Author: Bob Mathews

The Glass House

Posted on by Bob Mathews

People at times refer to their lives as being like a glasshouse. Everything they do and every choice they make can be seen and is scrutinized by the surrounding public. This idea of living in a glass house can be seen in scripture. In Joshua 22 the tribes that return to their land across the Jordan River build an altar that the tribes that stayed in Canaan take offense to. In this event, we see two points that can help us deal with and avoid conflict in the future with our brethren and people outside the church.

The first point we see in this event is that, although what was done by those tribes seemed to be offensive and against the will of God, the western tribes did not immediately attack them for the wrong they committed. They sent an emissary first to get to the bottom of the problem and find out if the eastern tribes realized what they had done. Because they sent this emissary they were are able to find out that the altar was made to be a memorial not an offense to God. We need to remember that we may see things in a different way than what they are meant. We need to be careful not to jump to conclusions and make problems when there are none.

The second point we see in this event is that the things we do are seen by others. The building of this altar was seen by the other tribes and mistaken for something it wasn’t. We need to understand that things we do can be misconstrued for something that it was intended to be. We need to be ready to explain ourselves in a way that is not disrespectful to those who have questions. We need to be humble like the eastern tribe and be willing to be corrected if we are in the wrong.

We as Christians need to live in a glass house in the sense that what we do is transparent and our actions can be easily identified by those watching. We need to approach others in love when problems arise so that we don’t make problems where there are none. If we are doing the work of the Lord, then we should have no problem living in a glass house so others can see who we are.

Jacob Saarloos

What Shall Come to Pass

Posted on by Bob Mathews

In the Old Testament Scriptures, we find something interesting that happens quite often but never ceases to amaze. God often relays to the rulers of the land through His prophets. And even at times, you will find that these rulers would do a good thing of inquiring from these prophets so they can hear from God what they are to do in certain circumstances, like before going into battle for example. The interesting thing is that even after hearing what God has to say some of these rulers choose to act upon something even when God told them the outcome would be bad. A good example of this is in 1 Kings 22. Ahab the king of the Northern Kingdom of Israel led a campaign against Syria. He was able to get the aid of Jehoshaphat the king of the Southern Kingdom of Judah. However, before Jehoshaphat would go into battle with Ahab he required the king to get word from God through a prophet. Ahab reluctantly complied with Jehoshaphat’s request. The prophet then told him that not only would he be defeated but that Ahab himself would die in the battle.

Now here is the interesting part; Ahab had seen the work of God throughout his life, and every time a prophet was doing the work of the Lord in Ahab’s life, it came to pass. Ahab, hearing from the prophet that he would be defeated and even be killed, still chose to go to battle. It seems to be the opposite of what a rational person would do. But here is the important thing to take away from this event; we need to understand that what God declares will come to pass as He said. The good news is that for us today God has declared to us that we can obtain everlasting life through His Son. And as you will find over and over again throughout the Bible, what God says always comes to pass. So if everlasting life is something you seek Jesus is what you need.

Jacob Saarloos

Our Responsibility to Know

Posted on by Bob Mathews

Too many times we see churches that are led away from the truth because they are willing to blindly follow the one who is leading them. We indeed need to have leaders in place so we can be effective and strong as God’s people. However, it is our responsibility, each member of the body of Christ, to know when those leaders are false teachers. It is easy for some to follow their leaders without question. After all, they assume that they have the position because they know what they doing and what they are to do. But think for a minute about the kings of old. In particular, think of Manasseh king of Judah.

Manasseh was only a boy when he became the king of Judah and he turned the people from all things godly (Isa. 9:16). Manasseh’s leadership carried the people away from God. He was young and did return to God later in his life but the position he had meant nothing as far as keeping the people on the path of God. Manasseh used his position to accomplish his own goals. The people willingly followed and in the end, were led away into captivity because of it. We cannot be like those people who are easily led away from God. It is our responsibility to know better because all the truth that is God has been revealed to us. We must know all of that truth so that we can follow God even if there is an absence of leaders or to know those that are qualified to shepherd God’s flock. All the answers we need are in the book that brings life, and if we desire to obtain that life we need to know that book so others can’t lead us into darkness with well-spoken words.

Jacob Saarloos

 

Influence

Posted on by Bob Mathews

Influence is a powerful thing.

John Hancock once said, “The greatest ability in business is to get along with others and to influence their actions.”

John C. Maxwell made the simple statement that “leadership is influence.” It is evident that influence is and can be one of the most powerful tools we can use to shape the world around us and sometimes even the whole world as we know it. In regards to leadership and influence, some of the most influential people for God’s people were the kings.

