From a worldly standpoint, Jesus’ life here on earth was an absolute debacle. In this passage, Jesus is for the third time predicting the torture and death He is about to endure. But still His disciples could not comprehend what He meant. To them, they only heard that the last three years were a failure and for nothing. But to God, it was the supreme triumph over death & the grave. Many times during our Christian Walk we will not understand what God is doing…that’s simply because God’s plan & purpose is never the same as ours. However, just as with the disciples, we know it will be revealed in due time.
Acts 18:2-3 In Corinth Paul met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them.”
Aquila and Priscilla (or Prisca in some texts) were one dynamic couple and very close friends and co-workers with the Apostle Paul. But they were also the nucleus of the early fledging Church in Corinth…evangelizing, teaching, encouraging, and opening their home up for fellowship. In four of the six references of them, we notice Priscilla’s name before her husband’s, making it appear that she had more prominence socially or in the tentmaking business they owned. But their greatest gift was their maturity as Believers plus their insightful knowledge of the Gospel Message… making them a powerhouse couple that helped bring many to Salvation.
Isaiah 42:6 ” I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand.”
Have you ever posed the same question over and over again to God? It could be something like, “What’s going to happen now?” or simply, ” Why Lord?” Isaiah exhorts us here that whatever the circumstances, God has you by the hand and will keep you right beside Him. Sure, there’s times when God removes the problem from us…but there are many other times when He will give us the strength to just bear through it. But know either way, God’s love for you never changes.
Lamentations 3:37 ” Who can speak and have it happen if the Lord has not decreed it?”
It’s very difficult to imagine, but no determinative event in the course of history has happened without God ordaining it first. Yes, I know that’s tough to swallow, but we must first acknowledge our very limited understanding in light of God’s vast wisdom & sovereignty. We must also agree that His wisdom is far beyond what He reveals…and this unrevealed wisdom is totally incomprehensible to our feeble minds. Genesis 1:3 tells us that all that happens is by God’s Word, and Amos 3:6 reminds us that this includes calamity as well as good.
Hebrews 12:1 ” Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”
As I watch the Olympic Games, one Biblical Principle seems to play out over and over again… keep on persisting, despite all difficulties before you. You’ll see this plainly when an athlete falls, has an equipment malfunction, or is behind in the scoring. Their mindset & focus in every routine, race, or rotation is to never give up or quit, no matter what happens. Oh, that our journey with the Lord would have the same passion and tenacity! And so, I pray today that the Lord would give us a stalwart spirit…undaunted by what lies ahead. So, Lord, help us to be resolute in our walk, as we courageously move towards the goal You have set before us.
Psalm 37:34 ” Wait for the Lord and keep His way. He will exalt you to inherit the land; when the wicked are cut off, you will see it.”
We have two directions we can go when we’re waiting on the Lord. One is to patiently wait in hopeful anticipation, all the while paying careful attention to keep His ways always before us…the other is to sulk and paw the ground in frustration. But think of this – God is working where He is sending us to wait. Just as He told His disciples to tarry in Jerusalem before Pentecost in Luke 24:49, He continues to work on our behalf, behind the scenes in ways we can’t imagine. So, the next time God has you waiting…remember He’s working.
Proverbs 25:28 ” Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control.”
In the ancient world, the primary defense of any city was its walls. These walls surrounding the city made an enormous difference in their defensive abilities against any marauding enemy armies. In this Proverb, Solomon, is using a comparison of two things, and then allowing the reader to work out the meaning for themselves. If a city loses its walls, it loses all means of protection against its enemies. Much like if we lose our ability to control or restrain our rational mind, we become vulnerable, defenseless, and susceptible to our enemy, the devil. That’s why self-control is so important in a Christian’s life. Self-discipline is like a wall built up against the temptations of the world, enabling us to be victorious.
James 1:4 ” Let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” NKJ
From this verse, let’s look at patience from both our perspective & God’s. For most of us, patience is not an easily obtained virtue. Rather, we find ourselves careless – not from the matter of sin – but from the remnants of our old carnal nature. We lack self-control and give in too many times to impulsiveness, wandering thoughts, and self-independence. But this is where God’s patience steps in. For God will doggedly keep bringing us back to that same problem point…over and over again, until we finally learn the lesson…all because His purpose for our life is to produce a perfected & finished product, and nothing less.
I Timothy 4:8 ” Train yourself to be godly.”
If you’re like me, you’ve been watching the Summer Olympics with all its elite athletes. And if you listen to the interviews of the gold medal winners, you hear the same thing…they talk about the long, tough training and the blood, sweat, and tears it took to get to the podium. The Apostle Paul used an athletic metaphor here and in I Corinthians 9:24-25 to compare athletic training to spiritual discipline. Why? It’s because of the very well-known Isthmian Games that were held every two years, where athletes throughout Greece would converge to compete. But unlike the modern Olympics with its gold, silver, and bronze metals…there was only one winner. So, self-discipline, determination, and perseverance were the hallmarks of each athlete’s training prior. And just as they trained diligently…setting aside selfish interests to obtain the primary goal…we are to discipline ourselves, pursuing spiritual growth & godly character. Not to get a perishable wreath, but an imperishable crown at the finish line.
Romans 12:14 ” Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.”
I have two questions for you today. The first is, “Do you follow Jesus?” However the second question is more important, and goes something like this, “Ok, you say you follow Jesus, but do you steadfastly follow the Jesus way?” The Jesus way can be found in His own words, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” (Matthew 5:44) Or, “Do good to those who hate you.” (Luke 6:27) The Jesus way goes against everything within our corrupt human nature. It means to respond to curses with prayer…to face assault, both verbal attack & physical aggression, with non-violence…and finally, to persevere through exploitation and oppression with generosity & kindness. It’s easy to say I follow Jesus, and so much harder to follow the Jesus way.
Safetypinlove 