The title is cliche, and the contents may be as well, but I feel inspired to share a few of my reflections about this new year and the things I have learned spiritually in the past year. I hope some of these can be a blessing or encouragement to everyone who reads them.
I don't really know where to begin, and I have already shared much of my spiritual journey in this venue throughout the past year. I feel like I have grown more in this year alone than I ever have in my life of serving God. I'd like to relate a few points about my experience this year and what lessons I have learned. In doing so, I will become vulnerable. Yet, I feel like the struggles I faced are not uncommon, and I am convinced the things I learned are valuable for every Christian.
In January of 2017, my grandpa became sick. Just like now, I had just returned from a trip Guthrie, Oklahoma for the winter meeting. At first, we didn't know what was wrong with him. Through time, his heart condition worsened, and ultimately, he passed away on April 9th. The death of a loved one is certainly difficult. Caring for someone you love when they continue to deteriorate is hard to do. Yet, the spiritual lessons from such an event are incredible. God is faithful to put people in your life who love and care for you, who are concerned about you, and who embody the qualities of Christ's compassion for us. God was faithful to give me people like that in my life and He kept me comforted despite the circumstances around me. God is always with us. No matter the situation, He's right beside us. He's the God of the hills and valleys, the ups and downs, and the darkest places we could imagine. And in those places where we are surrounded by darkness, He sees things we don't. For me, He saw how I could learn from the death of my grandpa that God is omnipresent. Always with us, and always loving. Yet, it took me a little while to realize those things and fully understand them.
In May of 2017, I lost a cousin in a tragic way. It was a very sad time, and it was very hard to cope with such a loss only one month after my grandpa's funeral. In my life, I was at a crucial point. I could either continue in my life distant from God, or renew my experience with Him and learn from the lessons He was trying to teach me. At the Guthrie meeting in May, Bro. Michael Smith preached a message titled "Back to Bethel." It was one of those greatly inspired, heavily convicting messages that God sends at times in our lives where we have important decisions to make. In the first five minutes, I was under conviction, and couldn't wait for him to sit down so I could get things right with God. I met with God after the message and prayed for renewal. It was something long needed and exceptionally important. I had struggled with truly believing God loved and cared for me enough to save me and keep me around. My experience was lackluster and without true life-giving vigor. But in the deaths of my family, I recognized the support of the saints, the provision of good friends God has for us, and the care and compassion they have for us. God was faithful to not only reveal Himself to me, but reveal Himself through others. I learned how much love God can have for us, and how important it is for us to accept that love, not just realize it's there. There is a fountain filled with blood, we have to draw from that fountain in our lives.
I don't feel like I have adequately explained all that God taught me in those things, but I've shared a lot of that before in various ways, so hopefully it's a blessing. But God has witnessed in a way this year that I don't want to forget, and I'd like to catalog it here so it may serve as a reminder for me, and possibly as a blessing for others. That revelation of God's love has driven me to serve Christ as best as I know how.
God also gave me a scripture recently that really struck me. 1 Timothy 1:5 reads:
"Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned."
This verse really stood out to me. The end of the commandment, or the conclusion or summation of God's commandment, is charity, or love. Above all things, God's mission for us is love. That shouldn't be surprising, as it is the foundation of His salvation for us. It was out of love that Christ came to the world in flesh and die, in flesh, bearing the weight of every sin. It was love that drove Him to be merciful to sinners, to bear their sin on His back and die to make them without blemish. Yet, Christ has conditions for our love to meet. The standard is high. Charity is to be out of a pure heart and of a good conscience. Salvation qualifies a believer of a pure heart, and our conscience is good when we are without sin. Thank the Lord we can live above the traps of sin and rejoice in the glorious love Christ has available for us. It is also of faith unfeigned, or as Adam Clarke defines, "a faith not hypocritical." A faith not shaken or moved, where the actions of the person reflect a trust in God and not dependency on the flesh. A good conscience and a pure heart are produced because of the faith of sins pardoned and new life given. It's a rich blessing to live in the love of God.
Not only is this love for us, but it is to be shared by us. Sis. LaDawna Adams gave a message at Guthrie this winter meeting that focused on love, and it challenged us to forward that love on to others around us, not just those in the camp of the saints, but to sinners as well. Christ died to redeem, and unless we show that love to them, they might not ever fully realize the magnitude of what Jesus did for them. In my devotions yesterday, I read how we too often stay content in the misty valleys below because of the ruggedness and challenge we think climbing the hills or mountains causes. But, in doing so, we are being content with less of what God has for us. More love is available the higher we climb. Don't be afraid to climb, God will not put on us more than we can bear.