Two kings in particular stand out on both ends of the influencing spectrum. Josiah (2 Kings 22:1-2) became a king and the young age of eight and went on to be one of the best kings that Judah had. He influenced the people to return to God and do away with all the evils that they were so regularly involved in. Manasseh (2 Kings 21:1-2) also began his reign as a boy at the age of twelve. However, Manasseh went the opposite way. He led the people back to all kinds of idol worship and immorality. His influence on the people was so great that it led the people so far away from God that there was nothing left that could save the wickedness from being punished by God.

Influence is a powerful tool to keep in mind. Influence is not always something you can control because there is always someone watching what you do. This is why it is so important how we live our lives because our lives can have an impact on the lives of those around us and therefore the souls around us. If we live contrary to the way that we say we believe then we influence people to disregard God as being something unimportant. But if we live our lives solely for God we can influence others to see the glory of God through us and therefore strive for to be that way themselves. So what kind of influence do you portray? Do you bring people closer to God like Josiah, or further away from God like Manasseh?

Jacob Saarloos

Making the Choice of God

Posted on by Bob Mathews

Choices are something that we are all faced with every day of our lives. Sometimes those choices are just simple everyday occurrences like what to eat for breakfast, but we do come across those choices that shape who we are from time to time. To see an example of this let’s look at Ahaz king of Judah and his son Hezekiah who was later king of Judah, which is recorded in the book of 2 Kings starting at chapter 16.

When Ahaz became king he was in the midst of a war with Israel and Syria. Ahaz had choices to make.

God wanted to help him and was ready to

if Ahaz would simply turn to Him. Ahaz chose to turn to man rather than God and sought the help of Assyria. Ahaz showed his character and how he wanted to find a way himself rather than to rely on God in his life. This may have worked in theory for Ahaz because Assyria did come to his aid and rid him of the problem of Israel and Syria. Unfortunately, because Assyria was brought into the land and paid for their assistance they became greedy and eventually turned on the land of Judah. Ahaz made his choice to rely on someone other than God and it brought despair to the people.

Hezekiah, on the other hand, chose to not only trust in the Lord but to cling to Him as well, and because of this, the Lord was with Hezekiah. You can see this because at a time when Hezekiah was ill he prayed to the Lord and the Lord swiftly answered through Isaiah and healed Hezekiah and also gave him 15 extra years to his life. Hezekiah’s choice of God was not only beneficial for him it also helped the people, because when Assyria came down upon them God struck down 185,000 of their men in one night.

Hezekiah chose God. Can we make that same choice in our lives when times are tough? When we get down or are struggling is God the one that we look to? We will all face choices at times that aren’t as simple or easy as choosing breakfast, but it will show our character. Are we going to be like Ahaz and chose man or like Hezekiah and chose God?

Jacob Saarloos

Romans 8:28 – #4

Posted on by Bob Mathews

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. (NLT)

Believers in Rome to whom Paul penned this letter either were or would be suffering, else why his words in 8:18-25? And, contrary to the prosperity gospel, there is no indication that such suffering would be the result of some disobedience or unbelief on their part. That doctrine is more than nonsensical. It is even more than unbiblical. It is downright hurtful to those who are hurting, adding guilt to an already heavy load. But we move on.

First, remember to view 8:28 together with 8:29-30:

29 For those He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those He predestined, He also called; and those He called, He also justified; and those He justified, He also glorified.

That done, lets remind ourselves of what seem to be the salient aspects of Paul’s words. What can we see here? Consider the following:

