As Jeremiah 50:4 tells us, we come in tears seeking the Lord in times of suffering and sorrow. But God promises to turn our mourning into gladness and give us comfort and joy instead of sorrow. (Jeremiah 31:13) For God our Redeemer can reverse and overrule all evil with good, and suffering with blessings as He restores, renews, and revives our broken spirits. We will then be able to enter Zion with singing and shouts of joy…with this everlasting joy being our crown. (Isaiah 35:10)
Jesus and His disciples were traveling from Jericho back to Jerusalem, and the disciples were terrified and confused as to why Jesus was heading back to the very people who wanted Him dead. There had been several attempts to arrest and kill Jesus by Church Leaders (John 7:32-52, John 8:58-59, John 10:22-39, John 11:45-54) so it was no surprise that they were frightened at the prospect of Jesus losing His life this time. There will be experiences in all our lives when our path is shrouded with the darkness of dismay and bewildering chaos. But as we look ahead, we will always see Jesus leading the way with resolve. So, continue to follow the light with confidence and trust…because Jesus knows exactly where He’s going.
Physical rest for the body is essential for our wellbeing…but emotional rest is just as important. In this Scripture, Jesus invites us to find rest and refreshment in Him when we’re weary from the day’s trials and tribulations. That’s why when our mind is in turmoil with confusion and agitation, we need to ask God to re-establish our rest in Him. For Psalm 62:1 tells us, “My soul finds rest in God alone.” Which is so very true…for it is only in Him that we can find lasting calm and peace.
Today, there may be no enthusiasm left in your life. Hope and encouragement seem far off as you endeavor to serve God despite the crushing weight of suffering, affliction, and anguish. It’s at this time that you require the grace of Almighty God to take the next weary step in your devotion to Him. How? It starts with daily dedication to be in His Word and steady perseverance to overcome your flesh. For true service to God demonstrates our integrity, love for others, and great endurance under pressure…for our good and His glory.
Romans 2:8 tells us that when we are self-seeking, overly ambitious, and selfish…we are not honoring God. Jesus also made it plain in Matthew 6:33 that we are to seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness…denying pride in our heart, eyes, and actions. (Psalm 131:1) This means a right relationship with God has to be our highest priority in life…not power, honor, or prestige. John put it well when he wrote, “For I seek not to please myself but Him Who sent me.” (John 5:30)
At the foot of the Cross, we can fully realize the free gift given that cost us nothing but cost it all to Jesus Christ. This greatest act of forgiveness is God’s mercy, love, and grace called the Gospel Message. For only God can forgive our sins through our faith in His Son. (Psalm 103:3, Isaiah 43:25) But to fully understand how we may imitate His forgiveness, we must stay at the Cross…gazing intently at His broken body as Jesus utters, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34)
Ninevah was the capital of the powerful Assyrian Empire. They were feared and hated by the Israelites, so when God commissioned Jonah to go and preach repentance to them…he ran in the opposite direction in disobedience and a resentful attitude. Why? Because he knew God, and his greatest fear would be that God would bestow forgiveness and mercy on his most hated enemies. We have to always remember that like Jonah, we can run from the place where God calls us, but we’ll never run from His Presence…for when He calls us to something, He will pursue us forever.
We have been taught that serving others is to be like serving the Lord with good will. But if the other person is exhibiting anything but godly character, it can be difficult to react in benevolent kindness when polite requests are outnumbered by abrupt demands. But we have also been taught not to repay evil for evil…so what are we to do? The first thing is to hold your tongue, and as long as the person is in a safe situation, walk away…regain your composure and then and only then, go back. Why? Because in I Peter 3:10, Peter is quoting Psalm 34:12-16 where it urges us to bless others in order to obtain a blessing…and unkind remarks spoken out of frustration are not blessing to anyone…. you or the other person.
Here’s an eye opener for you…according to current surveys of men (ages 18-30) who claim to be Christians, 77% admit to viewing pornography at least monthly…36% admit to watching porn at least monthly…and 32% confess that they have a porn addiction. (With another 12% thinking they may have one.) No wonder this quote of the Puritan Preacher, Charles Spurgeon, rings so true. Scrolling through porn sites temporarily fulfills the corrupt desires of a man’s sinful nature…but it’s only a fantasy and an illusion…so it leaves him wanting more, and more miserable than when he first started. That’s why James 1:14 warns those of being drug away by their own evil & perverted longings… which will never be satisfied.
The Church is called “The Body of Christ”…and so, if you think about it, as fellow Christians behave, so does the Church we are part of. Thus, when Charles Spurgeon wrote this about the Church, it could also be directed towards us. “The more the Church is distinct from the world in her acts and in her words, the more true is her testimony for Christ and the more potent is her witness against sin.” If your co-workers and casual friends have no idea that you’re a Christian…if your actions on Saturday night are the total opposite of your behavior on Sunday morning, how do you expect your Church to make any difference in the community and the world outside the four walls? I Peter 2:9 calls us to be a peculiar people – distinct and standing up for our faith…not blending into the worldview. For when we, the Body of Christ, accepts the call, the Church can’t help but change.
Safetypinlove 