Being transformed?

A current chorus begins with, “When all I see is the battle, You see my victory. When all I see is the mountain, You see a mountain moved.” How easily I can focus on the battle, the problem, and forget that God uses all things, even afflictions, for good — the good being to transform my life into the image of His Son.

Christians tend to ask God to remove the problem so we will be comfortable. However, if He does give comfort, it has another purpose. Instead of making me feel better, He wants me to use the comfort He gives to comfort others…

For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many. (2 Corinthians 1:8–11)

That being His will, living it out follows the pattern of the gospel. I cannot save myself, and I cannot endure suffering like Jesus does, unless the Holy Spirit is doing it through me. And one way that I learn how that works is by keeping my eyes on Him. Thinking I can do anything He asks apart from the Spirit is futile.

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. (2 Corinthians 3:17–18)

Not everyone sees this. Only God’s people, and only those who deny self to serve Him:

And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians 4:3–6)

Reading these verses helps me avoid the common response to suffering — asking God to remove the problem so I will be comfortable. However, having a switch in the reason I want comfort means the lesson of suffering has been learned, at least some of it. It makes me think about the reason Jesus died. It certainly was about the joy set before Him (Hebrews 12), but it was the foundation needed to set us free from our suffering in sin’s bondage and in the fear of dying. As Paul wrote, we do “have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh…” (2 Corinthians 4:7–12)

When life hands me discomfort, it helps to realize that even in suffering, my inner self is being renewed and prepared for an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison. That requires looking to what I cannot see — God’s eternal promises, fulfilled and demonstrated in the One who battles for me. (2 Corinthians 4:16–18)

PRAY: Yesterday’s thoughts on Your suffering for the sins of all humanity for all time put two great extremes in my heart. The obvious is great sorrow for Your pain. The other is great joy for the love that motivated such selflessness. I need to gaze at Your glory and allow You to use affliction, great or small, to transform me yet at the same time realize that goal is so incredible that even thinking it is beyond me. Oh Jesus, I do love You. 

The purpose of Suffering…

Since Piper’s devotional is copyrighted, I cannot paste today’s reading here, but am tempted — because it is so helpful. I try to tell others the value of suffering and Piper does a better job! He has never heard anyone say, “The really deep lessons of my life have come through times of ease and comfort.” I agree, and I know by experience that any growth I experience comes by learning the depth of His grace and mercy during suffering.

Jesus is the best example. “Although he was a son, (and sinless) he learned obedience through what he suffered.” (Hebrews 4:15; 5:8) This learning is not like mine where I must learn to obey rather than not, but that He experienced the depth of being yielded to His Father by what He suffered. I do too.

Paul is another example. He said:

Though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. 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 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death… (Philippians 3:4–10)

Another example given is Samuel Rutherford (1600-1661), a Scottish minister who suffered because he went against tradition and error in the church and given the death penalty for treason. However, he was already facing death with a disease. He said this:

"I have a summons already from a superior Judge and judicatory, and I behoove to answer my first summons; and, ere your day arrives, I will be where few kings and great folks come.”

In prison, he continued to write enduring letters that conveyed his delight in the glory and all-sufficiency of Christ. He said, “I go to my King’s palace at Aberdeen; tongue, pen, and wit cannot express my joy.” Others said this man was “impatient of earth, intolerant of sin, rapt into the continual contemplation of one unseen Face, finding his … happiness in its returning smile.  His glory was his absorption in Christ. He went to sleep with Christ as his pillow; he awoke in Christ.”

Rutherford also said this: 

If God had told me some time ago that He was about to make me as happy as I could be in this world, and then had told me that He should begin by crippling me in all my limbs, and removing me from all my usual sources of enjoyment, I should have thought it a very strange mode of accomplishing His purpose. And yet, how is His wisdom manifest even in this! For if you should see a man shut up in a close room, idolizing a set of lamps and rejoicing in their light, and you wished to make him truly happy, you would begin by blowing out all his lamps; and then throw open the shutters to let in the light of heaven.

My example these days is our granddaughter, also ‘crippled in all her limbs, and removed from all her usual sources of enjoyment’ yet so joyful in her hospital ‘prison’ that being with her in her deeply affects me too.