I returned from Youth Mission Camp at the Pearl of Grace Ranch yesterday evening, and the theme of the camp was new beginnings. God was merciful and gave me a new beginning last year to my spiritual life, and gave me a chance of revival. The new year brings with it a sense of new beginning, and I want this beginning to be devoted to Christ. I have learned much in the past year, and I intend to keep learning, keep growing, and keep moving forward. It's not an easy trek, and the devil is just as faithful to lay traps in my way. But, with our trust in God and Him as our guide, I'm confident I have nothing to fear. I can't explain how much I have been blessed by God in this past year, and I want this new year to be a reflection in my life of all that I have learned. Pray for me.
Keep encouraged!
Wednesday, January 3, 2018
Friday, December 1, 2017
Suffering
What a cheerful topic, isn't it? Not really, but it's real. Life on earth isn't always a walk in the park, though we sometimes wish it were in the heat of a moment. Yet, I firmly believe suffering has the ability to refine the believer and yield rich fruits of endurance, loyalty, and a dependence on our Creator. To flourish in life is always encouraging, but too much of a good thing can end up being unhealthy for us -- particularly when it threatens our sincerity to serve and rely on the Lord. The Bible is clear that God has a vested interest in us, an undying love for us, and is here FOR the purpose of keeping us safe (Psalm 46:1, 1 John 4:10, etc.). Why, then, would God allow us to undergo suffering if He loves us THAT much?
I think it would be better to clarify what suffering really is before we go any further. It can come in many different forms. It's not exclusive to physical pain, though it can be. It doesn't only refer to emotional hurt or damage, though it can be. It isn't always spiritual dryness or confusion, though it can be. All of these things would be considered suffering -- something difficult and/or painful to the earthly man. I believe the Bible has lessons to teach us about suffering, though. Is it hard? Yes. Worth it? Definitely.
So, why does God allow us to suffer? Suffering is a discipline. Just as a child needs correction, Christians need reminders of what improvements in their life need to be made. Proverbs 3:12 says, "For whom the Lord loveth He correcteth; even as the father the son in whom he delighteth." Suffering can highlight an area of our life where we are coming up short, and teach us about it. We are ultimately children of God, so we need similar discipline and training to mature into respectable believers. Lessons come from walking in sorrow. There is a significant danger in a life without suffering. We become selfish, devoid of mercy, and too independent for our own good. If we are doing fine alone, why would we turn to another source of comfort, strength, and help? God allows suffering to teach us and to give us ample reason to depend on HIS strength, not our own.
Of course, walking in sorrow isn't fun. Even Job, a man racked with sickness while everything was ripped from him, cried to God: "My soul is weary of my life..." (Job 10:1a). Yet, the full account of his life and suffering tells the real story of a merciful God and the rewards that come from enduring difficulties. Job 42:12 assures us that Job was blessed with more in the latter end of his life than the beginning. After all of the trials, tests, and intense suffering he was put through, God was faithful to reward a just servant. Isaiah 61:7 promises, "For your shame ye shall have double...everlasting joy shall be unto them." God has promised repeatedly that suffering is worth the reward at the end of it.
Plenty of other Biblical characters had to suffer. Think of the emotional pain it caused Abraham as he prepared to sacrifice his son Isaac. Consider the spiritual agony Jacob underwent wrestling with the angel. How did it feel for Paul as he sat in jail for preaching the gospel? Yet, each of these stories have a common theme: pillars of the faith, despite their failures in life, learned lessons from suffering. For the cause of Christ, in a time of suffering, Paul penned letters from which we still glean truth today. Christ, the very son of God, suffered tremendously leading up to and on the cross -- for you, for me, for the whole world.
But, while we're in the fire, it's hard to realize God has promised to deliver us and bless us for our steadfastness. It's taxing. It helps to recognize the tangible benefits, too. As humans, we crave instant gratification. Thankfully, God sees there are better ways to teach a soul sold out to Him. I have personally found that the hardest times in life yield the most bountiful fruit. 1 Peter 1 relates the trial of our faith to gold, saying it's even more valuable (I wrote more extensively on this in the previous post). The refining process is what is most important. It purges the impurities and lets the full glory of the Lord radiate.