  1. CERTAINTY.  “We know,” says the apostle. We may not know the immediate reason(s) for our trying circumstances. (This can lead to the “Whys” of the preceding article. It is not that we suddenly have become unbelievers. It means that we are in a lot of pain and/or confusion, and not ourselves at the moment.) But the good news is that Paul assures us of something we can KNOW. How so?  We can KNOW for a certainty that God is in control and at work on our behalf in it all. On what basis can we so know? Well, for one thing, God has a track record, a performance history of doing just that. Think of the many biblical situations wherein God worked all things together for His purpose and glory. Now, remind yourself that He is doing that now as much as He did then. Now, assure yourself that He is doing that for and with YOU. Trust Him.
  2. COMPLETENESS. So much of life can be uncontrollable, unpredictable, and unexplainable (inexplicable). “Everything” and “all things” being worked together can only be said of God. It can only be done by God. Ask Joseph if that is not so. Mark the numerous things “against” that man of God and see how the Lord made them “for” him. Mark Genesis 50:20. Perhaps that kind of thing is what Paul had in mind in this same text, vv. 38-39. Whatever your circumstances, God is not awed. He is awesome and able to work it together for your good. Trust Him.
  3. CAUSE. The real focus of this text is not trials, sufferings, setbacks, so forth. It is the God Who cannot be defeated or controlled by them. The issue is God! Settle that in your heart and thoughts, and experience His peace in the midst of it all (Philippians 3:5-6).  Fix your mind upon the One Who can cause a glorious outcome for even the most forbidding situations in life. My trials will clamor for center stage. I am tempted to look at, give most attention to my pain, fear, negative situation, uncertainties. But He Who is the first Cause of all things is the Cause of my confidence. How does Psalm 23 begin? Check the first two words out of David’s mouth, then, pause in your heart to ponder it. Do it for yourself.
  4. CONDITION. The assurance of this great promise is for the one who loves God. Not that it depends upon the perfection of it, but the presence of it. I will be perfect in nothing I offer the Lord, but I can be pure in it. I will not allow my suffering to steal away my love for the God Who eternally has loved me. For that matter, it is not my love for Him that will sustain me through my trials. It is His love for me. Check out I John 3,4 on that. Remember the high premium Jesus placed upon this things of loving God – Matthew 22:34f? Well, it didn’t start with Him – Deuteronomy 6. It always has been that way with God and His own. No matter how many my hurts, fears, tears – I will love God. Trust Him.
  5. CONSEQUENCES. What is the “good” of 8:28? Well, I am sure it is more than I realize, but v.29 helps me with it in two ways. First, the “good” of v.28 is the fact that my sufferings are used by the Lord to shape me into the image of His Son. There is no higher good on earth than to be like Jesus, right? The aim of God’s working together all things on my behalf is not to make me happy or healthy. It is to make my holy: separated for the use and glory of His Son.  Second, the “good” of v.28 is the fact that God’s eternal redemptive purpose for me already is activated and shall be fulfilled in His glory. The trials of this world cannot stop it. They cannot stop me in it. The consequence or outcome of it all shall be unspeakably blessed. Trust Him.

In His sermon on the Mount, the Lord spoke of the blessedness of kingdom-living in this world – Matthew 5. There is no greater life than that of knowing and trusting God. Yet, in the midst of that blessed walk with Him, the Lord readily acknowledged that there could be pain and suffering. Following Jesus is no vaccination against heartache and hardship. And Paul in Romans 8:28 is not promising anything different. But, as one who would ultimately suffer to the point of death, the apostle shares his supreme confidence that God is before, above, and after all that can come upon me in this life. That He alone shall have the last word in my case. That His purpose for me cannot be vetoed. And that I can know that as well as he had come to know it.

robert

Romans 8:28 – #3

Posted on by Bob Mathews

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. (NLT)

Although other translations will do the job, the NLT has the better presentation of what is here meant. That is important for 8:28. It also is important for 8:29f. Remember, every text has a context. We come up short if we cherry pick. We may well miss the intent of God in saying things as He does. Keeping that in mind, let’s look at how Paul elaborates upon the working of God in regard to believers who are suffering.

29 For those He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those He predestined, He also called; and those He called, He also justified; and those He justified, He also glorified.

Suffering and hardship in this life cannot torpedo God’s arranged redemptive plan for all those who love Him in Christ.

See that little word “for” which sets in motion v.29? Well, it is no mean word.  “For” is the link, the connector. It leads to the reason for the “we know” of v.28. The reason we have confidence in what God is doing about our trials in the present is because of what He already has done ABOUT US in the past and will do in the future – and how He looks at it all. What God has, in Christ, done ABOUT us far outweighs anything life can do TO us! (That, by the way, is the basic message of the book of Revelation to believers suffering unspeakable things at the hand of persecuting Rome. You may want to look at some of that.) Here, Paul wants us to see our temporal trials as God sees them. Perspective in our pain can be huge! (Remember from the last note: we may never understand but we can stand under certain staggering realities about the God we know and love in Jesus.

