of Us That There Are Always Going to be MANY Urgent Needs
God in his word is calling us to open our eyes to urgent need.
He’s telling us to devote ourselves to good works in order to help in cases of urgent need.
I watch television, I watch the news – both local and national and global.
I am on the internet and from all this I certainly see urgent needs on a local, national and global scale and my heart is “strangely warmed and stirred up.”
So obviously I don’t know what’s going on in your specific life and your specific community, but on a global scale when I see places where there’s no gospel in the world, I truly recognize that there is definitely all manner of urgent needs.
There’s people right now that are dying and going to an eternity separated from God who’ve never even heard about the gospel.
That’s urgent need.
People who don’t have the gospel, people who don’t have water, like clean water, that’s urgent need.
I was just seeing statistics about disease epidemics in many different countries due to a definite lack of clean and safe drinking water. That’s urgent need.
I think about places where there’s no food, where starvation is a reality.
People don’t just say kind of casually, “Oh, I’m starving”, because they want a meal. That’s actually a reality. People are starving to death. That’s urgent need.
I think about orphans who don’t have a family. That’s urgent need.
I think about people who are oppressed and persecuted around the world and every day being abused, mistreated, broken, even killed. That’s urgent need.
Just to take a few moments to think about it, we can obviously get overwhelmed recognizing about what God presents to us as “urgent need,” but the picture is there’s a very real sense in which we should be driven and a way driving us to devote ourselves to good works in a world of urgent need, to not be unfruitful.
Titus 3:3-8Amplified Bible
3 For we too once were foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various sinful desires and pleasures, spending and wasting our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. 4 But when the goodness and kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared [in human form as the Man, Jesus Christ], 5 He saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we have done, but because of His own compassion and mercy, by the cleansing of the new birth (spiritual transformation, regeneration) and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out richly upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so we would be justified [made free of the guilt of sin] by His [compassionate, undeserved] grace, and that we would be [acknowledged as acceptable to Him and] made heirs of eternal life [actually experiencing it] according to our hope (His guarantee). 8 This is a faithful and trustworthy saying; and concerning these things I want you to speak with great confidence, so that those who have believed God [that is, those who have trusted in, relied on, and accepted Christ Jesus as Savior,] will be careful to participate in doing good and honorable things. These things are excellent [in themselves] and profitable for the people.
Paul reminded Titus that at one time they were fully foolish and utterly ungodly—“disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures.”
Ouch! That was probably a sharp and painful reminder stuck into their ribcages.
Paul also would have surely insisted that we be included in that description too!
But then “the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared,” and now through God’s power and because of our Savior Jesus Christ, we can all be transformed!
God always does the unexpected.
He comes to us with kindness and love, for he is “God our Savior,” who “saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.”
I recall that the German philosopher Nietzsche hated Christianity with a great passion because it encouraged all manner of human kindness to all humanity.
He rejected the biblical concept of love because, he said, it always drained the strong people among them by making them kind, driving them to waste their time, energies and resources on the lepers, cripples, and the oppressed people.
How thankful we can be that God comes to us with kindness in his heart and in his hands.
We need a God who is loving and compassionate and kind beyond all measure.
We have a Savior who is compassionate and merciful and kind beyond measure!
We have a Holy Spirit who intercedes on our behalf 24 hours a day – every day!
What’s more, our nations, our communities, and our families constantly need a Savior in Christ, people who are willing to “waste their energy” by being kind.
Let’s see how many people we can “waste our energies” and be kind to today.
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
God, we pray that the commentary on our lives in a world of urgent need right around us and then on a global scale, that it would not be said of our lives that we were unfruitful. Lord, we want to be fruitful in a world of urgent need. Lord, help us to be fruitful. We want that to be said of our lives and of our families. Help us to devote ourselves to good works. God, we pray for that in your church today. We are so tempted, we’re so tempted to use so many of our resources in our lives, our families and our churches on ourselves, so we pray for a devotion to thy compassion, good works in the world around us to mark our churches.
Savior Jesus, We pray that we would be a fruitful people who are helping cases of urgent need for the glory of your name. Urgent physical need and urgent spiritual need. We know that the most urgent need anyone in the world has right now is to hear the gospel, to believe in Christ, and to receive salvation from sins. God, help us to devote ourselves to that good work, sharing that good news. Then as we do that, God, help us to devote ourselves to all sorts of good works. To help cases of urgent need so that it would be said of us, oh God, may it be said of us that our lives, our families, our churches were fruitful for the glory of your name in a world of urgent need. In Savior Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
22 Now Joseph lived [remained] in Egypt, he and his father’s household, and Joseph lived a hundred and ten years. 23 Joseph saw the third generation of Ephraim’s children; also the children of Machir, the son of Manasseh, were born and raised on Joseph’s knees. 24 Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will surely take care of you and bring you up out of this land to the land which He promised to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob [to give you].” 25 Then Joseph made the sons of Israel (Jacob) swear [an oath], saying, “God will surely visit you and take care of you [returning you to Canaan], and [when that happens] you shall carry my bones up from here.”