Ultimately, suffering hinders one of the most common, fleshly struggles: individual empowerment. We tend to drift from God when we feel sufficient in facing life ourselves. But when suffering comes, we realize we aren't enough to fix it. We have to depend on something greater than ourselves, God. That is when we are most teachable, when we are lowly at His feet and pleading for help. The message of the gospel is of forgiveness and redemption, but also the hope of something in life that can sustain us and protect us. Suffering is an integral part of coming to the understanding that we NEED a savior, intercessor, and healer. It is because we serve a loving God that He allows us to suffer -- to learn the most important lessons about dependency on God, the necessity of patience in spite of undesirable circumstances, and the refinement of a complete, mature Christian. I pray that my life can be a testimony of one who favorably responds to adversity and learns the lessons God has for me in the midst of suffering. Pray for me that I continue to walk this heavenly road and do what is pleasing to the Father.
Keep encouraged!
I think it would be better to clarify what suffering really is before we go any further. It can come in many different forms. It's not exclusive to physical pain, though it can be. It doesn't only refer to emotional hurt or damage, though it can be. It isn't always spiritual dryness or confusion, though it can be. All of these things would be considered suffering -- something difficult and/or painful to the earthly man. I believe the Bible has lessons to teach us about suffering, though. Is it hard? Yes. Worth it? Definitely.
So, why does God allow us to suffer? Suffering is a discipline. Just as a child needs correction, Christians need reminders of what improvements in their life need to be made. Proverbs 3:12 says, "For whom the Lord loveth He correcteth; even as the father the son in whom he delighteth." Suffering can highlight an area of our life where we are coming up short, and teach us about it. We are ultimately children of God, so we need similar discipline and training to mature into respectable believers. Lessons come from walking in sorrow. There is a significant danger in a life without suffering. We become selfish, devoid of mercy, and too independent for our own good. If we are doing fine alone, why would we turn to another source of comfort, strength, and help? God allows suffering to teach us and to give us ample reason to depend on HIS strength, not our own.
Of course, walking in sorrow isn't fun. Even Job, a man racked with sickness while everything was ripped from him, cried to God: "My soul is weary of my life..." (Job 10:1a). Yet, the full account of his life and suffering tells the real story of a merciful God and the rewards that come from enduring difficulties. Job 42:12 assures us that Job was blessed with more in the latter end of his life than the beginning. After all of the trials, tests, and intense suffering he was put through, God was faithful to reward a just servant. Isaiah 61:7 promises, "For your shame ye shall have double...everlasting joy shall be unto them." God has promised repeatedly that suffering is worth the reward at the end of it.
Plenty of other Biblical characters had to suffer. Think of the emotional pain it caused Abraham as he prepared to sacrifice his son Isaac. Consider the spiritual agony Jacob underwent wrestling with the angel. How did it feel for Paul as he sat in jail for preaching the gospel? Yet, each of these stories have a common theme: pillars of the faith, despite their failures in life, learned lessons from suffering. For the cause of Christ, in a time of suffering, Paul penned letters from which we still glean truth today. Christ, the very son of God, suffered tremendously leading up to and on the cross -- for you, for me, for the whole world.
But, while we're in the fire, it's hard to realize God has promised to deliver us and bless us for our steadfastness. It's taxing. It helps to recognize the tangible benefits, too. As humans, we crave instant gratification. Thankfully, God sees there are better ways to teach a soul sold out to Him. I have personally found that the hardest times in life yield the most bountiful fruit. 1 Peter 1 relates the trial of our faith to gold, saying it's even more valuable (I wrote more extensively on this in the previous post). The refining process is what is most important. It purges the impurities and lets the full glory of the Lord radiate.
Ultimately, suffering hinders one of the most common, fleshly struggles: individual empowerment. We tend to drift from God when we feel sufficient in facing life ourselves. But when suffering comes, we realize we aren't enough to fix it. We have to depend on something greater than ourselves, God. That is when we are most teachable, when we are lowly at His feet and pleading for help. The message of the gospel is of forgiveness and redemption, but also the hope of something in life that can sustain us and protect us. Suffering is an integral part of coming to the understanding that we NEED a savior, intercessor, and healer. It is because we serve a loving God that He allows us to suffer -- to learn the most important lessons about dependency on God, the necessity of patience in spite of undesirable circumstances, and the refinement of a complete, mature Christian. I pray that my life can be a testimony of one who favorably responds to adversity and learns the lessons God has for me in the midst of suffering. Pray for me that I continue to walk this heavenly road and do what is pleasing to the Father.
Keep encouraged!
Tuesday, November 14, 2017
Trials
The life of a Christian is not always easy. There are times we are on top of the mountain and life is wonderful, happy, and easy. But getting to the top of a mountain takes a climb, and those climbs are sometimes very difficult trials of our faith, strength, and endurance.
