Safetypinlove

Just because you’re a Christian doesn’t mean you’re immune to adversity or troubles…it’s just how we approach these things that makes the difference. First, we need to ask for Godly wisdom (James 1:5) and discernment. Secondly, ask for Godly insight to see clearly into the situation we’re faced with. In the Parable Jesus taught in Matthew 13:13 He spoke about the human inability to understand or see through God’s eyes, the “Seeing but yet not perceiving” like God can. Finally, we need to ask for Godly perspective…a seeking of His viewpoint into the true importance of said problem in the eternal scheme of things. For as Isaiah 55:8 tells us, “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, declares the Lord.”

The Lord’s unspeakable love and tender mercies for Israel was the grounds of His election of them. (Deuteronomy 7:6-7) This everlasting character of the old covenant was first affirmed to Abraham in Genesis 17:7 and here in Jeremiah 31:3 is a sign of the reestablishment of the broken covenant talked about in Jeremiah 9:24, “But let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord, Who exercises kindness, justice, and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight, declares the Lord.” But with the shed blood of Jesus on the Cross, the new covenant was established…a covenant of grace, redemption, and the promised hope of eternal life.

We all commit sins daily that we think we can hide from everyone…things like envy, hatred, and lust float in and out of our minds & hearts without a moment’s thought. But before God there are no secret sins, for He knows the secrets of the heart. (Psalm 44:21) Or as Hebrews 4:13 reminds us, “Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to Whom we must give account.” But we still want to believe God can’t see our shameful ways, though this only goes to show the deceitfulness of sin itself…blinding us to the truth. The Apostle Paul, in Ephesians 5:12-13, wrote that what the disobedient do in secret will be exposed to the light…the light of God that has no darkness and sees all.

The bottom line is this…we can’t change people. Nor can we “fix” them as much as we would like to. Neither can we make appropriate choices for them or rescue them from the wrong choices they do make… and all the unfortunate circumstances that follow. God judges each of us for our own sins. (Numbers 15:31) So what can we do? We can pray for them. We can remind them that we’ll be there for them so that they won’t be journeying alone…even lending them our roadmap (The Bible), but that ultimately, the trip is theirs.

What is the Gospel Message anyway? The Gospel Message is not an angry God hatefully yelling at you, “Turn to Me or I will send you to hell!” Rather, the Gospel Message is a loving and merciful God whispering, “You’re already on your way to hell, turn to Me and I will save you & give you eternal life.” The Gospel Message is the Good News that we can be saved and forgiven from our rebellion against the God Who created us if we will trust in the life, death, and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ…and accept His gift of eternal & enduring faith anchored in hope.

King Herod was in an adulterous relationship with Herodias, against which John the Baptist had vehemently preached against, (Mark 6: 18, with reference back to Leviticus 18:16,20) So when Herodias saw the chance to silence John’s constant condemnation, she took it by forcing her daughter to make a horribly macabre request. For even though King Herod feared John as a righteous and holy man, his boastful & rash promises to this young girl sadly became John’s death sentence. John refused to stop or back down from preaching the truth…rather choosing to count the cost…for which inevitably caused his demise. Very few of us will ever have to face the same situation as John the Baptist did…counting the cost for Truth & Christ even unto death…but we still must be willing to take a stand for what is right & true.

As the Apostle Paul writes here, our present condition is not our final one. Our Salvation has begun, and we have the Holy Spirit as the down payment, (II Corinthians 1:22 & Ephesians 1:13-14) but until then, we are to wait patiently with hope. Hense, our Christian life is a series of opening and closing of doors…each orchestrated by God to teach, admonish, and allow us to serve. But there are also excruciating times when we are forced to “wait in the hallway”. Often times likening this “Spiritual hallway” to a desert place…unproductive, barren, and dry…making us feel more like a nomad than a child of God. Nevertheless, we are to wait… so as we wait patiently in the hallway for God to open the next door, we learn to praise not pout with future hope in our hearts.

As the Holiday Season approaches, it’s a good time to take a moment to reflect on the meaning of the season and what our focus should be. In the happy moments…praise Him. (James 5:13) In the difficult moments…seek Him. (Psalm 46:1) In those quiet moments…worship Him. (Lamentations 3:26) And in every moment of the day…thank Him. (Psalm 79:13)

Paul is speaking here about the Church as a family…a body brought together out of the commonality of shared & mutual love for Jesus Christ. Our love for one another needs to be genuine & authentic…with no masks or feigning false compassion. For we are to abhor any form of deception or wickedness towards our brothers…literally detesting it with horror and not tolerating its presence in any form.

We must be constantly wary of letting circumstances change the way we view God…rather than letting God change the way we view the circumstances. If we allow Him, we can find joy in the aggravation, good in the frustration, blessing in the battle, and grace in the midst of the problem. Sure, the situation may not change at all…but the way we look at and regard it will if we let God change our perspective.