The Word of God for the Children of God. Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia! Amen.
As near as I can calculate, roughly 65 years of Joseph’s later life are summarized by Genesis 50verse 22: “Joseph lived [remained] in Egypt…..”
Presumably, these were quieter times than the recorded drama of his early days.
But these 65 “remaining” years are definitely not to be considered pointless.
Considering these “remaining” years in the life of Joseph causes us to reflect:
Whatever age we are in this exact moment, we must ask ourselves; “What, Who, are we living for? What are we planning to do with the time God has given us?”
It’s far too easy to spend our lives chasing earthbound horizons such as career success, financial stability, or comfortable luxuries.
The myths of these things is seductive: life is about slaving at your job as long as you can in order to build, edify, add on to the nest in which you plan to settle down—that the most essential purpose of life is to prepare for our retirements.
Just at the point when believers are often in a position—financially, physically, emotionally, socially—to free up that incredibly elusive amount of time to serve God’s kingdom, they start to talk “just wanting a period of rest, hibernation.”
As devoted, obedient and steadfast followers of our Lord, Savior and King Jesus, we must ‘minimize our footprint’, to not live as though this world is all there is.
John 3:28-30 admonishes and teaches us we have a humble, limited role in life.
“28 You yourselves are my witnesses that I stated, ‘I am not the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed),’ but, ‘I have [only] been sent ahead of Him [as His appointed forerunner and messenger to announce and proclaim His coming].’ 29 He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands by and listens to him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. So this pleasure and joy of mine is now complete. 30 He must increase [in prominence], but I must decrease.“
Yet some of us cannot, will not say with integrity, “There is more than just this life,” because everything we are doing with our time, talents, and money seems to be saying, “This is it! Done! That’s why I am working up to 60 hours a week.”
“That’s why I don’t come home or take a vacation.”
“That’s why I missed church again last Sunday.”
“That’s why I don’t make time and take risks to serve and to share the gospel with my neighbors.”
“Because this is it.”
Being “my working myself into the grave for a lifetime of rust worthy material things which I can never hope to ‘stuff into my coffin’ to take with me anyway.”
It is wonderful thing to have a dynamic, hard core, faith-filled, vibrant and unwavering faith when we are in the center of a whirlwind of a battle; it’s a whole new challenge to live a life of steady obedience through daily routine.
For a life to be well spent—especially as it relates to our resources and legacy—we must consider not just what we want in life but what we ought to do with life.
We need a vision of the heavenly horizon.
Joseph had a purpose for his life and for those final, quieter years.
His vision was set for a time and place and ‘life’ beyond the borders of Egypt.
He was neither centered or focused on himself; he was responsible for ensuring his children and his children’s children did not settle down too comfortably in Egypt but instead remained unsettled enough so they would be more desirous of a significantly better life and might truly settle one day in the promised land.
24 Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will surely take care of you and bring you up out of this land to the land which He promised to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob [to give you].” 25 Then Joseph made the sons of Israel (Jacob) swear [an oath], saying, “God will surely visit you and take care of you [returning you to Canaan], and [when that happens] you shall carry my bones up from here.”
Joseph said to his brothers:
“but God will surely take care of you and bring you up out of this land which He promised to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob [to give you.]”
then Joseph made the sons of Israel (Jacob) to swear [an oath] saying to future generations – God will surely visit you and God will surely take care of you and surely be returning you to Canaan – the promised land – God WILL do all this!
God turned an early life of great life threatening negativity, given him peace, prestige, and prosperity in Egypt—everything that so many of us chase today.
Yet he had always kept his eyes and his soul and heart, looking beyond Egypt.
He truly knew Egypt was not where he, or any of God’s people, truly belonged.
The man, Master Rabbi Jesus, communicated this, his “last will and testament” to His disciples in the Upper Room during those fateful final hours of his life:
John 14:1-3Amplified Bible
Jesus Comforts His Disciples
14 “Do not let your heart be troubled (afraid, cowardly). Believe [confidently] in God and trust in Him, [have faith, hold on to it, rely on it, keep going and] believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many dwelling places. If it were not so, I would have told you, because I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and I will take you to Myself, so that where I am you may be also.
