Perfect Strength in Weakness

There are times in life when we beg God to help us because of some physical illness, emotional turmoil or trial in our spiritual life. Paul did this too. He had a “thorn in the flesh” and begged God to remove it from him. There is much speculation about what that thorn was, but it does not really matter.

The crux of the issue is that God’s grace was sufficient for Paul to excel in life in spite of it (2 Corinthians 12:8-10). Paul actually learned to brag about his imperfections and infirmities, so that the power of Christ in him would give him rest for his soul. God’s power, strength and ability are perfected in our weaknesses.

All we need to flourish in this life is His grace. Whenever we are weak, Christ in us is our strength (2 Corinthians 12:8-10). The prophet Daniel relied on God’s strength in his times of weakness too (Daniel 10:19). The warrior and national leader of Israel, Joshua, found strength and courage in his times of fear (Joshua 1:9).

If we have personal power, we would not need God; and we could boast in our abilities and accomplishments (2 Corinthians 12:1). However, our life in Christ is not about us at all (Ephesians 2:8-9). That is why God uses the weak and foolish things of the world to confound the mind of those who consider themselves wise (1 Corinthians 1:27).

Our faith does not rest on human abilities but on God’s power within us (1 Corinthians 2:5). A surrendered life is the successful life. Out of God’s glorious riches, He empowers us by His Spirit, which abides within us (Ephesians 3:16). We can excel in the will of God and live a fulfilled Christian life, because He lives in us (Philippians 4:13).

Prayer:
Father God, You remind us not to be anxious about anything, but to come to You in everything, letting You know what we need. We start from a place of gratitude for all You have already done for us, and then we make our requests known to You. This results in a shower of Your peace on our life, which transcends every negative aspect that we are experiencing (Philippians 4:6).

Thought for the Day:

God’s peace guards our mind and heart in Christ Jesus, in spite of what life throws at us. - Philippians 4:7

Jehovah-Jireh, My Provider

Read: Matthew 6:25-33

So Abraham called that place “The Lord Will Provide”. And to this day it is said, "On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided." – Genesis 22:14

We say that Jehovah-Jireh means, “The Lord Who Provides” (Genesis 22:12-14). The name literally means, “The Lord Who Sees” or “The Lord Who Will See To It”. This is what God promises to all of us who will trust in His name. He is the One who sees our need and He will also see to its provision (Psalm 37:4). Abraham spoke this name when God provided a ram caught in the thicket. This meant that God supplied the sacrifice and Abraham did not have to sacrifice his son, as he originally thought he would have to do. 

God tells us never to worry about our life; not about what we will eat or drink, or about our body and what we will wear. He reminds us that there are more important things in life than food and clothing. Jesus pointed to the birds in the air. He mentioned, that although they do not toil, our Heavenly Father feeds them. He also declared that the lilies of the field are here today and gone tomorrow, but God provides for them in beauty and splendor during their life span.

We are more valuable to God than the fowl and the grass, and He will provide for us so much more. Jesus reminds us that worry cannot add even one hour to our life. He made it clear that the unconverted person dedicates his/her life to pursuing carnal, worldly goals; but we are to pursue His kingdom and holiness above all else. In return, He will give us everything we need (Matthew 6:25-33). The Bible invites us to taste and see that the Lord is good (Psalm 34:8). 

The bountiful provision of the Father is evident over and over again in Biblical accounts. Stephen, a chosen disciple of the apostles of Christ, preached a sermon and his opposition stoned him to death; however, in the midst of this narrative, we see that Stephen looks up and God opens the heavens for Stephen to actually see Jesus standing at the right hand of our Father. I don’t think Stephen ever felt another stone (Acts 6:8-8:1).  

David declares that in all the years of his life, he never saw the righteous forsaken, nor did their children or grandchildren ever have to beg for bread (Psalm 37:25). The Lord shepherds us throughout our lifetime (Psalm 23:1). He provides for all of our needs. We may go without what we want, but our basic needs of food and shelter, which includes clothes, are given when needed (1 Timothy 6:8). 

In fact, Paul, who suffered every type of peril including nakedness, told Timothy that godliness is actually a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment (1 Timothy 6:6). We can learn as Paul did to be content with what God provides for us (Philippians 4:11). God gives His children a comfortable lifestyle, even though the way may not always be smooth. As we view the circumstance in our life from God’s perspective, He gives us His peace and joy that rise above any trial we may ever experience (Philippians 4:7). 

God also gives us rest and restores our soul ~ our mind, will and emotions ~ to complete health (Psalm 16:9; 62: 1,5; 116:7; Isaiah 58:11). Even if we end up homeless and without any money, He will provide for us as He did for the prophet Elijah. Twice angels fixed him warm bread over hot coals along with a jar of water (1 Kings 16). Another time, the ravens raided someone’s bab-b-que and brought him bread and meat in the morning and again bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook (1 Kings 17:6). God will supply for us as well. 

Jehovah-Jireh guides and directs our steps. Even if we stumble, we never get utterly cast down, because He upholds us in His hands (Psalm 18: 35; Psalm 37: 24). The name Jehovah-Jireh is a reminder to us in these crucial times we live in today. As we seek to know the Father first, we are assured that our Heavenly Father is able to provide any need we have (Matthew 6:33). We can trust Him to keep His Word. 