PRAY: Lord, Piper says “O how I pray that when God, in his mercy, begins to blow out my lamps, I will not curse the wind” and I must pray that too, for Christians I know who suffer, but also for myself. Pity parties are no fun at all. Only the joy You give can overcome the crippling power of feeling sorry for myself when suffering comes my way, and only You can use it for great good and for Your glory.

Surviving Calamity Fatigue

Numbers 7; Psalms 42–43; Song of Songs 5; Hebrews 5

Some have said that life is not like this –––––––––––––––– but more like this: /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\. It seems to me that even the ups and downs are irregular and unpredictable. 

For example, today’s newspaper had this headline: “Let us guard against calamity fatigue.” It is about a city north of us that is experiencing severe flooding on top of coronavirus and a wildfire four years ago that destroyed homes and businesses. What next? Who knows? Stress levels are high.

Life is like that. People usually react to those valleys with ‘why’ questions and are despondent and struggle. Where is God and what is He doing? Even those whose relationship with Him is long and deep have those dark days when all seems hopeless, people like the psalmist who likened himself like a deer panting for water.

I can imagine it. The deer is quivering with thirst and perhaps fear. Certainly, the psalmist is too. He is cast down, in turmoil, feeling forgotten and mocked by those who taunt him. But even in that valley he calls for light and truth. He knows that this season of hunger, fear and uncertainty will not last. His prayer ends with these words:

Send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling! Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy, and I will praise you with the lyre, O God, my God. Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God. (Psalm 43:3–5)

I’m not in a flood, nor have any of my friends succumbed to the virus. No fires, no enemy attacks, but I feel the struggles of those I read about in the news. For them, life is a nightmare and my empathy and sense of weakness in disasters is nothing compared to their calamity fatigue. It motivates me to pray, not necessarily that God will fix it but that He will use it for good, bringing people to call out to Him, like that deer seeking a drink. Even like Jesus did as He suffered a great thirst for His Father who had seemingly forsaken Him.

In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, (Hebrews 5:7–9)

God the Son had to learn obedience? As the Son of man, He was like us, helpless in the ups and downs of life, certainly weaker than anyone could be weak as He hung on the cross and suffered for our sin. In that human body and human nature, the most extreme trial was this test. He could have escaped but He stayed there — for our sake.

I think of the people in the floods and in quarantine, those hooked to a ventilator and dying. Could it be for the same purpose not to save the world but that in this world of sorrows we experience the deepest valleys so we might learn obedience through what we suffer?

APPLY: I will not become a Savior of the world when and if I learn to trust God in those deep valleys. I will never be the source of eternal salvation because of anything I’ve done in obedience to God. The best I can hope for is that God will be glorified and that others will be drawn to Him. Lord Jesus, help me be like You in the peaks and valleys of life included those today, and to do the best that I can to honor You.

Doctors also need to know the Great Physician

Exodus 18; Job 36; Luke 21; 2 Corinthians 6

My hubby teaches me a valuable attitude. He makes regular trips to specialists since a heart attack over a decade ago and since the diagnosis of CLL a bit after that. (CLL is a chronic leukemia). Last week one of his doctors remarked that his bloodwork was “a train wreck” but he is so healthy that it must be due to “divine intervention.” He responded with his usual statement, “Every day I wake up by the grace of God.” He has told our friends that his illness and other medical issues give him opportunities to tell people about Jesus, people that he would not otherwise encounter.

I’m now trying to do the same. I now talk differently to my caregivers, including my doctor and the technician in the pacemaker clinic. When the nurse practitioner from the heart doctor’s office called about my choice to go off blood thinner, I was led to say in that conversation, “It is well with my soul.” She responded, “How do you know that hymn?” and we shared our faith in Christ. She eventually said, “As Christian to Christian, you made the right choice. As medical practitioner to patient, no way.” then she laughed.