On the physical side, climbing a mountain is typically taxing on our bodies. It takes effort we are not accustomed to exerting. On the spiritual side, the trial of climbing a mountain can touch a sensitive part of our lives where we have to submit something to God we thought we could handle ourselves. There might be something of ominous proportion standing in our way. Thank God we have His strength to help us conquer those mountains and reach the victory.
The Lord has been talking to me recently about these mountains and the trials that they are. Our goal that waits on the final peak is an everlasting inheritance. It is a reward that far exceedeth anything on earth. We are climbing "To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven..." (I Peter 1:4). It is well worth the trouble here to gain the prize that awaits there. Yet, we don't go on our own strength. God doesn't expect us, in our humanity, to qualify for that prize. Instead, "We are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." (I Peter 1:5). God's saving, keeping grace is our remedy. Our sinful, natural man is conquered by a repentant heart and God's grace. We "who are kept" are defended. Believers are guarded by Christ and kept in His watchful care. This gives us an unfailing hope. As verse 6 says, "Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations." This shows us that we will indeed face trials; there will be times where our strength and endurance is tested. The climb will be steep. But, we have cause to rejoice, even in those difficult times! They are only for a season. Our pilgrimage here below is such a small time, a vapor, in comparison to heaven.
But we have cause for rejoicing even on earth, not just because of the hope of heaven. Verse 7 says, "That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ." Just as gold has to be purged, we likewise have to face trials of our faith. However, gold eventually perisheth, we don't. Genuine faith is proved by adversities. We become stronger and more capable as we face new things. Not only do we prove to God our willingness to serve Him, we prove to ourselves the strength God has for us to press on amidst hardships. In my own life, I have found that my greatest victories come out of the deepest, darkest times of my life. I am very encouraged to know that God is there to help us fight our battles, and invigorated by the fact that through our weakness comes a strengthening only God can give, an ability to move onward and upward.
God recognizes our condition. He knows how much we are able to bear. He understands when life becomes pressing and we lose strength. In Jeremiah 31:25, He reminds us "For I have satiated the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul." Satiate means, essentially, to satisfy. He has satisfied my soul that is weary, and replenished my soul that is sorrowful. We we don't feel like we have enough from Him, He replenishes us. When we feel like we are weary from the climb, He satisfies and renews us with strength. It's also important to remember that in facing these trials and conquering the mountains they are, it's not always a quick process. We have to take it step by step. The most important part is to not quit and keep going. Even if it feels like we'll never get there, keep moving forward. God doesn't always reveal everything to us immediately. We have to keep consecrating things, submitting ourselves to His will.
Life can definitely be hard. But living for God is the greatest life possible. It gives us hope when life gets us down. I am learning how trials come, but have the ability to make or break us in our spiritual walk. I want them to make me a better person and a more devoted follower of Christ. In faith, in deed, and in any way possible, I want to become stronger by the hard things God puts in our lives. I'm thankful for His faithful care for us and giving us His Word to teach us, people to help us, and His Spirit to guide us in all things. Pray for me that I will continue to conquer mountains in my own life and learn the lessons God has for me in the trials I face.
Keep encouraged!
On the physical side, climbing a mountain is typically taxing on our bodies. It takes effort we are not accustomed to exerting. On the spiritual side, the trial of climbing a mountain can touch a sensitive part of our lives where we have to submit something to God we thought we could handle ourselves. There might be something of ominous proportion standing in our way. Thank God we have His strength to help us conquer those mountains and reach the victory.
The Lord has been talking to me recently about these mountains and the trials that they are. Our goal that waits on the final peak is an everlasting inheritance. It is a reward that far exceedeth anything on earth. We are climbing "To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven..." (I Peter 1:4). It is well worth the trouble here to gain the prize that awaits there. Yet, we don't go on our own strength. God doesn't expect us, in our humanity, to qualify for that prize. Instead, "We are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." (I Peter 1:5). God's saving, keeping grace is our remedy. Our sinful, natural man is conquered by a repentant heart and God's grace. We "who are kept" are defended. Believers are guarded by Christ and kept in His watchful care. This gives us an unfailing hope. As verse 6 says, "Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations." This shows us that we will indeed face trials; there will be times where our strength and endurance is tested. The climb will be steep. But, we have cause to rejoice, even in those difficult times! They are only for a season. Our pilgrimage here below is such a small time, a vapor, in comparison to heaven.
