More Wonderful Words of Life!
Last week, we had a good time in the Word and there were some great scriptures shared. We were talking about the special way in which we can receive comfort from those who have endured the same kind of trials we have. As we read and meditate on the scriptures, that is often exactly what we are doing.
Don't you sometimes identify with a little of what Paul is describing here?
For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness,
hath shined in our hearts,
to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God
in the face of Jesus Christ.
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels,
that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed;
we are perplexed, but not in despair;
Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus,
that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.
For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake,
that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.
So then death worketh in us, but life in you.
We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written,
I believed, and therefore have I spoken;
we also believe, and therefore speak;
Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus
shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.
For all things are for your sakes,
that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many
redound to the glory of God.
For which cause we faint not;
but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
For our light affliction, which is but for a moment,
worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
While we look not at the things which are seen,
but at the things which are not seen:
for the things which are seen are temporal;
but the things which are not seen are eternal.
1 Corinthians 4
Here is another somewhat familiar one which is such a delight.
Wow, God is so powerful. This reminds me of when our family lived in Minnesota, and there had been a tornado 2o miles away. The next day, in our backyard, we found canceled checks and small debris that had been carried away by the high level winds and dropped in our yard. Don't you doubt that their owners cared much about those little things, compared to the fact that they were still alive after that tornado?
I try to remember when I am down that my worst problem, my sin and guilt before God, has forever been taken care of. I have so much to be thankful for!
If we are disciples of Jesus Christ, we dare not ignore these testimonies in God's Word. We dare not say, "That was just for them." This is the same Bible which tells us that God raised his Son from the dead!
When faced with trials which tempt us to worry or be downcast, we have to ask ourselves:
It is so good to know that the Bible is not a storybook full of fictional people with imagined struggles and comforts. When we read Job, we see that others have had pain and suffering beyond what we are likely to bear. Has God provided for our needs? Have we exhausted all his resources?
No. But he has called us to lay aside false thoughts and hold to the true. Just as we teach our children. Nobody can do that for us. It is a daily struggle, but God has equipped us if we will humbly trust and obey! There is no other way to be happy in Jesus!
And for God's children, really, that is our only real struggle, because we have God's promise that ALL things work together for our good. Romans 8:28. Jesus told us that in this world we would have tribulation. Many of us have very little thus far, but that was his promise. Was it a small thing when the Lord told us:
No, of course, it was not a small thing. But I reveal my lack of understanding of this verse as I focus more on my light and momentary trials that on what the Lord has done already for me. I do struggle, but I struggle with hope that as I look to God's Word, I will have his peace that passes understanding.
Tomorrow, Lord willing, we will continue along these lines of sharing treasures in God's Word. We may also delve into the topic of who really controls our feelings. Are we to just follow our feelings? Or does God really intend for us to:
Don't you sometimes identify with a little of what Paul is describing here?
For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness,
hath shined in our hearts,
to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God
in the face of Jesus Christ.
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels,
that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed;
we are perplexed, but not in despair;
Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus,
that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.
For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake,
that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.
So then death worketh in us, but life in you.
We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written,
I believed, and therefore have I spoken;
we also believe, and therefore speak;
Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus
shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.
For all things are for your sakes,
that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many
redound to the glory of God.
For which cause we faint not;
but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
For our light affliction, which is but for a moment,
worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
While we look not at the things which are seen,
but at the things which are not seen:
for the things which are seen are temporal;
but the things which are not seen are eternal.
1 Corinthians 4
Here is another somewhat familiar one which is such a delight.
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed,
and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled,
though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.
There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God,
the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.
God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved:
God shall help her, and that right early.
The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved:
he uttered his voice, the earth melted.
The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he hath made in the earth.
He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth;
he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder;
he burneth the chariot in the fire.
Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen,
I will be exalted in the earth.
The LORD of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
Psalm 46
Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed,
and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled,
though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.
There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God,
the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.
God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved:
God shall help her, and that right early.
The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved:
he uttered his voice, the earth melted.
The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he hath made in the earth.
He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth;
he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder;
he burneth the chariot in the fire.
Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen,
I will be exalted in the earth.
The LORD of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
Psalm 46
Wow, God is so powerful. This reminds me of when our family lived in Minnesota, and there had been a tornado 2o miles away. The next day, in our backyard, we found canceled checks and small debris that had been carried away by the high level winds and dropped in our yard. Don't you doubt that their owners cared much about those little things, compared to the fact that they were still alive after that tornado?
I try to remember when I am down that my worst problem, my sin and guilt before God, has forever been taken care of. I have so much to be thankful for!
If we are disciples of Jesus Christ, we dare not ignore these testimonies in God's Word. We dare not say, "That was just for them." This is the same Bible which tells us that God raised his Son from the dead!
When faced with trials which tempt us to worry or be downcast, we have to ask ourselves:
Why did God give us these scriptures?
How should we respond to these testimonies of God's help in deep trials?
Are these words inferior or insufficient compared to the insights of psychology?
How should we respond to these testimonies of God's help in deep trials?
Are these words inferior or insufficient compared to the insights of psychology?
It is so good to know that the Bible is not a storybook full of fictional people with imagined struggles and comforts. When we read Job, we see that others have had pain and suffering beyond what we are likely to bear. Has God provided for our needs? Have we exhausted all his resources?
No. But he has called us to lay aside false thoughts and hold to the true. Just as we teach our children. Nobody can do that for us. It is a daily struggle, but God has equipped us if we will humbly trust and obey! There is no other way to be happy in Jesus!
And for God's children, really, that is our only real struggle, because we have God's promise that ALL things work together for our good. Romans 8:28. Jesus told us that in this world we would have tribulation. Many of us have very little thus far, but that was his promise. Was it a small thing when the Lord told us:
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace.
In the world ye shall have tribulation:
but be of good cheer;
I have overcome the world.
In the world ye shall have tribulation:
but be of good cheer;
I have overcome the world.
John 16:33
No, of course, it was not a small thing. But I reveal my lack of understanding of this verse as I focus more on my light and momentary trials that on what the Lord has done already for me. I do struggle, but I struggle with hope that as I look to God's Word, I will have his peace that passes understanding.
Tomorrow, Lord willing, we will continue along these lines of sharing treasures in God's Word. We may also delve into the topic of who really controls our feelings. Are we to just follow our feelings? Or does God really intend for us to:
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
Phillippians 4:6
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