Overcoming

When I face a struggle, I have two go-to responses. One is to simply give up, but that doesn’t help me at all. The other is to just keep pushing through. I rarely ask for help or seek guidance.

John 16:33 says, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” Those of us who have trusted in Jesus Christ can have peace through the struggles we face in this world. We don’t find peace by trying to overcome our troubles in ourselves. Take heart knowing that Jesus has overcome the world and He is in you. He has overcome and will help you overcome any struggle.

Inventions

Have you ever looked at a situation and thought of some invention that would make the situation better? Or, have you been doing something and someone makes a suggestion or gives you a tool to make the task easier and the end result better?

God does this for us. He gives us a task to do, knowing full well that we can’t do the task well in our own abilities. So He gifts us with the ability and wisdom to do the task better. Without this gifting from God, we wouldn’t be able to do the good that He designed for us to do and we sure wouldn’t be able to glorify Him with our efforts.

In Matthew 25, Jesus tells the story of a master who gave servants gifts to use in their work. He says to the servants who used these gifts wisely, “Well done, good and faithful servant. you have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.” God expects us to faithfully use the gifts that He has given us to do good and to bear fruit for His glory. When we faithfully use His gifts, we are surrounded by His joy.

You Can Fool Some of the People Some of the Time

I find that I frequently compare myself to other people. I don’t mean to, it just seems to come naturally to me. Most of the time, it is an effort to make myself feel better about myself. Either I see myself as doing better than the other person, or justify what I am doing by seeing others do the same thing. Other times I may do something that I view as kind or nice, but my motives are still self-serving. We cannot accurately evaluate the motives or other people, as we are often deceived by even our own motives.

Luke 16:15 says, “And he (Jesus) said to them, ‘You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.” We can think highly of ourselves when we compare ourselves to other people. But God is not fooled by these comparisons, He knows what is in our hearts, whether our intentions are good or selfishly motivated. Often what we think is good, is an abomination to God. Let’s stop judging ourselves and others by worldly comparisons, but instead seek pure hearts and loving intentions based upon God’s leading in our lives.

Awesome Sunrise

This morning, I was greeted with a beautiful sunrise as I walked outside. I was awestruck at the color and expanse of its glory.

I Chronicles 16:27 says, “Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and joy are in his place.” Our imaginations can not come close to understanding the splendor and majesty of our God. Some day, we will see Him in His glory.  For now, we will be grateful that Jesus leads us into His presence through prayer and His Word.

Held Captive

I Peter 1:18-19 says, “knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver and gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.”

Before coming by faith to Jesus Christ, I was held captive by worldly ways, that is what God calls sin. I had no way of freeing myself from captivity. Self-righteousness was both foolish and unsuccessful. Fortunately, God paid the necessary ransom by sacrificing His innocent Son, Jesus Christ. With the ransom fully paid, I am now free to follow God and inherit eternal life.

Where we place our attention and efforts demonstrate what we believe is precious to us. God sacrificed what was precious to Him, His only Son, in order that we, His precious children may be redeemed from worldly pursuits and ways. Let us hold fast to that which God deems to be precious and follow Him in righteousness, putting aside empty worldly pursuits.