Hebrews 2:10 ” In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for Whom and through Whom everything exists, should make the Author of their salvation perfect through suffering.”

It’s difficult to correlate suffering with perfecting while we’re in the middle of enduring pain, bearing loss, and/or experiencing illness. But Jesus is our shining example of how suffering brings about perfection. For it was through Christ – our Savior -and His sufferings, that our atonement and salvation was achieved, once for all. He suffered first for us, while we were yet sinners and far from Him, that we may be set free from sin and guilt and have eternal life. Jesus suffered first for us to make the path of our personal suffering endurable…for we are now suffering for His sake and because of that, not only sharing in His sufferings, but coming out the other side refined as if gold.

Jeremiah 50:6-7 “My people have been lost sheep; their shepherds have led them astray and caused them to roam on the mountains. They wandered over mountain and hill and forgot their own resting place. Whoever found them devoured them; their enemies said, ‘We are not guilty, for they sinned against the Lord, their true pasture, the Lord, the hope of their fathers.’ “

During His Ministry here on earth, Jesus would often look compassionately upon the crowds gathered around Him and liken them to harassed and helpless sheep without a shepherd…calling them the lost sheep of Israel. But here in Jeremiah and elsewhere in this Book, God through the prophet Jeremiah is condemning the Leaders and false Teachers for only being concerned for themselves and not the flock God had entrusted them with. God accused them of purposely leading His people astray with reckless lies and deception and causing they to roam far from Him in the form of idolatry, (the setting up and worshipping of pagan altars on every high hill and under every spreading tree.” Isaiah speaks to this when he wrote, “We all, like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way…” For it’s when we’re doing our own thing that the enemy can easily pick us off…and then have the audacity to blame us for being caught up in their trap. But the good news is God is still in control and even though the lions may have chased and scattered the flock…the Lord assures us, “I will bring Israel back to his own pasture.”

I John 2:4 ” The man who says, ‘I know Him,’ but does not do what He commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him.”

It’s very simple – “If we claim to have fellowship with Him yet walk in darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth.” (I John 1:6-8) That person may appear to be a pillar of the Church and Community… yet in the shroud of night shadows watch porn on his computer. Another may teach Bible Studies and be well respected by all…yet emotionally cheat on her husband. We may think we’re getting away with it and that no one knows…but we’re only fooling ourselves…and admit it, deep down we know it and so does God. For the bottom line is, to know God is to obey Him, but if we continue in our double standard charade, John admonishes us to remember this harsh reality, “No one who continues to sin has either seen Him or knows Him.” (I John 3:6) So can you say with utmost confidence today, “I know Him.” ??

Zechariah 12:10 ” And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on Me, the One they have pierced, and they will mourn for Him as one mourns for an only child, and grieves bitterly for him as one grieves for a first born son.”

This speaks to the spiritual impact the Second Coming of Christ will have on the Jewish people. And as one who witnessed Jesus’ death, and resurrection, John quoted Zechariah about this future event when he said, ” They will look upon the One they have pierced.” (John 19:34-37) For as they behold Jesus with unveiled eyes, the stark and devastating reality will sink in, and they will be filled with weeping as if grieving for a dearly beloved only child. But if it wasn’t for the Spirit of God pouring out His mercy and kindness, they would all drowned in utter despair and hopelessness. But because of His grace poured out, they are led towards repentance (Romans 2:4), and Godly sorrow which leads to salvation. (II Corinthians 7:10)

Job 23:11-12 ” My feet have closely followed His steps; I have kept to His way without turning aside. I have not departed from the commands of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my daily bread.”

When I think of a Old Testament figure that experienced unspeakable grief and anguish by no fault of his own…I always think of Job. In the blink of an eye, everything Job knew and loved was taken from him…leaving him devastated, confused, and overwhelmed. But one thing Job never lost was his faith. When we are sinned against by someone, our first reaction is usually how we can retaliate. But in these verses, we see Job earnestly seeking after God…cherishing and holding tightly to His words and placing his confidence in Him alone. So focused on God was Job that he said in Job 6:10, “Then I would still have this consolation – my joy in unrelenting pain – that I had not denied the words of the Holy One.” People will hurt, lie, and sin against us, but it’s not our responsibility to get even. Our responsibility is to steadfastly keep our eyes on God and the truth of His word…or as Jeremiah 11:20 tells us, “But, O Lord, Almighty, You who judge righteously and test the heart and mind, let me see Your vengeance upon them, for to You I have committed my cause.”

Mark 12:13-14 ” Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to catch Him in His words. They came to Him and said, ‘Teacher, we know You are a man of integrity. You aren’t swayed by men, because You pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.’ “

Both these groups were already plotting on how they could kill Jesus. Both had ulterior motives for wanting to “catch Jesus in His words.” But they all couldn’t deny certain things they had observed about Him. He was authentic, honest, and sincere…and they recognized this and hated Him even more. So how does the world see you? Are there things the world can’t deny about you? Does it see integrity…with a daily reality of things that show a true and intimate relationship with God…or does the world just see another person getting by?

Proverbs 19:18 ” Discipline your son, for in that there is hope; do not be a willing party to his death.”

When we read this verse I know most will automatically think it means corporal punishment…but many of the Proverbs that address disciplining children are actually talking about oral correction not physical. In fact in verse 1 of this Proverb it does just that, “A wise son heeds his father’s instruction.” (The words discipline and instruction coming from the same Hebrew word here.) But what’s the most important part of this verse isn’t the form of correction we use on our children but are we are willing to discipline them at all. A hands off, let them grow up by themselves attitude only shows a very unloving parental approach, with no regard for their soul, spirit, and life. The bottom line is, discipline is meant to instruct and change bad behavior…”and save their soul from death.” (Proverbs 23:14)

Revelation 4:1 ” After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven.”

For a moment, think about a door. It can be locked up, or open wide… welcoming you in. A door can bar you entrance, or allow you in. Finally, it can give you means for access and/or participation, or forbid you from going any farther. Jesus speaks of the door to our hearts when He says, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door…” (Revelation 3:20) If we open that door and welcome Him in, it opens up countless doors to His many blessings…but the biggest one being what John experienced here in Revelation 4:1…seeing the door to heaven standing wide open, bidding him to come in.

Psalm 40:4 ” Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods.”

It all boils down to this one question – Where do you place your trust? That’s because, if you’re relying on any other type of security in this world other than the Lord, you’re standing on very shaky ground. Why? Because you’re basing your hope on the world’s lies, falsehoods, and deception rather than the Truth of the Bible. There is nothing as firm or solid as the unwavering and unchanging Word of God…and placing your trust in Him alone is the only answer to all the craziness in the world today.

Isaiah 26:10 ” Though grace is shown to the wicked, they do not learn righteousness; even in a land of uprightness they go on doing evil and regard not the majesty of the Lord.”

Do any of us – Believer or nonbeliever- really understand the full scope of God’s kindness, grace, and mercy? Or as I Samuel 12:24 reflects, “Consider what great things He has done for you.” A interesting thing about this verse in II Samuel and the one above in Isaiah is that the Hebrew word for ‘regard’ and ‘consider’ is the same. So whether Believer or nonbeliever, we are all needing to discover, appreciate, and experience God’s majesty and loving-kindness. For it tells us, “He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” (Matthew 5:45) That just goes to show the kind of tolerance, patience, and love God has for us all.