Apostle Paul would, just several years later, would echo the very same thought:
Philippians 3:12-14Amplified Bible
12 Not that I have already obtained it [this goal of being Christlike] or have already been made perfect, but I actively press on [a]so that I may take hold of that [perfection] for which Christ Jesus took hold of me and made me His own. 13 [b]Brothers and sisters, I do not consider that I have made it my own yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the [heavenly] prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Joseph knew by his steadfast and immovable faith that he was not yet home!
The man, Master Rabbi Jesus knew we were not yet home – Just believe on Him!
Apostle Paul knew, communicated – we can live with eternity deep in our souls.
We too must live in such a prophetic way that we help our loved ones and our own hearts to “desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one” (Hebrews 11:16).
Whatever you have or do not have ‘rusting away’ today, you are not yet home.
John 10:9-10Amplified Bible
9 I am the Door; anyone who enters through Me will be saved [and will live forever], and will go in and out [freely], and find pasture (spiritual security). 10 The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows].
There is absolutely abundantly more, absolutely, abundantly better, than this.
Be sure that your abundance of time, talents, and money reflect that knowledge.
This place called planet earth is not, was never meant to be, our forever home!
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Lord, my teacher, I’m often confused when I need to make important decisions about my work, my relationships, my health, or finances. Show me the way I should go when I don’t know which way to turn. Help me remember to come to you, rather than trying to figure everything out on my own. Guide me along the best pathway for my life. Advise me and watch over me. Help me to listen to your guidance and not resist it. I thank you that your unfailing love surrounds those who trust you. Amen
1. Ye servants of God, your Master proclaim, and publish abroad his wonderful name; the name all-victorious of Jesus extol, his kingdom is glorious and rules over all.
2. God ruleth on high, almighty to save, and still he is nigh, his presence we have; the great congregation his triumph shall sing, ascribing salvation to Jesus, our King.
3. “Salvation to God, who sits on the throne!” Let all cry aloud and honor the Son; the praises of Jesus the angels proclaim, fall down on their faces and worship the Lamb.
4. Then let us adore and give him his right, all glory and power, all wisdom and might; all honor and blessing with angels above, and thanks never ceasing and infinite love.
Hebrews 10:19-25Disciples’ Literal New Testament
Therefore, Let Us Approach God in Full Assurance of Faith and Hold on Without Wavering
19 Therefore, brothers, having confidence for the entering of the Holies by the blood of Jesus— 20 which fresh[a] and living way He inaugurated for us through [b] the curtain, that is[c], His flesh— 21 and having a great Priest over the house of God, 22 let us be approaching God with a true heart in full-assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled[d] from an evil conscience, and having our body washed[e]with clean water. 23 Let us be holding-on- to the confession of our hope without-wavering, for the One having promised is faithful. 24 And let us be considering[f] one another for the provoking love and good works, 25 not forsaking the gathering-together of ourselves as is a habit with some, but exhorting[h]one another, and so-much more by-as-much-as you see the day drawing-near.
The Word of God for the Children of God. Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia! Amen.
Ye Servants of God, What Exactly Are We Doing with our Life Which Points to Jesus?
When you get up in the morning and you face a day, what do you say to yourself about your hopes for the day? What do you do to motivate yourself? When you look from the beginning of the day to the end of the day, what do you want to happen because you have lived? What difference do you want your life to make?
If you say, I don’t even think like that, I just get up and do what I’ve got to do, then you are cutting yourself off from a basic means of grace and a source of guidance and strength and fruitfulness and joy.
It is crystal clear throughout the Bible, including this text from Hebrews, that God means for us to aim consciously at something significant in our days.
Gods revealed will for us is that when we get up in the morning, we don’t drift aimlessly through the day letting mere circumstances alone dictate what we do, but that we aim at something — that we focus on a certain kind of purpose.
I’m talking about children here, and teenagers, and adults — single, married, widowed, moms, every age, every season of life and every walk, every trade.
Aimlessness is akin to lifelessness. Dead leaves in the back yard may move around more than anything else — more than the dog, more than the children.
The wind blows this way, they go this way. The wind blows that way, they go that way. They tumble, they bounce, they skip, they press against a fence, but they have no aim whatsoever. They are full of motion and empty of real life.
God did not create humans in his image to be aimless, purposeless wanderers, like a mound of lifeless leaves blown around in the backyard of life. He created us to be motivated, purposeful — to have a focus and an aim for all our days.
And this is not the least bit oppressive. It’s not slavery. It’s not depleting.
