What Is Important?

This morning, as I walked, a young woman came up to me to ask a question. I was wearing a t-shirt that had the message, “WalkIN 4 Jesus” stenciled on the back. She saw that and asked me, “If you had one thing to say to me about God, what would it be?” I said, “love God with your whole heart.” I don’t know if that was the right thing to say to her in that moment, but it expresses the heart of the gospel. We love God, because He first loved us and gave His Son for us.

Philippians 1:8 says, “For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.” Paul expresses his affection for the people of the Philippian church, but also declares that God has affection for us. God loves us and has feelings of fondness, care and tenderness toward us. His affection is confirmed in displays of kindness and grace toward us. When one is truly loved, the heart can express love in return.

Mighty Hand

Perhaps, you have seen arm wrestling and tug a rope competitions. I am always amazed at the strength involved in this events. I wonder why nothing ever breaks during these struggles. The people involved have likely trained and gained the strength to protect themselves. My wife often asks me to open containers for her as her hand strength has given way to arthritis. I am not sure how much longer I will be able to do this for her, as my hand strength is diminishing also. The mighty hand of God will never lose strength and is able to hold His children securely for all eternity.

John 10:27-29 says, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.” Once we come to Jesus trusting Him as Savior and Lord, we are His forever. Nothing and no one can take us away from the Son of God and the Father. We just hear God’s voice and follow Him.

Holding Water

Fill a 16 ounce cup with water. Now hold it in your right hand, with your arm straight forward from your body. Holding the cup in this position for a few moments is easy for most of us. If we try to hold it in this position for an hour, our arm and hand begin to waiver and pain starts to seep into our body. If we tried to hold the cup for a full 24 hours, the pain would be supreme and holding the glass would be all that we could think about. We can relieve the pain and suffering by simply putting the glass down. The same is true of the problems that we face. As long as we hold onto the problems, we can’t think or do anything else. But if we release the problems to our God, the pain and the load is lifted, and God can build His character into our lives.

II Corinthians 4:16-17 says, “So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.” It is undeniable that we will face troubles and struggles. These problems stay with us only a short while. At the same time they are building us up into Christ likeness and preparing us for the glory that will be ours in eternity.

Road Trip

We are familiar with the roads we have taken to get where we are. The smooth roads, the bumpy roads, the dangerous roads, the U turns, the side trips, and the hard roads are well known by us. Now we face the roads ahead. We may come to forks in the road and not know which way to go, just like we have faced many times before. We can’t reliably see the road ahead, but still need to move forward. How can be make the right choices in life?

Psalm 32:8 says, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.” When we need to know which way to go, God promises to teach us. When we need wise counsel, God has kept His eye on each of us and gives us the perfect advice. He knows the roads we have traveled with its difficulties, struggles, and highlights. And He knows the roads ahead. Because He loves us, He will give us good advice and even help us navigate the roads ahead.

Knowing Where To Go

Years ago, when we first moved to Nepal, we initially had a hard time finding the right store to purchase what we needed. Stationery stores, grocery stores, furniture stores, and hardware stores each carried items that were not available in the same type of store in America. By trial and error, we eventually figured out the correct stores to purchase necessary items.

John 6:66-68 says, “After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. So Jesus said to the twelve, ‘Do you want to go away as well?’ Simon Peter answered him, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.'” Faith is the vehicle that God uses to draw us near to Him. Growing in the knowledge of Jesus gives us the strength to continue in faith and follow Him. Let’s go to Jesus and follow Him, because He alone has the words of eternal life.