In scripture we find the concept of judging to be a hard one to grasp; on the one hand we are told to judge all things, and on the other we are told to judge not lest we be judged. Has this difficult question ever presented itself to you? Did you walk away perplexed, and without a good resolution?
No man has seen God, so how is it that we know of Him? Without ever having laid our eyes on Him how do we not only know that He exists, but of His character, and what his will is for us? Knowing God has been the quest of mankind for thousands of years, and through certain men at particular times we have received glimpses into Him. In old testament days it was through Noah, Abraham, Moses, prophets, priests, and the kings, but today we know Him through Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit.
How often do we pray the Lord’s Prayer? Do we pray it so frequently that we now mouth the words without thinking about each and every one that we are praying, and no longer seek its full meaning with our hearts? Memorization can breed familiarization, and when we become overly familiar with something we tend to lose the intensity of our feeling for it. Favorite scriptures can start out this way; we commit them to memory because we are moved by them, but as the years go by we find ourselves simply reciting them, and no longer visiting their deeper meaning. Do you feel yourself slipping into such familiarity?
Are you feeling out of sorts in this time of COVID-19? You say that you aren’t depressed, and you aren’t anxious, yet you Still feel differently? You say that your energy is gone, you just can’t seem to get started in the morning, and even the good news you hear in life doesn’t seem to be enough? Well, I was listening to a good friend talk about feeling this way yesterday, and it dawned on me that what She was describing was quite simply hopelessness. She was feeling an ebb in her ability to hope, but remember; we serve the God of hope! So I ask that each of us consider this question… “When was the last time I prayed for hope?“
Do you seek God, and follow after Jesus Christ like a runner who sweats and remains nearly out of breath as he runs to stay up with the others in a race, or do you simply run because you must? There are many things that motivate us to seek after God, so ask yourself what it is about finding Him that keeps you running when you are nearly out of breath, seeking when your legs grow weak, and Following after Him when most would faint, or give up from sheer exhaustion. The Church of Christ is full of runners, but what motivates each of them to run?
Do we proudly walk in our faith? Do we claim that our righteousness has made us more worthy than others to receive God’s reward, and to be blessed by Him? No, the truth is that all we are, and everything we might have, has sprung from the grace of God. The story of the Apostle Paul teaches us this more than any other story in the Bible. Paul, a tormenter, and killer of Christians was given the mission to preach the unsearchable riches of the very man he detested and whose followers he had been putting to death... Jesus Christ.
In whom do we trust when we rise to face each morning? In whom do we entrust the safety of our souls when we close our eyes each night? Who Is it that walks with us every step of our day? The world would have us believe that men can lead us, and watch over us, yet there is no strength in their arms, nor wisdom they can employ that we don’t possess ourselves, and we are not enough. God, and Jesus Christ are our true hope, and our certain salvation; in them we find perfect trust, and from them comes our safety, sure passage through life, and every blessing.
When do we feel closest to God? Do we feel Him most when our stomachs are full, our lives are comfortable, and we have plenty of water to quench our thirst? If that were so then why is it that people are most inclined to wander away from Him at times such as this? No, we are most centered before Him when we are experiencing tribulation, and doing the hard things of His will. It is through the lenses of our tears that we see God most clearly, and It is also through them that He looks back at us, finding our soul, and peering deep into our heart... with perfect clarity.
If you are reading this then I want you to know that I am praying for you today. Whether you realize it or not God has called out to you, and is urging you to come to His Son Jesus. Perhaps you don’t think this is true, or maybe you feel that you are so sinful that He would never do such a thing, but He has. As unworthy as you might see yourself He sees your heart, and your good bones, for what you will become, and knows that you will come to glorify Jesus, and knows that He will glorify you in return. Today I pray for you to realize your worthiness, and honor Him.
Faith, it is not visible except in the works that are created by it. Is it possible to love without expressing that love in some tangible manner; a hug, a kiss, a marriage? No, love drives us to show it to one another, and faith is the same. When we have faith in Jesus, and God, we have no option but to show it to them in some manner. What is very interesting is that doing works of faith usually involves loving or doing something good, or merciful, for another person. We express our love for God by allowing Him to see our hearts, but we show our faith in Him by our obedience to his will... by our works.
We read in scripture that Jesus has overcome the world, and we find a wonderful fuel source for our faith in that knowledge as we place our burdens on Him, but what does this have to do with us? Anything? How do we lay claim to that power which Jesus speaks of? Is it possible for us to overcome the world as well? I can tell you that it is indeed possible, and as a matter of fact it is more than that... it is the truth... we can overcome the world, if we would only believe.
As men and women of faith we have hope bubbling up in us, and it is recognized as true by those around us, even if they don’t yet believe, or understand it. Are you asked why you act joyfully the way you do, or why there is a peace in you that defies understanding, and a sense of humility even though you are strong? When asked such questions do you shrug your shoulders or do you tell them about Jesus, and His gospel? Do you listen to their questioning and then hoe the weeds from around the tiny seedling that God planted there as a grain of faith, or are you afraid of failure, so you ignore them?
Whose interest are we promoting through our faith? Are we seeking a smoother way for ourselves through life, or perhaps a fine meal at God's table in heaven after we take our last breath? Are we obeying God’s Word and commandments out of self-interest, or to serve the same interests of Jesus Christ? Jesus loved God, obeyed His will, and in every aspect of Christ’s life His sole purpose was to glorify God. Do we live out our faith in this manner? Is our every desire meant to do these same things that Jesus taught us?
We all suffer in our lives. When we become believers in the one true God, and Jesus Christ, life’s suffering does not end, but the manner in which we suffer does. As Christians we are no longer meant to suffer in sin, but we will suffer because of it, and even in the process of doing God’s will. When we are going about our life as believers, doing the will of God, we will meet hardships and suffer calamity along the way, but we have a faithful God in whom we can place our trust, and turn to for help. He will not let our souls slip into sinfulness, but will strengthen us against it. Are you facing hardship? Well, lean on Him, and stay the course of righteousness. Do His will.
Where do we go for relief in our times of distress? Who comes to help us when we are in trouble? When we are in need of rescue, who is it that charges to our aid? Although most Christians say that it is Jesus Christ, or our Father God, do our actions betray our words? When we find ourselves in a challenging situation and we quickly say a prayer, that is good, but if we then turn straightway to our friends and family without waiting for God to respond then what have we really accomplished in faith?