But we have cause for rejoicing even on earth, not just because of the hope of heaven. Verse 7 says, "That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ." Just as gold has to be purged, we likewise have to face trials of our faith. However, gold eventually perisheth, we don't. Genuine faith is proved by adversities. We become stronger and more capable as we face new things. Not only do we prove to God our willingness to serve Him, we prove to ourselves the strength God has for us to press on amidst hardships. In my own life, I have found that my greatest victories come out of the deepest, darkest times of my life. I am very encouraged to know that God is there to help us fight our battles, and invigorated by the fact that through our weakness comes a strengthening only God can give, an ability to move onward and upward.
God recognizes our condition. He knows how much we are able to bear. He understands when life becomes pressing and we lose strength. In Jeremiah 31:25, He reminds us "For I have satiated the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul." Satiate means, essentially, to satisfy. He has satisfied my soul that is weary, and replenished my soul that is sorrowful. We we don't feel like we have enough from Him, He replenishes us. When we feel like we are weary from the climb, He satisfies and renews us with strength. It's also important to remember that in facing these trials and conquering the mountains they are, it's not always a quick process. We have to take it step by step. The most important part is to not quit and keep going. Even if it feels like we'll never get there, keep moving forward. God doesn't always reveal everything to us immediately. We have to keep consecrating things, submitting ourselves to His will.
Life can definitely be hard. But living for God is the greatest life possible. It gives us hope when life gets us down. I am learning how trials come, but have the ability to make or break us in our spiritual walk. I want them to make me a better person and a more devoted follower of Christ. In faith, in deed, and in any way possible, I want to become stronger by the hard things God puts in our lives. I'm thankful for His faithful care for us and giving us His Word to teach us, people to help us, and His Spirit to guide us in all things. Pray for me that I will continue to conquer mountains in my own life and learn the lessons God has for me in the trials I face.
Keep encouraged!
Monday, October 16, 2017
MORE
The Lord has blessed some thoughts to my mind from a message I heard Sunday, and I thought it might be good to share them -- along with some other thoughts God has given me recently.
Life is a complicated thing. Sometimes the road is easier than others, but sometimes it feels like nothing goes our way and everyone is against us. As saints, we have a promise that God is with us even in the most difficult times. Deuteronomy 31:8 says "And the Lord, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed." We can't allow the enemy to steal that promise.
Yet, despite knowing that, there are times in our life that FEEL as if we are alone. There are places where we feel insufficient in ourselves to deal with problems that come our way. God intends for us to grow in Him and be better prepared for those times. He's promised that He is with us, and won't leave us, but we have a part to do as well. We can't limit ourselves from the strength and power God has for us as weapons to ward off those attacks of the enemy, so we have to learn how to obtain and maintain them.
II Kings 13:14-19 contains the story of Joash, who approached Elisha as he was coming to the end of his life. This was a wise choice by the king... Elisha was a faithful man of God who had a part in many incredible things of the Lord. Elisha began to instruct Joash of some things. Verse 18 reads: "And he (Elisha) said, Take the arrows. And he took them. And he said unto the king of Israel, Smite upon the ground. And he smote thrice, and stayed." Joash relied on his own thinking here to smite the ground as many times as he thought was necessary. Certainly, he decided that was sufficient, and enough of what God and Elisha required of him. But verse 19 is evidence that was not the case. "And the man of God was wroth with him, and said, Thou shouldest have smitten five or six times; then hadst thou smitten Syria till thou hadst consumed it: whereas now thou shalt smite Syria but thrice." I don't claim to have all the answers for God's anger here. But, I know this much: Joash limited himself. He already knew that these things with the bow and arrow were dealing with conquering the Syrian's and the Lord's deliverance. Elisha's command to strike the ground with the arrow was emblematic of implementing the promise of deliverance. Striking it only thrice and then staying is perhaps indicative of Joash's lack of zeal for those things. He didn't get more.
How easy is it to shortchange ourselves from what God is willing to give us? Joash severely limited himself (and the kingdom). Circumstances come in which we could get more growth, more strength, and more maturity. God doesn't want us to be a stagnant people. He doesn't want us stuck in a rut of complacency. Being relaxed without moving forward is a dangerous game. Life isn't intended to stay the same; positive growth is an imperative part of Christian living. More from God is only gained by giving more to Him of our life. Joash lacked zeal, and we have to prove to God that we are commited and giving all we have to get the blessings God intends for us when we are given opportunity. In everything we do, we ought to seek for more of God.