So, 8:28 is true because 8:29-30 is true – and 8:28 is going on because 8:29-30 has already gone on, in the mind and purposes and workings of the One Who is before and above all. Regardless of how you slice 8:29-30, Paul’s point is this: from beginning to end, God has, according to His eternal wisdom and power, worked out His perfect arrangement in Christ for our eternal blessing and well-being. It is a done deal in the eyes of God. Regardless of its severity of the moment, suffering and hardship in this life cannot torpedo God’s arranged redemptive plan for all those who love Him in Christ. 8:29,30 is a panoramic statement of immense magnitude. It is overwhelming. It leaves Paul open-mouthed, saying, “What then can we say to these things” – 8:31? It is as if he were saying, “This is too good to be true.” Well, considering that God is in the middle of the whole movement, it is too good NOT to be true. It is the difference God makes in Christ and in YOUR trials. Paul is in awe of it. Is that not what you get out of 8:31-39? Look at it:

31 What then are we to say about these things?
If God is for us, who is against us?
32 He did not even spare His own Son
but offered Him up for us all;
how will He not also with Him grant us everything?…
35 Who can separate us from the love of Christ?
Can affliction or anguish or persecution
or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?… 
37 No, in all these things we are more than victorious
through Him who loved us.
38 For I am persuaded that not even death or life,
angels or rulers,
things present or things to come, hostile powers,
39 height or depth, or any other created thing
will have the power to separate us
from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord!

If you don’t mind,  I would like to come back to this. I need this for me. Do you need it for you? Here is a thought: why don’t we read 8:28-31 every day for the next week? Then, pray believing it. You see, having God’s perspective on things elevates everything about our lives as believers, especially how we think and how we pray. Nothing here has been said in levity or indifference about our hardships and heartaches. We dare not minimize the pain and fears many experience. But it emphatically matters that we get God’s view of the whole thing, don’t you think?

peek

Romans 8:28 – #2

Posted on by Bob Mathews

We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose. 

I think the NLT has it more accurately translated:

We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose. 

See the difference? “Things,” much less “all things” are not always going to work themselves out, much less for my good.  The events and circumstances of life are under no moral obligation to benefit me. It can be a crap shoot at times. BUT, Romans 8:28 is God’s word about what HE is doing with the events and circumstances of human history at a given moment, especially as they bear upon the lives of His own in Jesus. Romans 8:28 is not about what is going on, but about what God has going on with what is going on. We cannot fathom the immensity of all the workings of God in time and space, which is the world in which we live. We could not grasp it were it tossed into our laps. It is infinitely beyond our comprehension. It is a God-thing. But the Lord tells us enough to trust Him in how He is managing it all for our good, including its ultimate outcome.

It is our nature to want to make sense of things. That is a repeated scene in the Psalms: If I am trying to serve and honor God, why do people hate me, why am I suffering and/or sick, why do bad things happen, etc? Add to that the fact that the ungodly often seem to have it better than I. What is the deal? How can this possibly be for my blessing? You see, we want to make sense of, to UNDERSTAND things that are happening. Here is a thought: instead of demanding to understand it all, why not STAND UNDER what I clearly do know: about God, Who He is, what He has already done, how He already has proven His love and faithfulness, so forth? (That, by the way, is how most of those Psalms conclude: with an affirmation of confident trust in the Lord and His unfailing kindness. Check it out in your reading.)

Just how well do I know God? How well acquainted am I with the Lord? And isn’t that the gist of David in Psalm 23: that He knew God so well from past experience that he would trust Him in the present and with the future?

This leads to another kind of question, a deeper one: just how well do I know God? Not know “about” God, but God Himself? Not just facts about God, or even Jesus. I can know facts about a person without ever really knowing that person, right? The important question is: How well acquainted am I with the Lord? If someone were to ask me how to really know God, how would I help them?

This is so important. Whether or not I ever know the whys and wherefores of life, I can know God in His Son Jesus. In Christ, we see and hear God on earth applying His control and power to life on a daily basis, in all walks of life, the good, bad, and the ugly. (That’s exactly what He was doing with the twelve, is it not?) If He did so then, will He not do so now? If He was in control then, will He not also be in control now? He was FOR us then, to the point of the cross – 8:31,32. Is He not FOR us now? He wants us to see and hear and feel and know Him. He was on earth for us not Himself. Consider that in how you look at you and Him. The better I know Him, the better I can trust Him to do what only God can do about the workings of life.

And isn’t that the gist of David in Psalm 23: that He knew God so well from past experience that he would trust Him in the present and with the future? A relationship like that does not happen in a vacuum. God had proven Himself to David over a lifetime. David had experienced God in a personal and intimate sense. So, though now in the dark valley,  David couldn’t forget that. It sustained Him in the presence of his enemies. It does the same for me.