To find what we were made for and to do it with all God’s might (Colossians 1:29), is freeing (Galatians 5:13) and energizing. Jesus said, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me” (John 4:34). Food! Aiming day by day to do what we were meant to do is like eating: it gives and nourishes life and energy, rather than taking it away. You will eventually die if you do what you were meant to do.
You and I may be young, or we may be old. That is God’s choice, not ours. But when live and die doing what we were meant to do, we live, die well and full.
Ye Servants of God, what do we consider the Aim, Focus of Our Lives as Christians?
Would you please consider with me what these verses from Hebrew teach us about the aim and focus of our lives as Christians?
I fervently pray God may use them to bring crystal-clear focus to your life. He may use them to blow away all the confusion and fog, the excuses and fear, and shall give a lucid, bright, crisp, spring-morning clarity to the aim of your days.
1. Ye Servants of God, Embrace Your Living Hope
First, verse 23 says, “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.”
Now that is not something you do with your hands or your feet. You don’t go to the kitchen to do this, or to the den or across the street or to the office or to school. This is not done where anyone can see. This is an affair of the heart.
Embrace your living hope.
Hold fast to your living hope.
Be a hopeful, hope-filled person. Hope in God.
Because God has made promises to you, and he is faithful.
He has promised to write the law on your heart (Hebrews 10:16) and work in you what is pleasing in his sight (Hebrews 13:21);
He has promised to remember your sins no more (Hebrews 10:17);
He has promised that we will be perfected for all time by a single sacrifice (Hebrews 10:14);
He has promised never to leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:59);
He has promised to bring good from all our pain (Hebrews 12:10).
And so, Ye Servants of God, believe with all your heart God keeps his word.
But that does not provide you with a sufficient focus for the day?
God did not create you to curl up under the covers and hope in God all day in bed. Without some effect on your life, hope in God would be invisible and bring no public glory to God’s power and wisdom and goodness and trustworthiness.
If the act of hoping in God were all that he created you to aim at, then verse 24 would be wasted words.
But they are not.
God created you first to hope in him, and then to make that hope visible by the effect that it has on your life. And that effect is given in verse 24, and it is to be the aim of your daily life. This is why God wakes everyone up in the morning.
2. Ye Servants of God, Motivate yourself to Motivate others – Stir Up Each Other to Love and Good Deeds
Let’s read it. Verse 24: “Let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds.”
Here is the focus for our life. Here is what we aim at from morning till night as a Christian. Notice carefully: it is not what you might expect. It is not: consider how to love each other and do good deeds. That would be Biblical and right.
But it’s different: “Consider how to stimulate each other to love and good deeds.” Focus on helping others become loving people. Aim at stirring up others to do good deeds.
And of course, the implication would then also be that if others need help and stirring, we do too, and so we would be aiming at what diverse sorts of ways we can think and feel and talk and act that will likewise stir each other up to love and to do good deeds. The true aim of our lives is not just loving and doing good deeds but likewise helping to stir up others to love and to good deeds.
3. Ye Servants of God, Consider Each Other
But let’s be more precise. There is something in this text that is very hard to bring over into English.
The word “consider,” (“Let us consider how to . . .”) is used one other time in the book, namely, Hebrews 3:1, where the writer says, “Consider Jesus.”
That is, look at him; think about him, focus on him, study him, let your mind be occupied with him.
“Jesus” is the direct object of the verb “consider.” “Consider Jesus.”
Consider what? Consider Jesus. Well, in Hebrews 10:24 the grammar is the same: the direct object of the word “consider” is “one another.” Literally, it says, “Consider the Savior Jesus Christ in one another.”
Ye Servants of God – God’s Call for Everyone
Consider one another. But this is almost impossible to bring over into English with the rest of the sentence, because it would be so awkward.
It would have to go something like this: “Consider one another toward the stimulating of love and good works.” Now that is terrible English — good Greek word order but terrible English. The best we can do, it seems, is to say, “Consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds.”
But I want you to get this nuance of the original so you can feel the force of this as a daily aim and focus for your life.
Literally, this is God’s call on each of us to consider one another, that is, to look at one another, think about one another, focus on one another, to study one another, to let your mind be occupied with one another. And the goal of this focus on others is to think of ways of stimulating them to love and good deeds.
I ever so strongly urge you to hear God’s word in Hebrews 10:24. When you get up in the morning, Consider — think about, ponder, deliberate, meditate, mull over — other people, with this conscious goal: what can I do today so that they will be stirred up to radical, random, Christian acts love and to good deeds?
Now there is a reason to live and a focus for every day that will never be boring.
Every day is new and different. People change. Their circumstances change. You change. But the call remains the same: consider, consider, consider these people you will be around today.