Being bold to share Jesus Christ with others is a challenge though. Our culture uses His name to cuss and swear. Most people have little knowledge of the Gospel and some become quite hostile toward spiritual truths and hearing anyone talk about the Lord, or faith, or church. Jesus said it would get worse:

Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven. But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name’s sake. This will be your opportunity to bear witness. Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer, for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. (Luke 21:10–15)

It seems every generation has seen some of this prophecy and hopes Jesus will return soon. However, I’m not sure the signs of it are as important as the attitude I’m supposed to have when I see these indications. Jesus wants me to realize I am here for a purpose — to bear witness to His saving power. Not only that, should I be persecuted and put into some sort of unwanted custody, I’m to tell people whatever God puts in my heart to say. Certainly this attitude of listening for His instruction is just as important as having it when I need medical attention and am talking to medical people about God’s salvation plan and power.

As hubby says, I will never meet a neurologist or a heart specialist unless my body acts up and puts me in their care. Instead of complaining about it or being anxious, it is wise to seek God’s instruction. To borrow a line from John Piper, I’m not to “waste my illness” by fighting it as much as seeing it as part of the Lord’s plan to reach others.

APPLY: Realize there will always be days where I have “I don’t want to-itis” and feel sorry for myself. Realize that God will lift me up when I go to Him, perhaps just by reminding me that He has eternal purposes for my brain not sending the right signals to my lungs. And aside from the ‘me’ stuff, there are people out there in the medical realm that need to know the Great Physician. I’m to be prepared but not plan any speeches — just say whatever He tells me to say whenever He says it.

Comforted and warned . . .

Revelation’s letters to seven churches applied to them, to other churches like them, to today’s churches with the same conditions, and to individuals who need to hear the words of Jesus. This includes me.

His letter to the church in Smyrna describes an event in my life. With tears, He informed me that I was going to experience a great trial. It began that very day and the vision of His tears sustained me for the lengthy time of that horrid trial. I can imagine how the church at Smyrna felt when they received a similar message also accompanied by the loving thoughts of the Lord:

“Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.” (Revelation 2:10–11)

As I have learned from that trial and others, suffering is not an evil intended to destroy. God has purpose in it and fulfills His promise to use all things for my good (Romans 8:28-29), the good being transformed into the image of His Son. Sometimes suffering is a discipline, or a way for God to prevent me from becoming proud or thinking too highly of myself. Sometimes it is a way to learn obedience. If I am like Jesus when under pressure, then my testimony of God’s power and love is far more believable than if I fold up in self-pity.

Most of all, through trials God teaches patience. He shows me that struggling, complaining, or any other response does not change the trial. Those responses only put my focus off Jesus and on myself, rob me of energy and make matters worse. Because of trials, I can now see that patience truly is a virtue.

The letter to the church in Pergamum is not as encouraging as the one sent to Smyrna. While Jesus commended for their faith under persecution, He also pointed out that they had a few false ideas that lead to sinful behavior. They needed to repent. Otherwise they would find themselves in trouble with Jesus rather than in trouble with false teachers:

“I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality. So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.” (Revelation 2:13–17)

Compromise with worldly morality and pagan doctrine was prevalent in that church. It is also a danger today. In the name of tolerance, Christians are urged to put up with sinful practices. The danger of tolerance is eventually participating in that which we are supposed to merely tolerate.

The situation in Pergamum was severe. It is not that strong for me, but there are times when I should speak up but remain silent. The saying, “For evil to triumph, all that is required is for good people to do nothing” may be the problem. I tend to follow the idea that “If truth and lies are allowed to battle, truth will win” but sometimes forget that I hold the sword of truth. I cannot leave it unused when the arrows of the Liar are flying all over the place, and particularly when they are hitting targets within the Body of Christ.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Jesus, You know the challenges of using that Sword in a hostile world. You died because You told the truth to a people who didn’t want to hear it. Eventually ‘Jesus wins’ yet the battle rages and You expect me to be part of it, to resist sin, to repent of any sin I am guilty of, to rebuke it in others and do what I can to restore those who fall to the enemy’s arrows. In these two letters, I see You both as a Comforter in the battles and difficulties of life and a Warrior who knows the real enemy and fights the Liar and His lies with all of Your heart and soul. You gave Your life to defeat that enemy and I want to be just like You.  

Today’s thankful list . . .

- being comforted by God’s Word.

- the Lord’s reminders to press on in truth.

- sweet prayer and sharing with other Christians.

- feeling physically stronger because of the weekly session at the gym and doing the homework.

- the beauty of winter.

- the love of family and friends.