Jesus is Enough …

Yesterday brought a contrast that still makes me smile. On one hand, I was upset at being charged a great deal of money for something I did not want or order. On the other, God had me give away a great deal of money to help someone else. The first issue is still not settled, but because of the joy the Lord gave me about the second event, I just shrug my shoulders at the first one.

Today’s reading is about encouragement vs. discouragement. As the author says, it is easy to say the world is a mess, or even that my life is a mess or point to other Christians and be critical of their shortcomings and failures. While the mess is there and watching the news can be a huge downer, Jesus says:

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (James 1:2–4)

Some measure personal focus by a glass; is it half-full or half-empty? Others are either on or off, up or down, hopeful or downcast. We tend to be creatures of extremes. Yet I find that it is possible, in Christ, to be both at the same time. As a follower of Jesus, I can experience emotions opposite of what is normal for the events of life. For instance:

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (James 1:2–4)

In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials. (1 Peter 1:6)

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ (Philippians 3:7–8)

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. (1 Thessalonians 4:13)

The negatives (or what I would normally think of as negative) are trials, grief, weakness, and losses, each having many variations. But in Christ there is an ability and a privilege to experience peace, hope, joy, a sense of God’s goodness and purpose, a deeper knowledge of Christ, even a different kind of grief at the death of loved ones. Jesus makes a difference.

In considering the whys and how’s of that difference, it seems mostly to be an eternal perspective, the opposite of “I want it fixed — now!” Trials produce patient steadfastness. I notice it when I am making a quilt. I used to grumble when a mistake had to be ripped out, but now think of it as part of the job and patiently pick out the erring stitches.

Weakness was also a pain, a kick to my pride, my desire to do all things well, not being unable in any way. The idea of being unable, or lacking power, or having some sort of impediment was not appealing, never mind a reason to boast, but God is teaching me that I am merely a limp and useless glove without His hand to move me… and to be glad about it, even boast that I’m only a hand.

I’ve lost much, everything from interests, opportunities, abilities, and most of all, family and friends. We have family that never return our calls, and family whose life was snuffed out way too soon. Grief happens, but in the grief, faith in the will and power of God sustains in ways that are unexplainable. He changes grief with His comfort becoming a fortress.

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:4–7)

PRAY: Yes, these things surpass understanding, yet Jesus, You are there in all of it and with me to make life an adventure and a joy, even with the struggles and mysteries of living it. Bless You always!

Worship

Sometimes the words from the Word are enough…

I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry.
He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure.
He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord.
Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust, who does not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after a lie!
You have multiplied, O Lord my God, your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us; none can compare with you!
I will proclaim and tell of them, yet they are more than can be told.
In sacrifice and offering you have not delighted, but you have given me an open ear. Burnt offering and sin offering you have not required.
Then I said, “Behold, I have come; in the scroll of the book it is written of me:
I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.”
I have told the glad news of deliverance in the great congregation; behold, I have not restrained my lips, as you know, O Lord.
I have not hidden your deliverance within my heart; I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation; I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness from the great congregation.
As for you, O Lord, you will not restrain your mercy from me; your steadfast love and your faithfulness will ever preserve me!
For evils have encompassed me beyond number; my iniquities have overtaken me, and I cannot see; they are more than the hairs of my head; my heart fails me.
Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me! O Lord, make haste to help me!
Let those be put to shame and disappointed altogether who seek to snatch away my life; let those be turned back and brought to dishonor who delight in my hurt!
Let those be appalled because of their shame who say to me, “Aha, Aha!”
But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation say continually, “Great is the Lord!”
As for me, I am poor and needy, but the Lord takes thought for me. You are my help and my deliverer; do not delay, O my God! (Psalm 40:1–17)

…enough because Jesus is enough. Always.

PRAY: Today my heart is filled with the wonder of God, not because of any special event, or even a good night’s sleep — or even the delightful dream in which I signed up for piano lessons. Jesus, I love You, just because. You are the Lion and the Lamb, my shelter in the time of storm, my joy in a weary land. Today You give me great rest in You, my great Savior and God. Thank You.


 

Secure in Christ

 

 

READ Hebrews 1-4

Reading Psalms makes my heart sing. So does reading these chapters in Hebrews. This book was written to encourage Christians in trial by focusing on the supremacy and sufficiency of Christ. As the words point me to Jesus, my heart is filled with joy!

God speaks. He says that Jesus is not an angel . . .

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs . . . . And to which of the angels has he ever said, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”? Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation? Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. (Hebrews 1:1–4; 13–2:1)

He speaks. I must listen . . .

How shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will. (Hebrews 2:3–4)

His message is clear . . .

But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone . . . . Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. (Hebrews 2:9; 14–16)

He speaks. He is much louder than the Law for He created that Law . . .

For Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses—as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself. (For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.) Now Moses was faithful in all God’s house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, but Christ is faithful over God’s house as a son. And we are his house, if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope. (Hebrews 3:3–6)

Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness” (Hebrews 3:7–8) How can my heart become hard?

Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end . . . . For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened. (Hebrews 3:12–14; 4:2)

Faith means to cease striving to please God and resting in what Jesus has done. He invites me into this rest, first for salvation and always as a way of life. This is His Sabbath rest, “for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.” (Hebrews 4:9–10)

To do that, I need to discern what is from God and the ideas that come up from my sinful flesh. For this, He gave me His Word which is “living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)

And He gave me Jesus, my High Priest who sympathizes with my weaknesses because He was in every respect tempted as I am, yet without sin. For this, I can with confidence draw near to the throne of grace to receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:15–16) Because of all this, because of Jesus, my heart rejoices. My sins are covered and being conquered, and my eternal future is secure! Praise His Name!

 

From gloom to praise to practical living . . .

Leviticus 23; Psalm 30; Ecclesiastes 6; 2 Timothy 2

There are days when the Word of God says all that I want to say. I prayed last night for a problem and God answered. I had felt as if He had left yet I knew this was not true. At times, death seemed better than life and all the bad news a bigger threat than I could bear. But today this is a good description of how He changed that gloom into praise:

I will extol you, O Lord, for you have drawn me up and have not let my foes rejoice over me. O Lord my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me. O Lord, you have brought up my soul from Sheol; you restored me to life from among those who go down to the pit. Sing praises to the Lord, O you his saints, and give thanks to his holy name. For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning. As for me, I said in my prosperity, “I shall never be moved.” By your favor, O Lord, you made my mountain stand strong; you hid your face; I was dismayed. To you, O Lord, I cry, and to the Lord I plead for mercy: “What profit is there in my death, if I go down to the pit? Will the dust praise you? Will it tell of your faithfulness? Hear, O Lord, and be merciful to me! O Lord, be my helper!” You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever! (Psalm 30:1-12)

Today we worshiped and watched our church service (live streamed, then posted on You tube). There was praise and practical application in that, yet the Lord already gave me this to think about concerning the challenges of each day. This is my application:

Therefore, if you cleanse yourself from what is dishonorable, you will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master, ready for every good work. So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. And as the Lord’s servant you must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting your opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will. (2 Timothy 2:21–26, personalized) Amen.