What are they like? What am I like? What will the situation be like?
What helps a person become more loving?
What is the origin of genuine good deeds?
This is a reason for living that is focused enough to be practical and big enough to last a lifetime.
Ye Servants of God, Motivate yourself to Get Together, to Encourage One Another in God.
So, let’s look at the text to find the answer to how we go about this. Verse 24 gives the focus and aim: “Let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds.” Then verse 25 gives us instructions how. It says, “not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but also encouraging one another.” Two things. First, don’t neglect to get together.
Second, encourage one another.
When I was growing up, I heard this text referred to most often as an argument for regular attendance at worship services. “Do not forsake the assembling of yourselves together — come to church regularly.”
And that is not a wrong application of the text since one of the most important kinds of encouragements and exhortations we get is from our preaching and our sharing, fellowship and talking of God’s word in the power of God’s Spirit.
(Hebrews 13:22 calls the book of Hebrews a “word of encouragement.”)
But in the context, the kind of coming together in view seems to be one where the members “encourage one another.” Verse 25 is explicit: come together and encourage one another. The “one another” implies that there is something mutual going on. One is encouraging another, and another is encouraging one. Each is doing or saying something that encourages.
If you ask what that corresponds to in our church, I would say the closest thing is the small groups — which is why I regard this ministry as so utterly crucial.
I am a great believer in preaching. There is something about the word of God that begs to be heralded and trumpeted and exulted over — as well as discussed and taught. But I have no illusions preaching is enough in the life of a believer.
The New Testament — and especially this book of Hebrews — calls us again and again to a specific kind of mutual ministry that involves all the believers in encouraging others.
So, I ask you to take stock of your life: Where are you in verse 25?
There are two groups: those who gather to encourage each other, and those who have formed the habit of not gathering.
See that little phrase in verse 25: “Not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some.” Non-participation in a fellowship group can be habit-forming and rather nonproductive to God’s Kingdom aims.
How are we doing?
Ye Servants of God, Consider What Kind of Encouragement Motivates & Stimulates?
Which leaves one last question remaining for us to ask ourselves:
What kind of encouragement stimulates others to love and good deeds? It’s not obvious to some that this question has anything to do with God.
Lots of people think that love and good deeds are a good thing to seek after, and many would say that encouraging others is the way to do it — and they might not even be Christians. Or they might be Christians who put little focus on God.
For example, I have repeatedly read where one church was described like this:
“While [the pastor] spoke of sending out missionaries, the feeling was that his congregation existed to heighten only to edify the self-esteem of its members.”
Whether or not that’s an accurate description of that church, the point is this: a lot of churches would try to stimulate love and good deeds that way.
But it’s not even close to being the biblical way.
The key to encouraging love biblically is given in verse 23: “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.”
The key to love, in the New Testament — the kind of love that magnifies God and not man — is hope rooted in the faithfulness of God. Embrace your hope! Cherish your hope! Because I know God is faithful. He keeps all his promises.
Without this kind of faith and hope, sustaining us day by day through all the disheartening frustrations and crushing disappointments, we would not have any strength or energy or joy to stir anybody up to love and good deeds.
But if we bank on God, not on ourselves, we always have that extra something encouraging and hope-giving to say, namely, “God can be absolutely trusted, God can be utterly trusted. I have no strength, but God can be 100% trusted.”
Ye Servants of God, Do This All the More
Make the aim of your life to consider others — study them, know them, figure them out — to the end that you stimulate them to love and good deeds.
Be sure that you do this by getting together often with other believers for the specific purpose of encouraging each other.
And let the heart of that encouragement be reminders of how great our hope is in Christ and that God can be trusted.
And as you see the end of the age drawing near, verse 25 says, do this all the more, not less.
Why?
As Jesus said, “Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end, he shall be saved” (Matthew 24:12).
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Heavenly Father, thank You for loving me so much that while I was still dead in my trespasses and sins, Christ completed His finished work on the cross… so that by grace through faith in Him, I might have forgiveness of sin and life everlasting.
Thank You, my Savior, for those who taught me about the Lord Jesus and who demonstrated the love of Christ in their own lives – provoking me to love and good works in my own life. Help me to be so in tune with You that others may be provoked unto love and good works through my witness, as Christ lives in me and I in Him. Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! AMEN.
Loving God, Living God, Loving Hope, Living Hope, Loving Living Life His Way! "Many things are possible for the person who has hope. Even more is possible for the person who has faith. And still more is possible for the person who knows how to love. But everything is possible for the person who practices all three virtues." - Brother Lawrence (1605-1691), Practicing the Presence of God (1692). 