Ephesians 3:20 reads: "Now unto him that is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us." God is able to give us more. If we are diligent in asking and pleading for it, He is definitely there to give, and capable of giving us, more. It can be a greater measure of victory. A greater measure of patience. A greater measure of humility. A greater measure of anything. In fact, His power is WITHOUT measure. It is limitless. The only limits placed on God's power and grace are positioned there by us. By our unwillingness to simply obey and work for more. God will do just as much for us as we will let Him do in us. Keep beating the ground. That moves God on His throne and allows us to get more from Him. More is available. Seek after it.
This is a personal desire of mine. I know there are plenty of areas where I am lacking. I know that asking for more means change, but the change is positive. I want to be changed a little each day. Every test and trial can have a positive or negative impact on our spiritual walk, but that also means each one is a chance to learn and grow more. I am determined to try my best to get the victory and learn the proper lesson in every trial. If God can move a mountain with faith like a grain of mustard seed, I wonder what He could do with me. I know he can move me to higher ground and to a steadier, safer walk with Him. That is what I long for.
I know God is able to help me in this. Colossians 1:12 reads "Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness." I can be strengthened with ALL might, according to God's power. That is a wonderful and precious promise. I can have the power unto all patience, longsuffering with joyfulness -- essentially all the areas I need to move up in. The MORE that I need is supplied by God. I'm very thankful for God's special attention to me and His faithfulness to teach and perfect my heart.
Keep encouraged!
Life is a complicated thing. Sometimes the road is easier than others, but sometimes it feels like nothing goes our way and everyone is against us. As saints, we have a promise that God is with us even in the most difficult times. Deuteronomy 31:8 says "And the Lord, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed." We can't allow the enemy to steal that promise.
Yet, despite knowing that, there are times in our life that FEEL as if we are alone. There are places where we feel insufficient in ourselves to deal with problems that come our way. God intends for us to grow in Him and be better prepared for those times. He's promised that He is with us, and won't leave us, but we have a part to do as well. We can't limit ourselves from the strength and power God has for us as weapons to ward off those attacks of the enemy, so we have to learn how to obtain and maintain them.
II Kings 13:14-19 contains the story of Joash, who approached Elisha as he was coming to the end of his life. This was a wise choice by the king... Elisha was a faithful man of God who had a part in many incredible things of the Lord. Elisha began to instruct Joash of some things. Verse 18 reads: "And he (Elisha) said, Take the arrows. And he took them. And he said unto the king of Israel, Smite upon the ground. And he smote thrice, and stayed." Joash relied on his own thinking here to smite the ground as many times as he thought was necessary. Certainly, he decided that was sufficient, and enough of what God and Elisha required of him. But verse 19 is evidence that was not the case. "And the man of God was wroth with him, and said, Thou shouldest have smitten five or six times; then hadst thou smitten Syria till thou hadst consumed it: whereas now thou shalt smite Syria but thrice." I don't claim to have all the answers for God's anger here. But, I know this much: Joash limited himself. He already knew that these things with the bow and arrow were dealing with conquering the Syrian's and the Lord's deliverance. Elisha's command to strike the ground with the arrow was emblematic of implementing the promise of deliverance. Striking it only thrice and then staying is perhaps indicative of Joash's lack of zeal for those things. He didn't get more.
How easy is it to shortchange ourselves from what God is willing to give us? Joash severely limited himself (and the kingdom). Circumstances come in which we could get more growth, more strength, and more maturity. God doesn't want us to be a stagnant people. He doesn't want us stuck in a rut of complacency. Being relaxed without moving forward is a dangerous game. Life isn't intended to stay the same; positive growth is an imperative part of Christian living. More from God is only gained by giving more to Him of our life. Joash lacked zeal, and we have to prove to God that we are commited and giving all we have to get the blessings God intends for us when we are given opportunity. In everything we do, we ought to seek for more of God.
Ephesians 3:20 reads: "Now unto him that is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us." God is able to give us more. If we are diligent in asking and pleading for it, He is definitely there to give, and capable of giving us, more. It can be a greater measure of victory. A greater measure of patience. A greater measure of humility. A greater measure of anything. In fact, His power is WITHOUT measure. It is limitless. The only limits placed on God's power and grace are positioned there by us. By our unwillingness to simply obey and work for more. God will do just as much for us as we will let Him do in us. Keep beating the ground. That moves God on His throne and allows us to get more from Him. More is available. Seek after it.