Life will not always be my friend. I cannot really trust it.  But not so with the Lord! Is it not comforting to know that, when things have gone haywire, God has not gone anywhere! He is with me. Beyond that, He is over all that other stuff. God is not controlled by life. Earth does not run heaven! Heaven runs earth! That is why God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love Him. It is because He CAN!

What about the questions we ask when things are going badly?  Things can be just so very hard for us at times, right? Well, why not think about the questions we ask, and if they are the ones most helpful?

For example, we usually ask WHY, right? Why NOW, why THIS, why ME, why US? (By the way, I don’t see God striking people with lightning in the Biblical record when they cried out with their “whys.” He loves us far beyond our doubts and confusion. Never tell someone that they cannot ask God, “Why?” Sometimes we kick people when they already are down.)

But I will agree that WHY is not the most helpful thought for my heart when life seems to be imploding. Here is a thought: would it be more useful for me to ask the Lord HOW: as in how do You want me to respond to the circumstances I face? See the difference that can make? Another good question to ask could be WHAT: as in what do You want me to remember and/or see in this situation? Above these could be the question of WHO: Lord, how can I best acknowledge You and Your glory and Your faithfulness and Your control and Your kindness and Your love during this hard time in my life. I just want to know and see You, God, and trust Your perfect compassion and control above all that is happening.

Think about the questions which can hurt and help. Romans 8:28 lies within a context of suffering in the world but also of God’s supremacy and absolute sovereignty, to the point of superintending the outcome of it all – AND THAT FOR MY GOOD IN JESUS!

That will have to do until our next talk on it. Our intention is to help and not in any way to make things more difficult.

We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose.

peek

Romans 8:28

Posted on by Bob Mathews

We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose. (Rom. 8:28)

On numerous occasions, the Lord spoke of painful trials coming upon those who follow Him. Some of these sufferings would be intentional, others, incidental. Either way, they would hurt and, sometimes, perplex. Romans 8:28 is one of scripture’s most quoted texts about painful trials in life. In our current time of Covid 19 crisis and challenge, it is important to see what it means and how it can help.

By the millions, we are hurting, but our hurting did not originate with the current pandemic.

By the millions, we are hurting. Not all in the same ways, but still hurting. But our hurting did not originate with the current pandemic. Romans 8:28 is a word of PERSPECTIVE from God on it all. (How I look at a thing affects how I deal with it, right?) Now, it is a weighty thing to suppose oneself to wholly have the mind of God on a matter. Knowing that limitation, it is yet my hope that the following will do a little justice to what He is saying about life’s hardships and heartaches.

First, consider the CONTEXT of Romans 8:28. Context ALWAYS is critical in drawing out (exegeting) the meaning God poured into a thing. Biblical truths do not exist in a vacuum.  You may want to open your Book to this. The larger immediate context is 6:1-8:39. Its emphasis is upon the sanctified (holy) life of the believer as an outgrowth of being justified by faith in Christ Jesus. Since God in the holy Christ has, by His grace, made things right between the sinner and Himself, certain things should follow. Those things include a holy mindset shaped by the same cross which gives eternal life.

Now, in the latter part of that context, Paul speaks in chapter 8 of two areas of tension for the believer. One is the battle/tension on the INSIDE between the flesh and the Spirit, and how God has equipped us to win that thing. That is 8:1-16, more or less (Chapter 6 also speaks to it, as does Galatians 5). The other stressor mentioned by the apostle is that which emanates from the OUTSIDE: “the sufferings of this present time” – v. 18. We are not sure about precisely what he was talking with the Roman church, but you can be sure that they knew (or would soon know). Paul expounds upon how God has provided for us to win against whatever comes at us, painful though it may be. In 8:31-39, he celebrates that with an overflowing exuberance about how God has provided victory in any and all circumstances. (The preceding is more or less a drum roll to the consummation of the unstoppable redemptive purpose of God for all things. You do yourself a favor in reading it.) That is the context of 8:18-39, in which is nestled our 8:28:

We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose. 

What are we to make of this? Well, first, what are we to make of 8:18-25: the immediate context of 8:28? At the least, we see that the world (creation) in which we live is a broken and suffering system. How else can v.20-22 be understood? The good news is that God has established a hopeful outcome for His once-perfect physical creation. (You can check it out. He did choose that word: hope! Maybe we should do more thinking on our ideas about II Peter 3, huh?) The creation, this world, was His, right? And still is, regardless of how broken it is, right? So, He still can do what He wants with it, right? (He already has willed to curse it, at the Fall account of early Genesis, right?) Well, it seems that He also wills (wants) to deliver it from its bondage and brokenness. At least, that is what He SAYS, right? (Yes, I know how some have sought to “explain” these words. But is it not possible that the Lord has it here that we might know and believe it? Hmmm.) You see, the events of the cross affected more than the sin of man. They triggered a cosmic shock wave that had far-reaching effects upon the outcome of the physical creation. That outcome now is a hopeful thing – v.20. And, more so, it includes hope for those in Jesus – vv. 24,25.

