Hope for hope’s sake is no hope at all. Do you ever hope for hope’s sake? Do you ever find yourself offering reassurance hoping that everything will somehow work out in the end? Your intentions are good; you just don’t have any basis for your faith. Sometimes we say these things because we don’t have anything else to say and we don’t want there to be empty air in a moment that seems really important. Hope, though, must be anchored to something real and powerful if it is going to bring true comfort.
Peter says in his New Testament letter of 1 Peter that Jesus Christ has lived, died and been resurrected so that He may give His followers a living hope. What is living hope you may ask? Well, Peter uses this phrase to help us see that God is actively at work in the lives of everyone that loves Him. It is not hope that simply points back to a time when one’s relationship with Jesus Christ began. It is not hope that simply points forward to a time when Jesus will return or a Christian dies and goes to Heaven. Living hope certainly includes those moments, but it includes much more. Living hope is the promise that God is aware of every aspect of the Christian’s life and, even more, is actively at work in every one of those aspects. God cares for those that love Him and follow Him.
The basis of this living hope is not just a hope that God is in Heaven looking down. No, it is wrapped in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. These are important facts. Jesus’ life stands as a substitute for His followers. Though we disobey and rebel, Jesus has lived perfectly and God allows His perfection to substitute for our disobedience when we follow Him. Jesus’ death stands as a substitute as well. The Bible says the punishment for our rebellion against God is death. But the Bible also says that Jesus died as a substitute for all those that will follow Him. Followers of Jesus can have the assurance of life now and forever with Christ because He died as our substitute. The resurrection of Jesus is significant because it shows the power of God to make these promises true. Through Jesus’ resurrection from the dead God proved that all things are indeed possible with Him.
While this is a short and basic explanation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ it is a basis for real hope. Hope must be rooted in something real and powerful if it is to offer hope at all. This hope is not a magic formula for your life. A life of real hope calls for commitment to Christ, seeking repentance of your sin, and a new life empowered by the Holy Spirit of God. But it is a life of hope. Powerful hope that is anchored to a real Savior.
Showing posts with label hope. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hope. Show all posts
Monday, August 9, 2010
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Find It Here
Perhaps you’ve noticed many of the Find It Here signs in the yards of neighborhoods, shops and churches over the past few weeks. Maybe you’ve seen the television commercials that have aired or the billboards in the area. They have centered on important words like hope, life, purpose and peace. The Southern Baptist churches of this area are working to help people find hope in Jesus Christ during this Easter season.
At our church, we’ve personally invited people in over 1,200 households to join us on Easter Sunday and many other Southern Baptist churches have done likewise in other neighborhoods around here. We aren’t doing this to win any awards or try to impress you with who we are. No, we are going outside of the walls of the church building because we believe the salvation and forgiveness given by Jesus Christ are vital to you having hope and purpose in life. The Bible says that we are separated from God because of our sinful nature. You see, we aren’t sinners because we sin. No, we sin because we are sinners. Do you see the difference there? The truth is that no one has a chance at living a perfect life. Unfortunately, a part of what makes us human is the fact that we are all born with a sinful nature. How many people had to teach their children to be selfish or mean? How many of us went to classes to learn to be prideful? None of us. Those traits are ingrained in us. They are a part of our sin nature.
Wait, there’s more. Our sin nature does more than simply cause us to behave rudely. This corrupted nature causes us to fight and rebel against God. It causes us to try to ignore Him and create our own gods. It causes us to reject the love and care of our Creator. Because God is holy He cannot and will not tolerate this rebellion. He will punish sinners for their sin. Sinners who have not been forgiven will spend eternity apart from God in Hell. But, God is also good. Even through our rebellion He has loved us. God’s one and only Son, Jesus Christ came to this world about 2,000 years ago. Because He was fully God and fully man He was able to overcome the power of this sin nature. His deity allowed Him to be perfect and pleasing to God in every way. His humanity allowed Him to face temptation, suffer and sympathize with us.