Even through the worse fear mankind has to face, God walks with us through death (Psalm 23:1). We have no reason to fear any evil, because even if we experience heartache or physical distress, He is with us (2 Corinthians 1:10). He works all things, even the bad things, out for our good (Romans 8:28). God even transforms us into the image of Christ as we walk through sanctification. He constantly convicts us of unrighteousness, so that we will walk blamelessly as a testimony to the world of God’s love for us. He may correct us with His rod, or redirect us with His staff, but they always bring us comfort and joy (Psalm 23:4). 

Prayer:
Lord God, You rescue us even from mortal danger, and You will save us again and again throughout our lives. We place all our confidence in You, and You will continue to liberate us (2 Corinthians 1:10). If we are thrown into a blazing furnace like the young Hebrew men, You are able to save us from it, and You will rescue us (Daniel 3:17).  We continually put our hope in You, who are our living God, who are the Savior of all men, women and children everywhere, and especially of those who believe in You (1 Timothy 4:10).

Thought for the Day:
Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ. - Ephesians 1:3

 

 

Why do the Wicked Prosper?

Read: Psalms 73:1-28

"For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked" (Psalm 73:3).

I can see why you would wonder why the ungodly get to sin all they want and it seems like God does not hold them accountable! Matthew 5: 45 tells us that God makes His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. It seems like they are allowed to have no consequences, while we often bear the burden of the consequences of their decisions. I can understand that you are exhausted, bitter and angry. David felt the same way when he was envious of the foolish and when he saw the prosperity of the wicked.

David eventually settled this issue in his own heart, though. In Psalm 73, David advises that we do not need to worry about the wicked or to envy those who do wrong. He observed that they eventually fade away like the grass and the flowers of spring. He advises that we trust in the Lord and do well, because God will allow us to live safely in the land and to prosper in the end. David realized that when he took delight in the Lord, God gave him the desires of his heart.

His advised to us is to commit everything we do to the Lord and to trust Him, because He will help us. He will make our innocence radiate like the dawn, and the justice of our cause will shine like the noonday sun. David cautions us to be still in the presence of the Lord, and to wait patiently for Him to act. In the process we no longer need to worry about evil people prospering, or to fret about their wicked schemes. We no longer need to be angry, if we trust in the Lord.

The wicked plot against the godly, they curse us and defy us; but the Lord just laughs, for He sees their day of judgment coming. The wicked draw their swords and string their bows to kill the poor and the oppressed, to slaughter those who do right. However, their swords will stab them in their own hearts, and their bows will be broken. Sometimes, we see wicked and ruthless people flourishing like a tree in its native soil. But when we look again, they will be gone. A wonderful future awaits those who love and live for God, but the rebellious will be destroyed; they have no future. Even though the wicked wait in ambush for the godly, looking for an excuse to harm us; the Lord will not let the wicked succeed.

Luke 16 tells us that a rich man received what was good during his lifetime. On the other hand, the humble man who ate crumbs from his table received evils in his life. As a consequence, therefore, the humble man is consoled in heaven, but the proud man suffers pain in hell. Joseph testified to his brothers that the evil they had done to him had been turned into good by the hand of their Father in Heaven (Genesis 45:7).In the book of Habakkuk, the prophet expresses his concern about what seemed to be the indifference of a just God over the horrible wickedness rampant in Judah, which was causing those who were righteous to suffer.

Many things which seem unjust and unfair to us now, with our limited vision and understanding, will become clear if we will be patient, suspend judgment for a while, and have faith in our Heavenly Father. We need to realize that when our vision is blurred, patience and time are essential elements in restoring our proper perceptions (Malachi 3:13-18).

Job cries out in chapter 24 about this very same issue. He wonders why he, a righteous man, is so persecuted, when those around him who are sinners are spared. I believe that the book of Job was written so that we would have a better understanding of the problem of suffering. We will have times of suffering in this world, and we will not fully understand why; but God will restore all things to us on this earth in His perfect timing, just like He did for Job.

It is so much better to be godly and to have a little, than to be evil and rich. We can make God’s laws our focus, so we will never slip from His path. Eventually, the strength of the wicked will be shattered, but the Lord will care for the godly. Day by day the Lord takes care of the innocent, and we will receive an inheritance that lasts forever. We will not be disgraced in hard times; even in famine we will have more than enough. The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of our lives. Though we stumble, we will never fall, for the Lord holds us up by the hand. God takes care of His own.

Jesus gives us peace unlike anything the world has to offer. So do not allow your heart to be troubled, neither let it be afraid (John 14:27). The wicked do prosper sometimes, but only for a short while; and whatever suffering the righteous may endure is only temporary. In the end, it will be the other way around. The wicked will suffer damnation for their behavior, while the righteous ones, who endure earthly trials well, will be blessed with peace and crowned with glory in heaven where it really matters the most.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, the wicked have no advantage over the righteous when they are dying. They may gain enjoyment and their souls may seem happy in this life; but in dying, if not before, they will pay the consequences of their sins. Help us not to get discouraged about the current affairs in our life. Help us to look forward to everlasting life, with many rewards for our faithful service to You.

Thought for the Day:

David pronounces, “Once I was young, and now I am old. Yet I have never seen the Godly abandoned or their children begging for bread.”