This is a personal desire of mine. I know there are plenty of areas where I am lacking. I know that asking for more means change, but the change is positive. I want to be changed a little each day. Every test and trial can have a positive or negative impact on our spiritual walk, but that also means each one is a chance to learn and grow more. I am determined to try my best to get the victory and learn the proper lesson in every trial. If God can move a mountain with faith like a grain of mustard seed, I wonder what He could do with me. I know he can move me to higher ground and to a steadier, safer walk with Him. That is what I long for.
I know God is able to help me in this. Colossians 1:12 reads "Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness." I can be strengthened with ALL might, according to God's power. That is a wonderful and precious promise. I can have the power unto all patience, longsuffering with joyfulness -- essentially all the areas I need to move up in. The MORE that I need is supplied by God. I'm very thankful for God's special attention to me and His faithfulness to teach and perfect my heart.
Keep encouraged!
Thursday, October 5, 2017
A Habitable Place
I was inspired with this thought over the summer, but never made the time to sit down and write about it. I hope this will be an encouragement and challenge for all of us, and that it hits home to you as it did for me.
For the past few summers, I've been mowing lawns to earn some money. I mow for some of my neighbors, and even since we have moved to our new house, I still mow for some neighbors in our old neighborhood. One day, I was mowing in that neighborhood and one of my old neighbors approached me, asking if I'd be willing to mow their lawn. Their parents had been in Mexico and wouldn't be back for awhile, and no one had mowed the backyard. I agreed to do it and went over the next day. When I got there, I realized why they asked me to come mow. It looked as if it hadn't been touched in a couple of weeks (and around here, that's plenty of time for an unattended yard to turn wild).
It was a mess. Terribly overgrown, the grass was waist high in some places and knotted together in a tangled conglomeration of green. "How did it get like this?" I wondered to myself. It was neglected. The people who normally would have taken care of it were absent, and the yard was left to its own. Without the proper care, it turned into an almost irreversible mess. Recognizing the task ahead of me, I begrudgingly began working on the lawn, knowing it would take far longer than I had expected.
But, as I trimmed away and made several slow laps with a lawn mower struggling to churn through the masses of green weeds, I realized there was a spiritual lesson to be learned from this physical predicament. This place wasn't habitable for a family. Parents wouldn't want their children running around in such an overgrown place with bugs waiting to bite, and it certainly wouldn't be comfortable for a BBQ. It was simply a mess. Neither is a soul filled with the nastiness of sin and the webs of jealousy, anger, or other unclean things a habitable place for the Holy One to dwell.
It reminded me of the parable of the sower. Seeds fell among thorns and were choked out by the thorns and unable to grow (Luke 8:7). Imagine trying to find a flower in the midst of an overgrown, weed-filled yard. They would be choked out by the thorns. This is a literal example, but consider the fruits of the spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), which happen to be very necessary for a Christian life. A life cannot simultaneously foster the growth of love, joy, peace, longsuffering, etc. while giving place for the works of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21). The fruits of the spirit will be choked out, just as the beauty of the lawn was hidden by the mess of overgrown weeds. The Bible likens the choked seeds to someone who goes along life's way and gets caught up with cares, riches, and pleasures of this life, and becomes unfruitful (Matthew 13:22, Luke 8:14). Instead of focusing the time and cultivation necessary in facilitating growth in the good things, time is wasted elsewhere. The fruits of the spirit, much like the literal fruits of the earth, is neglected and not brought to perfection.
Galatians 6:8 reads: "For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption,; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting." The concept seems fairly simple, and in basic terms means that doing wrong will be rewarded with bad, and doing right will be rewarded with good. This can be applied to the neglect I mentioned earlier. Sowing neglect will FROM the neglect produce disappointment. But, being careful to keep up with particular things ensures that the result will be positive. Making time to learn the things in our life that God is teaching us, instead of putting them on the backburner, makes our efforts pleasing to God. The neighbors in this scenario were not sowing carefulness, but instead were sowing neglect. Fortunately (for them), I was there to reap the brunt of the disappointment (and tall grass) for them. ;)
However, being proactive in the things of God has its benefits, for sure. Ecclesiastes 3:13 reads: "And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God." Taking care of things in our lives and making sure they are presentable for God allows us to enjoy the fruits of our labor. Much like a well-maintained yard where you can enjoy a good cookout, a maintained life is going to be much more pleasant than one with unattended problems popping up at every turn. This is undoubtedly one of the greatest challenges, at least personally, in the Christian experience. God is faithful to teach us things and give us the tools to work past difficulties in our lives, but we have to maintain. Mowing the yard once each spring doesn't keep it looking nice and habitable for an evening cookout. It takes regular maintenance and hard work to keep up. Once God has given us a lesson or brought us through a trial, we still have to maintain what we have learned and make sure we don't let any sprouts of bitterness, anger, or any other evil fruit pop up in our life. Cut them off. Cast them away. Maintain. You'll be the beneficiary of a clean heart, just as the family who lives there is the primary beneficiary of a well-kept yard.