Because of His perfection, God allowed Jesus to be the substitute for sinful humanity. On the cross, Jesus stood in your place and in mine. He took the punishment we all deserve because of our sin. When we ask for His forgiveness, repent and turn away from our sin, and turn toward God to live according to His desires we can know pardon and the peace we long for. This pardon and peace is what we hope you’ll find. It is what your soul longs for. Please join us at one of the Find It Here churches this Easter Sunday so we can have the opportunity to help you know this Great Redeemer.
At our church, we’ve personally invited people in over 1,200 households to join us on Easter Sunday and many other Southern Baptist churches have done likewise in other neighborhoods around here. We aren’t doing this to win any awards or try to impress you with who we are. No, we are going outside of the walls of the church building because we believe the salvation and forgiveness given by Jesus Christ are vital to you having hope and purpose in life. The Bible says that we are separated from God because of our sinful nature. You see, we aren’t sinners because we sin. No, we sin because we are sinners. Do you see the difference there? The truth is that no one has a chance at living a perfect life. Unfortunately, a part of what makes us human is the fact that we are all born with a sinful nature. How many people had to teach their children to be selfish or mean? How many of us went to classes to learn to be prideful? None of us. Those traits are ingrained in us. They are a part of our sin nature.
Wait, there’s more. Our sin nature does more than simply cause us to behave rudely. This corrupted nature causes us to fight and rebel against God. It causes us to try to ignore Him and create our own gods. It causes us to reject the love and care of our Creator. Because God is holy He cannot and will not tolerate this rebellion. He will punish sinners for their sin. Sinners who have not been forgiven will spend eternity apart from God in Hell. But, God is also good. Even through our rebellion He has loved us. God’s one and only Son, Jesus Christ came to this world about 2,000 years ago. Because He was fully God and fully man He was able to overcome the power of this sin nature. His deity allowed Him to be perfect and pleasing to God in every way. His humanity allowed Him to face temptation, suffer and sympathize with us.
Because of His perfection, God allowed Jesus to be the substitute for sinful humanity. On the cross, Jesus stood in your place and in mine. He took the punishment we all deserve because of our sin. When we ask for His forgiveness, repent and turn away from our sin, and turn toward God to live according to His desires we can know pardon and the peace we long for. This pardon and peace is what we hope you’ll find. It is what your soul longs for. Please join us at one of the Find It Here churches this Easter Sunday so we can have the opportunity to help you know this Great Redeemer.
Saturday, March 13, 2010
The Inheritance to Come
The Apostle Peter delivered God's Words powerfully when he wrote,
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:3-9 (ESV)
This is what I read to my grandfather on Friday morning when we had some quiet moments together. I clued into the passage because of the phrase 'living hope', but was stunned when I began to read through the promises of the Christian's inheritance. By the power of the resurrection, the Christian's inheritance is imperishable, undefiled and unfading. And, it is being kept for them by the power of God.
Often we think of the inheritance as what we leave behind, not what is to come. But God sees things differently. What a revolutionary idea! The inheritance left behind perishes, is never perfect and always fades away. So, of these two inheritances, which do you want? Who is the true benefactor?
As I read this passage I couldn't help but be excited for him. I couldn't help but be excited for me. There is a mystery that surrounds death and this mystery causes fear and anxiety, but the hope of what occurs in the very next breath showing bring joy that overshadows this fear for the Christian. This wonderful inheritance, secured by God Himself, is one breath away for the follower of Jesus.
Oh the joy that will be known by the Christian when they fully receive the salvation bought by Christ's great love. May this coming joy fill us with hope even now. I hope it encouraged Pop as he now lives in the reality of cancer. I know this truth (and Pop's longing for it) encouraged me.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:3-9 (ESV)
This is what I read to my grandfather on Friday morning when we had some quiet moments together. I clued into the passage because of the phrase 'living hope', but was stunned when I began to read through the promises of the Christian's inheritance. By the power of the resurrection, the Christian's inheritance is imperishable, undefiled and unfading. And, it is being kept for them by the power of God.
Often we think of the inheritance as what we leave behind, not what is to come. But God sees things differently. What a revolutionary idea! The inheritance left behind perishes, is never perfect and always fades away. So, of these two inheritances, which do you want? Who is the true benefactor?
As I read this passage I couldn't help but be excited for him. I couldn't help but be excited for me. There is a mystery that surrounds death and this mystery causes fear and anxiety, but the hope of what occurs in the very next breath showing bring joy that overshadows this fear for the Christian. This wonderful inheritance, secured by God Himself, is one breath away for the follower of Jesus.
Oh the joy that will be known by the Christian when they fully receive the salvation bought by Christ's great love. May this coming joy fill us with hope even now. I hope it encouraged Pop as he now lives in the reality of cancer. I know this truth (and Pop's longing for it) encouraged me.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Are You Afraid?
What intimidates you? I’m sure something quickly pops into your mind. It’s uncontrollable. You can’t stop the thoughts. That’s because we’re all afraid of something. Did you know that God does not desire for us to live this way. He desires that we live with peace and confidence in Christ. He does not want us to live a live of fear and insecurity.
Where does your strength originate? Carefully consider this question. Don’t give a knee jerk reaction here. Think about it. If you have any strength at all, there must be a source. One of the great differences between the Christian faith and many other modern philosophies is the originating source of inner strength. Many other religions teach that strength comes from within. We are in need of locating that strength inside our own minds or hearts and tapping into it. While the Bible does speak about the human spirit, Ephesians 4:23 being one example, it is not the human spirit that produces the ultimate, ongoing, life-sustaining strength we need in our lives.
Three times in the first nine verses of the book of Joshua God commands Joshua to be strong and courageous. If you read Joshua 1:1-9 and think it sounds like a pep talk you are right on track. God is leading Joshua to carry the nation of Israel forward into the Promised Land of Canaan. Yet, in this pep talk God is careful to point out to Joshua that He will be the source of His strength. Not the military or the leadership’s wise decision-making, but God Himself will deliver confidence and victory.
What is Joshua’s responsibility? It is to meditate daily upon the Word of God. To meditate on God’s Word is to read, think about and apply God’s word to one’s life and decisions. Again, we are talking about our source of strength and we see that it is to come from God. When Joshua is tempted to be afraid, he should remember the strong promises of God. He should look back at God’s proven track record. He should reflect on the character and nature of God revealed in Scripture. This will prove to be a faithful source of strength for Joshua and for you.
Fears – we all have them. Ever since Adam and Eve hid from God in the Garden of Eden, people have been hiding from all kinds of things. The good news is that you can come on out now and stop your hiding. You can be strong and courageous. But your strength and courage will only be true and lasting if your life is anchored by God and His Word.
Where does your strength originate? Carefully consider this question. Don’t give a knee jerk reaction here. Think about it. If you have any strength at all, there must be a source. One of the great differences between the Christian faith and many other modern philosophies is the originating source of inner strength. Many other religions teach that strength comes from within. We are in need of locating that strength inside our own minds or hearts and tapping into it. While the Bible does speak about the human spirit, Ephesians 4:23 being one example, it is not the human spirit that produces the ultimate, ongoing, life-sustaining strength we need in our lives.
Three times in the first nine verses of the book of Joshua God commands Joshua to be strong and courageous. If you read Joshua 1:1-9 and think it sounds like a pep talk you are right on track. God is leading Joshua to carry the nation of Israel forward into the Promised Land of Canaan. Yet, in this pep talk God is careful to point out to Joshua that He will be the source of His strength. Not the military or the leadership’s wise decision-making, but God Himself will deliver confidence and victory.
What is Joshua’s responsibility? It is to meditate daily upon the Word of God. To meditate on God’s Word is to read, think about and apply God’s word to one’s life and decisions. Again, we are talking about our source of strength and we see that it is to come from God. When Joshua is tempted to be afraid, he should remember the strong promises of God. He should look back at God’s proven track record. He should reflect on the character and nature of God revealed in Scripture. This will prove to be a faithful source of strength for Joshua and for you.
Fears – we all have them. Ever since Adam and Eve hid from God in the Garden of Eden, people have been hiding from all kinds of things. The good news is that you can come on out now and stop your hiding. You can be strong and courageous. But your strength and courage will only be true and lasting if your life is anchored by God and His Word.
Monday, February 15, 2010
The Hope of Suffering
In more than one place the Bible calls suffering Christians to rejoice. Sounds strange to our ears, huh? It almost sounds illogical. It is not a call to go out and seek suffering because you are a glutton for punishment, but it is a call to properly face suffering realizing that there is good to be found in it.
The logic is found when we read passages such as this in Romans 5, “…we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”
The writer of this passage, the Apostle Paul, does not get very specific when he speaks of suffering in this passage and we are left to understand that he is referring to a wide range of suffering. Most likely if you are breathing, there is some area in your life that brings you suffering. Let’s think about these characteristics that Paul mentions and think about his words of encouragement. His list includes endurance, character, hope and God’s love.
How many problems are you enduring today that are bigger than the problems you endured a few years ago? Our life is progressive. As we grow and age our problems become more complex. God brings suffering into our lives to help us deal with problems on all sorts of scales. When we pass the finish line of smaller problems our strength is built so we can face larger problems with more strength and wisdom. Can you find encouragement in knowing that you are being prepared today to endure what is around the bend?
Not only does God build endurance, He also desires to build character. Once we have endured smaller problems we should be able to handle future problems with a steadier hand. It is the person that is always prone to drama or the belief that the world is about to come to an end that shows they are not learning endurance and are, therefore, lacking character.
From character, hope is built. Once we know God is faithful and that He has given us the ability to endure we will view the world and our problems differently. Our attitudes ought to be one of encouragement even when life is hard. This hope is not built on simple positive thinking though, it is built on the truth that God has shown us great love. After all, it was through great suffering that God’s love is best demonstrated through the work of Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection.
Problems will come your way. As you look upon them, what are you learning? Is your perspective one of finding true hope in God?
The logic is found when we read passages such as this in Romans 5, “…we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”
The writer of this passage, the Apostle Paul, does not get very specific when he speaks of suffering in this passage and we are left to understand that he is referring to a wide range of suffering. Most likely if you are breathing, there is some area in your life that brings you suffering. Let’s think about these characteristics that Paul mentions and think about his words of encouragement. His list includes endurance, character, hope and God’s love.
How many problems are you enduring today that are bigger than the problems you endured a few years ago? Our life is progressive. As we grow and age our problems become more complex. God brings suffering into our lives to help us deal with problems on all sorts of scales. When we pass the finish line of smaller problems our strength is built so we can face larger problems with more strength and wisdom. Can you find encouragement in knowing that you are being prepared today to endure what is around the bend?
Not only does God build endurance, He also desires to build character. Once we have endured smaller problems we should be able to handle future problems with a steadier hand. It is the person that is always prone to drama or the belief that the world is about to come to an end that shows they are not learning endurance and are, therefore, lacking character.
From character, hope is built. Once we know God is faithful and that He has given us the ability to endure we will view the world and our problems differently. Our attitudes ought to be one of encouragement even when life is hard. This hope is not built on simple positive thinking though, it is built on the truth that God has shown us great love. After all, it was through great suffering that God’s love is best demonstrated through the work of Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection.
Problems will come your way. As you look upon them, what are you learning? Is your perspective one of finding true hope in God?
Friday, January 22, 2010
Want to be Free from Guilt?
Guilt is heavy. It is a great weight around our necks. Many of us carry guilt for things we have said, done or even wanted to do. We battle these accusations in our mind and wonder if we can ever be free from the shame and the embarrassment that seems to be ever near. Whether anyone else knows of these offenses or not, the guilt is heavy and wants to derail our lives.
Guilt Does Not Surprise God
God knows this. He is not surprised by the affect of our sinful living or thinking. Likewise, it should not be a great surprise to us either, but often it is and we don't know how to deal with it. What brings lasting joy in your life? What brings satisfaction? Isn't that what you want to replace this guilt and shame? Followers of Jesus know that joy comes when we walk with Him. When we are consistently obedient to what Jesus teaches us, and how He directs us to live we are able to be satisfied. Why would we be surprised, then, to find that there is great pain and separation when we try to make our own way. Yet, usually we are surprised. We don't think about the consequences of our actions. We either refuse to follow Jesus or we simply forget. Then, we are grieved and held in the bondage of our guilt and shame. We don't have to live this way.
God Desires for You to Live Blamelessly
In Ephesians 1 we hear that Jesus has come to create for Himself a people that are holy and blameless. They are a people set apart to love God, follow Him and have this liberty and confidence in Christ in their lives. They are a people who are freely forgiven by Jesus and are called to hold this truth dear and apply this freedom to their thinking and living. Jesus knows this freedom because of His obedience to the Father. He knew it when He walked the Earth and He knows it now. He desires to bring you this relief from shame and guilt. He wants to deliver healing and restoration to your heart.
Have you wondered how David carried on after his scandalous sins of adultery and conspiracy to murder? How was David able to move forward and live victoriously for God's glory? Many of us would consider our lives ruined. We would be convinced that God was going to put us on a shelf until we die. Yet, David didn't live this way. Why not? He understood the power and scope of God's forgiveness. He knew he would bear the scars of his sin, but he also knew God would free him from the weight of the shame of his sin. Listen to what he said in Psalm 32,
Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. 2 Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
3 For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. 4 For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah
5 I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah
6 Therefore let everyone who is godly offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found; surely in the rush of great waters, they shall not reach him. 7 You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance. Selah
8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. 9 Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with bit and bridle, or it will not stay near you.
10 Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the Lord. 11 Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!
I can think of four "r's" that will help you overcome guilt like David did. Here they are: repentance, recovery, remembering and rejoicing.
Repentance
David acknowledged and confessed his sin to God in verse 5. Relief came when he stopped trying to hide it. Repentance will lead us to make good the wrongs that we have done and to seek the forgiveness we need. It is a difficult step, but it is the first step that must be taken.
Recovery
We need God's forgiveness. God promises to give it. David knew that he had received. In verse 5 we hear him say directly that God had forgiven him. It was no question. It was a statement of fact. He would live in this truth from now on.
Remembering
David proclaimed that God was his strength and hiding place in verse 7. We must be quick to remember that God is our help. He is able to give us the courage and hope we need. If we stop dwelling on this truth...if we forget we will be led to begin looking solely on ourselves, others or something else for strength. We must remember! We must continually remind ourselves (out loud if necessary) that God is our strength and His way of living is best. Then, we must seek His ways in His Word and by joining with His people.
Rejoicing
The great psalmist knew of the pain of hiding his sin and feeling the accompanying guilt and shame. Now he knew forgiveness. Now he knew joy. His song returned. His heart was returned to gratefulness. God delivered him and he could sing again.
It is a process, but you can sing again. God will deliver you when you seek Him. Christ has come to set us free. He has carried our sin and shame, nailed it to the cross and defeated it by overcoming even death. Will you seek His help in throwing off this dead weight of shame and guilt in your life?
Guilt Does Not Surprise God
God knows this. He is not surprised by the affect of our sinful living or thinking. Likewise, it should not be a great surprise to us either, but often it is and we don't know how to deal with it. What brings lasting joy in your life? What brings satisfaction? Isn't that what you want to replace this guilt and shame? Followers of Jesus know that joy comes when we walk with Him. When we are consistently obedient to what Jesus teaches us, and how He directs us to live we are able to be satisfied. Why would we be surprised, then, to find that there is great pain and separation when we try to make our own way. Yet, usually we are surprised. We don't think about the consequences of our actions. We either refuse to follow Jesus or we simply forget. Then, we are grieved and held in the bondage of our guilt and shame. We don't have to live this way.
God Desires for You to Live Blamelessly
In Ephesians 1 we hear that Jesus has come to create for Himself a people that are holy and blameless. They are a people set apart to love God, follow Him and have this liberty and confidence in Christ in their lives. They are a people who are freely forgiven by Jesus and are called to hold this truth dear and apply this freedom to their thinking and living. Jesus knows this freedom because of His obedience to the Father. He knew it when He walked the Earth and He knows it now. He desires to bring you this relief from shame and guilt. He wants to deliver healing and restoration to your heart.
Have you wondered how David carried on after his scandalous sins of adultery and conspiracy to murder? How was David able to move forward and live victoriously for God's glory? Many of us would consider our lives ruined. We would be convinced that God was going to put us on a shelf until we die. Yet, David didn't live this way. Why not? He understood the power and scope of God's forgiveness. He knew he would bear the scars of his sin, but he also knew God would free him from the weight of the shame of his sin. Listen to what he said in Psalm 32,
Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. 2 Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
3 For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. 4 For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah
5 I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah
6 Therefore let everyone who is godly offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found; surely in the rush of great waters, they shall not reach him. 7 You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance. Selah
8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. 9 Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with bit and bridle, or it will not stay near you.
10 Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the Lord. 11 Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!
I can think of four "r's" that will help you overcome guilt like David did. Here they are: repentance, recovery, remembering and rejoicing.
Repentance
David acknowledged and confessed his sin to God in verse 5. Relief came when he stopped trying to hide it. Repentance will lead us to make good the wrongs that we have done and to seek the forgiveness we need. It is a difficult step, but it is the first step that must be taken.
Recovery
We need God's forgiveness. God promises to give it. David knew that he had received. In verse 5 we hear him say directly that God had forgiven him. It was no question. It was a statement of fact. He would live in this truth from now on.
Remembering
David proclaimed that God was his strength and hiding place in verse 7. We must be quick to remember that God is our help. He is able to give us the courage and hope we need. If we stop dwelling on this truth...if we forget we will be led to begin looking solely on ourselves, others or something else for strength. We must remember! We must continually remind ourselves (out loud if necessary) that God is our strength and His way of living is best. Then, we must seek His ways in His Word and by joining with His people.
Rejoicing
The great psalmist knew of the pain of hiding his sin and feeling the accompanying guilt and shame. Now he knew forgiveness. Now he knew joy. His song returned. His heart was returned to gratefulness. God delivered him and he could sing again.
It is a process, but you can sing again. God will deliver you when you seek Him. Christ has come to set us free. He has carried our sin and shame, nailed it to the cross and defeated it by overcoming even death. Will you seek His help in throwing off this dead weight of shame and guilt in your life?
Monday, January 18, 2010
Relief May Not Look Like What You Think
I was listening to radio news recently as I drove home from one of our Worship Services. It was the most intense radio report I had ever heard. The reporter was deeply concerned about a group of babies that were in an orphanage. He believed they would die if aid didn’t come to them immediately. In anger he declared that there were several aid agencies and government forces that knew their specific location, but had not shown up to deliver any supplies that were desperately needed. As he talked his intensity increased and he finally said plainly, “If aid doesn’t arrive these children are going to die.” Needless to say there were numerous thoughts rushing through my mind.
What Can I Do?
In an instant I began wondering if there was anything I could do. The disaster area was thousands of miles away from me and I couldn’t get there any time soon in my car. I began to think of anyone that I might know that could do something. I couldn’t think of anyone except God that could direct aid to them. Then I had a thought that many of you might find strange. What if they die? Is that the worst thing that could happen to them? For a number of reasons I believe that infants go to Heaven when they die. I’m not going to write a theological treatise on that here, but I do believe the Bible supports the idea. What if they die? If what I believe the Bible teaches is correct, they would take their next breath in Heaven. They would have escaped the disaster and God would have provided relief to them. No, it’s not what we would think of as relief. It’s probably not what the reporter had in mind. He was begging for baby formula, clean water and diapers. Those are necessary supplies, but there is more than one type of relief that God can offer.
Raised in Power
Make sure you understand that I don’t believe that everyone instantly goes to Heaven when they die. The Bible is very clear. Jesus says in John 14:6 that no one comes to Father except he places his faith in Jesus. People of account who don’t repent of their sins, seek Jesus’ forgiveness and follow Him will have no access to God according to the Bible. But for those that will trust and love Jesus there is great hope. In fact, there is no greater hope. The Bible says, “So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power.” (1 Corinthians 15:42-43, ESV) That sounds like relief to me.
So Live Generously
In addition to the relief of resurrection, I believe a person’s love for Christ ought to drive them to be even more charitable. The cited passage plainly tells us of our weakness. Therefore, we ought to aid our fellow citizens of Earth with the greatest of effort. So, I hope you will give and serve generously when others are in need, but don’t forget relief comes in many ways.
What Can I Do?
In an instant I began wondering if there was anything I could do. The disaster area was thousands of miles away from me and I couldn’t get there any time soon in my car. I began to think of anyone that I might know that could do something. I couldn’t think of anyone except God that could direct aid to them. Then I had a thought that many of you might find strange. What if they die? Is that the worst thing that could happen to them? For a number of reasons I believe that infants go to Heaven when they die. I’m not going to write a theological treatise on that here, but I do believe the Bible supports the idea. What if they die? If what I believe the Bible teaches is correct, they would take their next breath in Heaven. They would have escaped the disaster and God would have provided relief to them. No, it’s not what we would think of as relief. It’s probably not what the reporter had in mind. He was begging for baby formula, clean water and diapers. Those are necessary supplies, but there is more than one type of relief that God can offer.
Raised in Power
Make sure you understand that I don’t believe that everyone instantly goes to Heaven when they die. The Bible is very clear. Jesus says in John 14:6 that no one comes to Father except he places his faith in Jesus. People of account who don’t repent of their sins, seek Jesus’ forgiveness and follow Him will have no access to God according to the Bible. But for those that will trust and love Jesus there is great hope. In fact, there is no greater hope. The Bible says, “So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power.” (1 Corinthians 15:42-43, ESV) That sounds like relief to me.
So Live Generously
In addition to the relief of resurrection, I believe a person’s love for Christ ought to drive them to be even more charitable. The cited passage plainly tells us of our weakness. Therefore, we ought to aid our fellow citizens of Earth with the greatest of effort. So, I hope you will give and serve generously when others are in need, but don’t forget relief comes in many ways.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Learning to Grieve
Grieving is hard work. If you are not prepared for this work most likely it will be even worse than you can imagine. I don’t think I’ve ever served a grieving family and heard them say, “This is much easier than we thought it was going to be.” I am convinced that if you are going to grieve well, and you should grieve, you must be as prepared as you can be.
When grief comes you will not be able to function in it with exact and meticulous detail because every situation will be different in severity, depth and intensity. However, I believe the Bible clearly lays out a foundation for us to stand on in our times of grief. One place we can learn this pattern is Psalm 102.
A Pattern for Suffering
In Psalm 102 we see David grieve deeply. We’re not exactly sure why, but whatever he is going through is intense. Along with several normal characteristics of grief it would appear that we seem him lose his appetite, suffer from sleeplessness, and even face depression. Yet, in this passage we see him deal with his grief well and God helps us learn how to deal with our own grief as we observe David.
A pattern seems to emerge that helps David move through the grief process in verses 13-22. We’re not sure how long it takes for him to move through this pattern, but it does seem to be consistent both times. The pattern seems to go something like this:
1. David cries out to God declaring His sovereignty and eternal control of life.
2. God hears David and has pity on him.
3. David remembers God’s promises to him and His people.
4. David looks forward to how God will use the current grief to bring good in the future.
Though we don’t actually see these elements lived out in this psalm, in other places we have the opportunity to see God working these things out. Know that God was faithful in keeping the promises He made to David and God did use David’s times of grief to bring about good.
Learning to Grieve Well
How can you apply this pattern? Well, every time I go to the funeral home I am reminded of how feeble I am. My life, just like every life on this planet, will end in death. God is the only one that has the power to conquer death. The redeemed of Christ only receive eternal life with God when it is given to them by Christ. Death should humble us. It should make us realize that God is everlasting and sovereign, and we are not. Not only should we realize it, but it should drive us to worship God as the Supreme Creator of all things. Facing grief should drive us to remember God’s control and to worship Him for it. In addition, focusing on God’s strength should help align true perspective. Often our problems and hurts fall out of perspective. They become bigger than us and even bigger than God. That is a distorted perspective and one that is never true. Death should remind us that we are small and God is big. When viewed correctly, this truth should bring comfort and rest.
The other steps of this pattern strengthen this perspective. By remembering God’s promises we remember His goodness and His holiness. We remember that He has promised His people that He will love them, be near at the time of death and deliver them through death. We find such promises from Jesus in John 14, from God Himself in Psalm 116:15 and in other places such as 1 Thessalonians 4. At the same time we hear of the separation from God that comes when the unrepentant person dies. Jesus’ teaching of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16 reinforces this idea and passages like Hebrews 9:27 remind us that just as death is appointed, judgment is as well. In grief we should focus on the promises of God.
