Promise for Today - Here Comes Trouble

We sent him [Timothy] to strengthen you, to encourage you in your faith, and to keep you from being shaken by the troubles you were going through. But you know that we are destined for such troubles. Even while we were with you, we warned you that troubles would soon come—and they did, as you well know. That is why, when I could bear it no longer, I sent Timothy to find out whether your faith was still strong.

1st Thessalonians 3:2b-5a

If you're on the upside of the dirt, there will be trouble. How do we handle it? Do we choose to ask God's direction or just ask Him "Why?" After all, He knew it was going to happen. He's God, isn't He? Why didn't He stop it?

How do we handle that?

Do we endure? Become one with it, take it on? Identify ourselves with it? What IS our identity? Really...do we want to be defined by trouble?

Do we run? Escape? Avoid it at all costs? We miss the lesson if we move away from it.

Do we enlist it? Make it work for us. James 1:2 reads, "Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy." Gee, I don't think I've met anyone who has said at the onset, 'Oh, all these troubles are gonna bring me GREAT joy!'

We've been talking about faith and control. They have nothing to do with each other, by the way. Faith is a relinquishing of control, based on trusting God. Without faith, it's impossible to please God. Without relinquishing control of our lives TO Him, based on our trust IN Him, it's impossible to please God. It kind of lends a new meaning to, "With God, all things are possible..."

Is our trust linked to our perception of what He's done for us or will do? Do we trust Him just because He is who He is - God - and for no other reason? Do we know Him? It's one thing to say we know Him, it's another to see what our actions are when we don't get our own way, or if we need to sacrifice something we want.

You see, faith is an action word. Here comes trouble - what action will you take?

Prayer:

Father,
           Forgive us for thinking of You only as our benevolent overseer. Help us to see You for who You are and what You are, no matter the circumstances. We place our trust in You. Help us to be a Timothy to those around us who may need to be encouraged. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Endure the Discipline

 But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness.

Hebrews 12:10b NLT

Discipline is tiresome. It's difficult to endure. It is not fun. Discipline can wear you out - literally. The Word of God confirms that as we read on in verse 11, No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.

When I read vvs. 12 & 13, I just keep thinking, "Get a grip..." So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong. In other words, embrace the training, endure the discipline, the end result will be worth it.

Prayer:

Father,

           Thank You for loving us enough to correct us so that we might share in Your holiness. Help us to endure the discipline and learn from it. We are looking forward to the peaceful harvest of right living. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

No Quitting

Everyone has to die once, then face the consequences. Christ’s death was also a one-time event, but it was a sacrifice that took care of sins forever. And so, when he next appears, the outcome for those eager to greet him is, precisely, salvation.
Hebrews 9:27-28 The Message

So let’s do it—full of belief, confident that we’re presentable inside and out. Let’s keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps his word. Let’s see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching.

If we give up and turn our backs on all we’ve learned, all we’ve been given, all the truth we now know, we repudiate Christ’s sacrifice and are left on our own to face the Judgment—and a mighty fierce judgment it will be! If the penalty for breaking the law of Moses is physical death, what do you think will happen if you turn on God’s Son, spit on the sacrifice that made you whole, and insult this most gracious Spirit? This is no light matter. God has warned us that he’ll hold us to account and make us pay. He was quite explicit: “Vengeance is mine, and I won’t overlook a thing” and “God will judge his people.” Nobody’s getting by with anything, believe me.

Remember those early days after you first saw the light? Those were the hard times! Kicked around in public, targets of every kind of abuse—some days it was you, other days your friends. If some friends went to prison, you stuck by them. If some enemies broke in and seized your goods, you let them go with a smile, knowing they couldn’t touch your real treasure. Nothing they did bothered you, nothing set you back. So don’t throw it all away now. You were sure of yourselves then. It’s still a sure thing! But you need to stick it out, staying with God’s plan so you’ll be there for the promised completion.

It won’t be long now, he’s on the way;
    he’ll show up most any minute.
But anyone who is right with me thrives on loyal trust;
    if he cuts and runs, I won’t be very happy.

But we’re not quitters who lose out. Oh, no! We’ll stay with it and survive, trusting all the way.  Hebrews 10:22-39 The Message

Prayer:

Father,

Help us to stay focused on the goal - to finish the race - to not give up - to continue to trust You, no matter what! In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Let It Grow! Let It Grow!

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.
James 1:2-4 NLT

You know it's easy to serve the Lord when everything is going well. It's easy to be kind. It's easy to be loving. It's easy to be patient - in the good times. It's really easy to have great joy when everything's good. Would you agree?  

We've talked about it before - there are times I still struggle with considering troubles as opportunities for great joy. I can lose sight of the joy when the mountains of obstacles overwhelm me on every side. That is the test of our faith - the opportunity for our endurance to grow. (Some translations read patience for endurance.) So, how important is that, anyway, to let our endurance grow?

In Matthew 24:13, Jesus tells us just how important, But the one who endures to the end will be saved. I don't want to have made it this far only to give up when we're so close to the end, do you? As the writer of Hebrews exhorts us in 12:1, Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.

So let's join with James, and Jesus, and the great cloud of witnesses, and do as Peter says, So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. (1st Peter 1:6 NLT)

Prayer:

Father,
          Thank You for the opportunities for great joy! Thank You for the faith-building endurance training. Thank You for strengthening us to to be able to endure to the end, just as You have said, so that we will be saved. Let us be found faithful to the end. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Enduring the Messy Middle

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you WILL bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.  [emphasis mine]

Philippians 1:6 ESV

There was an interesting read today about a phenomenon called "the messy middle." According to the author, Ruth Soukup, "It’s the period in the middle of a project where the shiny newness and enthusiasm has worn off, and where the roadblocks and headaches have begun to crop up. It’s the part of the project that just doesn’t feel like very much fun, and where we struggle with feeling completely burned out. And it’s usually the part of the project where you want to quit."

Does any of that ring true for you? It did for me. What struck me was how well that also described some Christians I know, too. When you first accept Christ as your Savior, you may think everything is great and you love everyone and you want all of them to know Jesus and to feel what you're feeling. Then you hit a few bumps on the highway of life, but you shake it off and keep going. Then you have a few wilderness incidents, followed closely by several prayers and petitions that weren't answered the way you thought they should be answered. You might have lost your job, a relationship. Maybe someone died when you fully believed they would be healed. That's "usually the part of the project where you want to quit."

Jesus tells us in Matthew 24:12b-13, ...the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And again, in Mark 13:13. And in James 1, God promises the crown of life to those who endure.

Let me assure you; It's not over. As long as you are drawing breath, IT'S.NOT.OVER! This is just the messy middle; not the end. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you WILL bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. 

Prayer:

Father,

          We have need of endurance, according to Your Word, so that when we have done Your will, we may receive what is promised. Help us, O God, to be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work You have laid before us, no matter what. Keep our eyes fixed on the prize and our hearts focused on You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen