As I read my Bible, I'm often amazed at how often people through the ages just didn't get it. I shouldn't be surprised,though, because repeatedly in my Christian life I didn't get what God was trying to teach me. Thankfully he doesn't give up on us!
This morning I read Acts 1:6 which says, So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?"
This is right after Jesus told his disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the gift (the Holy Spirit) the Father had promised. Rather than being excited about the Holy Spirit, the disciples focused on the kingdom being restored to Israel.
Jesus had just spent three years teaching them about the kingdom of God which included suffering, spreading the gospel, and his second coming. In addition, after his resurrection, Jesus told Peter what kind of death he would experience in order to glorify God. The disciples seemed to forget all they had been taught.
In my next post I'm starting a series called Eight Principles for a Joyful Life. These are things God has taught me during the 31 years I've been his child. This is for my benefit as much as everyone else's. Like the disciples, I find myself sometimes focusing on earthly things rather than "going about my Father's business." Most likely the Lord has taught you these things too. But it's always good to remind ourselves of truth!
So join me next time when we'll get started on Eight Principles for a Joyful Life!
Showing posts with label suffering. Show all posts
Showing posts with label suffering. Show all posts
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Monday, December 21, 2009
Christmas Hope
Time zoomed by these last few weeks. I last posted on December 7. Somewhere I lost two weeks in the midst of Chrismas shopping, parties, and special times with grandkids. But it's been a joyful time!
Instead of doing part two of The Irony of Work, I'm compelled to focus on the magnificent hope we have because of Christmas. I left yesterday's church service with my head in the clouds - the clouds of heaven.
Christmas season hits some people like a hammer blow, leaving them bruised and battered. Illness, loss of a job, family disputes, or the death of a loved one can rob us of our Christmas hope.
Today let's walk above our circumstances. Read this slowly and let the hope sink into your heart.
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away,, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.2 Cor 4:16-18
Our troubles may seem neither light nor momentary unless viewed in the context of eternity. Jesus coming to earth as a baby, dying on a cross for our sins and then rising again confirms the reality that our troubles are light and momentary.
The pain we feel, the suffering we experience now will someday be gone. This is our Christmas hope:
And I heard a loud voice saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live wth them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." Rev 21:3-4
When painful circumstances threaten to overwhelm us, let's turn our thoughts to the eternal glory God has in store for us and the joy we'll experience when God wipes away all our tears.
Father, we praise you that Jesus came as a baby to die for our sins so that we could be forever reconciled to you. Help us focus on our eternal future with you as we celebrate his birth this week.
I pray for all of those who are living through painful times this week. Please comfort them and give them your peace.
In Jesus' precious name,
Amen
Instead of doing part two of The Irony of Work, I'm compelled to focus on the magnificent hope we have because of Christmas. I left yesterday's church service with my head in the clouds - the clouds of heaven.
Christmas season hits some people like a hammer blow, leaving them bruised and battered. Illness, loss of a job, family disputes, or the death of a loved one can rob us of our Christmas hope.
Today let's walk above our circumstances. Read this slowly and let the hope sink into your heart.
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away,, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.2 Cor 4:16-18
Our troubles may seem neither light nor momentary unless viewed in the context of eternity. Jesus coming to earth as a baby, dying on a cross for our sins and then rising again confirms the reality that our troubles are light and momentary.
The pain we feel, the suffering we experience now will someday be gone. This is our Christmas hope:
And I heard a loud voice saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live wth them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." Rev 21:3-4
When painful circumstances threaten to overwhelm us, let's turn our thoughts to the eternal glory God has in store for us and the joy we'll experience when God wipes away all our tears.
Father, we praise you that Jesus came as a baby to die for our sins so that we could be forever reconciled to you. Help us focus on our eternal future with you as we celebrate his birth this week.
I pray for all of those who are living through painful times this week. Please comfort them and give them your peace.
In Jesus' precious name,
Amen
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