Find Joy In a Time of Grief
The believer should find comfort and joy in these promises as they have witnessed God’s faithful work not only in Scripture, but in their own lives as well. It is from God’s faithful work in the past that we also have hope that He will repeat that work in the future. Though the believer cannot be sure how God will use their pain for good, they believe He will. This brings hope. It fuels perseverance and endurance during grief. Psalm 102 teaches us that this hope should even lead to joy as the believer knows God will not waste their pain, but will use it for good in their life and the lives of others.
Grieving is hard work. But hope can be found in it. Grieving will be different for everyone and it can be unpredictable in its effects on a person. However, we can use the basic pattern here and by applying to it our broken hearts find hope in God. What will your perspective be when it is your time to grieve?
When grief comes you will not be able to function in it with exact and meticulous detail because every situation will be different in severity, depth and intensity. However, I believe the Bible clearly lays out a foundation for us to stand on in our times of grief. One place we can learn this pattern is Psalm 102.
A Pattern for Suffering
In Psalm 102 we see David grieve deeply. We’re not exactly sure why, but whatever he is going through is intense. Along with several normal characteristics of grief it would appear that we seem him lose his appetite, suffer from sleeplessness, and even face depression. Yet, in this passage we see him deal with his grief well and God helps us learn how to deal with our own grief as we observe David.
A pattern seems to emerge that helps David move through the grief process in verses 13-22. We’re not sure how long it takes for him to move through this pattern, but it does seem to be consistent both times. The pattern seems to go something like this:
1. David cries out to God declaring His sovereignty and eternal control of life.
2. God hears David and has pity on him.
3. David remembers God’s promises to him and His people.
4. David looks forward to how God will use the current grief to bring good in the future.
Though we don’t actually see these elements lived out in this psalm, in other places we have the opportunity to see God working these things out. Know that God was faithful in keeping the promises He made to David and God did use David’s times of grief to bring about good.
Learning to Grieve Well
How can you apply this pattern? Well, every time I go to the funeral home I am reminded of how feeble I am. My life, just like every life on this planet, will end in death. God is the only one that has the power to conquer death. The redeemed of Christ only receive eternal life with God when it is given to them by Christ. Death should humble us. It should make us realize that God is everlasting and sovereign, and we are not. Not only should we realize it, but it should drive us to worship God as the Supreme Creator of all things. Facing grief should drive us to remember God’s control and to worship Him for it. In addition, focusing on God’s strength should help align true perspective. Often our problems and hurts fall out of perspective. They become bigger than us and even bigger than God. That is a distorted perspective and one that is never true. Death should remind us that we are small and God is big. When viewed correctly, this truth should bring comfort and rest.
The other steps of this pattern strengthen this perspective. By remembering God’s promises we remember His goodness and His holiness. We remember that He has promised His people that He will love them, be near at the time of death and deliver them through death. We find such promises from Jesus in John 14, from God Himself in Psalm 116:15 and in other places such as 1 Thessalonians 4. At the same time we hear of the separation from God that comes when the unrepentant person dies. Jesus’ teaching of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16 reinforces this idea and passages like Hebrews 9:27 remind us that just as death is appointed, judgment is as well. In grief we should focus on the promises of God.
Find Joy In a Time of Grief
The believer should find comfort and joy in these promises as they have witnessed God’s faithful work not only in Scripture, but in their own lives as well. It is from God’s faithful work in the past that we also have hope that He will repeat that work in the future. Though the believer cannot be sure how God will use their pain for good, they believe He will. This brings hope. It fuels perseverance and endurance during grief. Psalm 102 teaches us that this hope should even lead to joy as the believer knows God will not waste their pain, but will use it for good in their life and the lives of others.
Grieving is hard work. But hope can be found in it. Grieving will be different for everyone and it can be unpredictable in its effects on a person. However, we can use the basic pattern here and by applying to it our broken hearts find hope in God. What will your perspective be when it is your time to grieve?
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