Wednesday, September 11, 2013 “…brings forth out of his - TopicsExpress



          

Wednesday, September 11, 2013 “…brings forth out of his treasure things both old and new” –Matthew 12:35 Good Morning Heavenly Father, Family & Friends!! (*) Yesterday’s Discovered Treasure for Today: “And we know that all that happens to us is working for our good if we love God and are fitting into his plans” (Romans 8:28 TLB). (*) Today’s Application: Serving as a chaplain for our law enforcement over the years I’m often called upon to deliver a death notification (often in the early morning hours) to the homes of un-expectant recipients. Through their shock and dismay comes the cry, “Why?” Why would God let this happen?” This is never a time for explanation, but of comfort and prayer. The Word of God does speak though to these times of why bad things happen and very often to good people. It does so, but not always in simplistic form. No single answer is given, but a number of reasons are offered. The Apostle Peter gives assurance that, beyond the inequities we see, is a treasure in store for us that is unseen: “And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see . . . These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world . . . You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy” (I Peter 1:5, 7-8 NLT). The Apostle Paul saw his own struggles as finding their highest meaning in what was being shared with Christ through his experiences. For him, and by implication, for us, it was doing his share of “filling up that which is lacking in Christ’s affliction” (Colossians 1:24). He seemed to find no strangeness that good people could suffer; in fact, the oddness of it all would be if they did not suffer, considering the evil that was in the world. For his own experience, he set personal goals, goals of sharing in both the resurrection and suffering of Christ (Philippians 3:10). The Psalmist, Asaph, gives us insight and a direction to a good way of putting our minds at ease. He said, “When I tried to figure it out, all I got was a splitting headache . . . Until I entered the sanctuary of God. Then I saw the whole picture . . .” (Psalm 73:16-17 The Message). In regards to death invading the life of a person of early age and in love with God, I can’t help but think of Jesus whose His life taken at 33 years of age . . . I don’t read of Him once saying, “I’d rather stay here on earth with you good folks then go back to be with my Heavenly Father in Heaven from whence I came.” The best is yet to come! 0;-)
Posted on: Wed, 11 Sep 2013 10:41:21 +0000

Trending Topics



Recently Viewed Topics




© 2015