Because we live in a sin-broken and suffering world-system, it is inevitable that we will suffer. Bad things will happen simply because of where we are.

But our focus is the current state of things in our world, life as we know it. You know how we say it: “Stuff happens.” “Life happens.” So forth. Because we live in a sin-broken and suffering world-system, it is inevitable that we will suffer. Bad things will happen simply because of where we are. Things can turn south in a heartbeat. On the other hand, there is the grind: unrelenting chronic trials of those who virtually never know an easy day. All that because of where we are, not counting the fact that we are, at best, sinners worthy of no good from God. Don’t forget that. In Jesus, we have received good – and good news – from God. But that is by grace, right?

Now, here are some things which may help us with the grand truth of 8:28:

  1. It is best to know and love that truth BEFORE we need it. (Which is true of anything God says about anything, but our focus is this particular thing of suffering and perspective.) Mark it ahead of time, for your own sake.
  2. Remember that 8:28 is preceded by some assurances that God is moving His entire creation (believers included) toward an inevitable glorious outcome. That is 8:18f.
  3. Because of the immense pain of our trials, we may not even be able to articulate how we feel in prayer. Because of weakness, we don’t know what to say to God Himself. We try. We feel guilty in our failure to do so. But we are so hurting that we can’t even think right much less pray right. Well, the Lord also has help in that event. That help is the Holy Spirit. He will do our thinking and praying for us during times when we are shut down. Is that not wonderful? That is 8:26-27. Read it without dissecting it. And why all this? BECAUSE GOD INTENDS US TO MAKE IT! No matter how painful the situation, He has planned and provided for His own in the Son to persevere and win in the end.
  4. Due to the severity of my trial, there is something I may NOT KNOW: how to pray as I should (8:26 says that). But 8:28 points me to something beyond that: something which I CAN KNOW. Note the contrast: NOT KNOW and WE KNOW. I may be in such pain that I do not know how to pray. But I still can know how to think. I can know what I already knew: that I love and trust God regardless of how my plight unfolds. And because of that, I also KNOW that He will have the last word on the outcome of things for me, that the sufferings of THIS time are not worthy to be compared to the glory of THAT time! How can you beat that?
  5. Think on this, friend. It is no mere pep talk, no “Don’t worry, it will be fine.” Hogwash! My situation may never be “fine,” but God will be faithful in His plan for me, in and through and beyond all of it.

We will have to pick this up later, don’t you think? Maybe one of you can say it better.

Just keep this mind. Regardless (and I know this may sound elementary but it is so very critical), regardless of what Covid 19 has done or will do to you or yours, if you will trust the God of Romans 8:28, the score will be:  God 1  –  covid 19 O. You don’t have to understand all of it. Just trust it. There is more.

robert

A hopeful prayer

Posted on by Bob Mathews

Jim McGuiggan is one of my favorite writer-thinkers among our fellowship. He is a thoughtful and tender man who has helped countless ones of us with both God and life. In his “The Power To See It Through,” he offers the following prayer at the end of his chapter on hope. I may never be able to pray as he prays, but I surely want to see as he sees the Lord. In his prayer may we find encouragement and insight.

“Lord God, who gave strength to Abraham to hope against hope for the fulfillment of Thy promises, we request of Thee that Thou wilt bless us, too, with that power. Lift our restless eyes from the things we see, to thee O Lord, the father of hope. Bless us with balance that we may not ask of ourselves what is only Thy power to accomplish and that we may not ask of Thee what we by Thy grace must do – trust Thee.

May our hope, sovereign Lord, be as alive as He is alive and may we recognize that the ground of our hope is Thy Fatherhood and His resurrection. Deliver us from the anxiety which comes from depending on our own integrity, and enable us, strong Father, to trust not in our love for Thee but in Thy love for us.

And when the tide of things seems to be running against us, when mocking voices ask where our God is and why we should radiantly look to the future when t he earth breaks beneath us, bless us so with Thy presence that we may be ready to give a radiant answer concerning the hope that is within us. We pray with confidence for Thou art faithful Who called us, and You will do it.  Amen.”

robert