Safetypinlove

Even with his friends gathered around him, Job was lamenting his utter feelings of aloneness…instead focusing on his intercessor & friend in heaven, Jesus Christ. Human tears may only be a few centimeters in size, but their importance in Scripture is massive. Charles Spurgeon once wrote this about tears, “You can draw near to God even though you cannot say a word. A prayer may be cries tallized in a tear. For a tear is enough water to float a desire to God.” The mental picture of this quote of Spurgeon’s is mind boggling but quite clear. Tears are words the heart can’t express, (Psalm 56:8) thus within each tear is the recorded unspoken need of our heart… floating its way upward to heaven.

Many of the laments in the Psalms speak of being broken, crushed, and feeble. And in that state, we have two options to choose from. We can try to “fix ourselves” or we can let Jesus fix us. But the obstacle to this is…we have to first place all those broken pieces into His most capable hands and let them there. We must also acknowledge that we can’t “fix” other people, (Ezekiel 18:20) and we most certainly can’t “fix” ourselves. (Ephesians 2:5-8) Jesus can miraculously bring all those broken pieces of our life together and make something beautiful out of them. We just need to lay them down. (I John 3:6)

I firmly believe that nothing in my life happens by chance…especially interactions with people. Every person God brings across my path I can either be changed for good by them, or I am God’s vessel who can help them to change more into the image of God. In this Proverb is the picture of two pieces of iron sharpening each other…a working together in co-operation as the “rough edges” are rubbed off. Thus, every interaction we have during the day can be a chance to encourage, advise, exhort, and comfort one another. I also believe in “Divine Appointments” where God brings two people together for a specific reason of mutual benefit and character building. These moments are very precious as we sharpen each other for our good and His glory.

Isaiah’s commissioning was deeply personal and intimate. His call was just between God and him, starting with a terrifying realization of his inadequacies, followed by the atoning power of God cleansing his corrupt sinful nature. So, when God asks this rhetorical question…Isaiah, in obedient faith, freely volunteers himself without even waiting to hear the nature of his commission. Be careful of fervent exhortations from the pulpit, emotion-charged prayer meetings, or passionate pleas from a visiting Evangelist that pressure you into a call God hasn’t already given. The Lord’s commission will be given in the quiet of sweet fellowship…while the others merely offer confirmation and validation of your decision.

We see in Chapter 2 of Ezekiel his commission, to bring what would be a very unpopular message from God. Ezekiel’s new ministry would be painful and frustrating, his audience unresponsive to any of it. But all God desired for Ezekiel was a faithful delivery and unwavering obedience to the message. That’s why here in Chapter 3 we see an overwhelmed, sad, discontented, and indignant Ezekiel literally being pushed ahead by the Spirit of God…its inner compulsion overpowering his will. For Ezekiel knew God’s message that he was to proclaim…but he also knew his countrymen and the consequential rough road ahead.

When we look at Paul’s “thorn in the side” in II Corinthians 12:7-10, we see that God’s grace is greater than any adversity, discomfort, or calamity that could come into our life. That’s because, for Paul and us, God’s promise here can give us strength and encouragement to look beyond the anguish. And thus, we can be like Paul and take a Spiritual view of the tribulations we go through and rejoice rather than beg God to remove the problem. For all we know, these problems could be blessings in disguise…God’s mercy concealed within the depths of our distress; His grace hidden in the middle of our troubles; His love enmeshed in our afflictions. We can then echo Paul’s confident words in verse 10 when he said, “That’s why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

Let us come together as one and praise God. First, “I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever.” (Revelations 1:18) Just think, without Jesus Christ’s resurrection and new life our lives would be hopeless & doomed. Second, “I am God Almighty.” (Genesis 17:1) Another word for this is El Shaddai…all powerful God. Finally, “For You, O Lord are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon You.” (Psalm 86:5) Our God is gracious and merciful to us when we least deserve it. So, with hearts full of gratitude, let us worship our God together.

We see in Isaiah 24-27 what it called, “The Day of the Lord… the time of judgment on the whole earth and its destruction by God. This section is often called “Apocalyptic”, which is a genre in which something hidden is now revealed. Here, Isaiah holds up before both sinner & saint the clear teaching of “The Day of the Lord”…with every person being judged…especially verses 17-18 which show that no one will be able to escape His wrath. Elsewhere in the Old Testament we see this reference to the great & terrible Day of the Lord in Amos 5:18-19 and Joel 1:15-29. But even in the New Testament it is spoken of by Paul in Frist & Second Thessalonians as a warning of being ready & vigilant for Christ’s return.

Interestingly enough, this quote comes not from Charles Spurgeon, but from his beloved wife, Susannah. “The moment we come into any trial or difficulty, our first thought should be, not how soon can we escape from it, or how we may lessen the pain we shall suffer from it, but how can we best glorify God in it.” The bottom line is, we don’t like to suffer in any shape or form. But life doesn’t care about our wishes… and we all know this – adversity & troubles will follow us throughout our life here on earth. But we also understand that we learn much more in the valleys than the mountaintops. And our focus then should be in glorifying God in the midst of all our sufferings… not trying to avoid them.

There is not one of us that are absolutely good, that’s because our motives will ruin it every time. James 1:17 explains this as every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of Lights of Whom there is no variation or shadow…hence, there is no dark shadow side to God. He is consistently good, and matter of fact, God doesn’t even know how to be anything but good. And so, if we call on Him, He will richly bless us with all good things. (Romans 10:12)