Often, even in the midst of discipleship our lives just don’t make sense.
We hear the preacher talking about the abundant life of Jesus as we live drawing on the flow of His riches in the Kingdom Amongst us, and we have the tendency to say, wake up and smell the thorns.
A rather severe case of spiritual vertigo.
It is in those times I find whether I really trust, or I just really talk about it.
But it is not whether we experience the bitterness of life that defines our discipleship, it is our response. 3 things to remember during these times.
1. God is here - even when life turns sour.
God is not far away, He is here. That was the gospel Jesus Christ preached.
Our Father in Heaven not far away in space and time…He is right here.
The answer is not going to heaven when we die, the answer is to live in His presence right now.
2. Nothing too hard for God.
Because God holds everything together anyway. Nothing too hard for Him.
Col. 1:17 In Him all things hold together. See: Luke 1:37
Not to hard for Him to redeem even your sufferings if submitted to Him.
3. God is good.
1 John 1:5 This is the message of Jesus Christ…God is light and in Him there is no darkness at all. NONE. Don’t believe anything bad about God.
Nahum 1:7 (You can’t have the God of Nahum 1 without verse 7)
The LORD is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble,
And He knows those who take refuge in Him.
I would paraphrase Nahum 1 like this:
Give up, the battle is over, He won, quit fighting because you can go home now. You can go home because God is good and you can take refuge in Him. We sing at Christmas the great lines from the prophet Daniel:
The Kingdoms of this world have become those of our God and of His Christ and He shall reign forever and ever and ever…
The Kingdoms of this world have become those of our God and of His Christ and He shall reign forever and ever and ever…
What is the next word? hallelujah.
- Pastor Brian
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I can talk about trust all day, but not until I jump off the "side of the pool" into my Father's waiting encouraging embrace and know that He had me even before I leaped, do I know trust. Many are the moments I rock back and forth on the edge of letting go...into Him. The news of the world in front of me seems to nail my feet to the dock. Nothing is too hard for God...not even me. Help me jump, Lord, even though I'm scared! Thanks, Brian...I was led to your sight by your Dad, who is now sending me multiple daily scripture...I think to help us both through these days. God's peace. Steve Stark
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