God also gives us each one different gifts. To some, it is singing. To some, exhortation. To some, helps. They are widely varying, but all essential components of who God intends for us to be. I Timothy 4:14 warns us to not neglect the gift in us. Don't let things of the world choke it out. Don't let the beauty be marred by neglecting to practice the gift or use it. Exercise it, and be an example of the believers in your life. Some neighborhoods have strict lawn codes, requiring that grass be a certain height and no taller. We don't want our life to look so drastically different from Christ's (who is our ultimate example) that people can't tell who we are representing. We especially don't want to cause God, figuratively, to admonish us that the grass in our yard is too long.
Romans 1:16 says "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth..." We don't want to be ashamed of such a wonderful gift. We don't want our yard to look so bad that we are too embarrassed to invite people over to see it. But, much more importantly, we don't want to be ashamed unto God for the condition of our souls. A common scripture, 1 Corinthians 3:16, says "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?" God dwells in us. We want our lives to be acceptable to Him. We don't want to be embarrassed about how our life looks, and we certainly don't want to give place to works of the flesh and evil fruit in our life. If Jesus were coming to visit, we'd be sure every tall weed was trimmed, the grass was properly maintained, and that there was plenty of food for a cookout.
We want our souls, and our lives, to be a habitable place for the Holy One to dwell. Clean, trimmed, maintained, and pleasant. God is our ultimate judge, and we want to be worthy of the blessings He's waiting to give. Don't let your zeal for the Lord become overgrown. Cultivate and grow the desire to serve Him. We inhabit what we make for ourselves in our lives. It needs to be good enough for us and also pleasing for company. God is going to be there. Make it pleasing to Him.
Keep encouraged!
For the past few summers, I've been mowing lawns to earn some money. I mow for some of my neighbors, and even since we have moved to our new house, I still mow for some neighbors in our old neighborhood. One day, I was mowing in that neighborhood and one of my old neighbors approached me, asking if I'd be willing to mow their lawn. Their parents had been in Mexico and wouldn't be back for awhile, and no one had mowed the backyard. I agreed to do it and went over the next day. When I got there, I realized why they asked me to come mow. It looked as if it hadn't been touched in a couple of weeks (and around here, that's plenty of time for an unattended yard to turn wild).
It was a mess. Terribly overgrown, the grass was waist high in some places and knotted together in a tangled conglomeration of green. "How did it get like this?" I wondered to myself. It was neglected. The people who normally would have taken care of it were absent, and the yard was left to its own. Without the proper care, it turned into an almost irreversible mess. Recognizing the task ahead of me, I begrudgingly began working on the lawn, knowing it would take far longer than I had expected.
But, as I trimmed away and made several slow laps with a lawn mower struggling to churn through the masses of green weeds, I realized there was a spiritual lesson to be learned from this physical predicament. This place wasn't habitable for a family. Parents wouldn't want their children running around in such an overgrown place with bugs waiting to bite, and it certainly wouldn't be comfortable for a BBQ. It was simply a mess. Neither is a soul filled with the nastiness of sin and the webs of jealousy, anger, or other unclean things a habitable place for the Holy One to dwell.
It reminded me of the parable of the sower. Seeds fell among thorns and were choked out by the thorns and unable to grow (Luke 8:7). Imagine trying to find a flower in the midst of an overgrown, weed-filled yard. They would be choked out by the thorns. This is a literal example, but consider the fruits of the spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), which happen to be very necessary for a Christian life. A life cannot simultaneously foster the growth of love, joy, peace, longsuffering, etc. while giving place for the works of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21). The fruits of the spirit will be choked out, just as the beauty of the lawn was hidden by the mess of overgrown weeds. The Bible likens the choked seeds to someone who goes along life's way and gets caught up with cares, riches, and pleasures of this life, and becomes unfruitful (Matthew 13:22, Luke 8:14). Instead of focusing the time and cultivation necessary in facilitating growth in the good things, time is wasted elsewhere. The fruits of the spirit, much like the literal fruits of the earth, is neglected and not brought to perfection.
Galatians 6:8 reads: "For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption,; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting." The concept seems fairly simple, and in basic terms means that doing wrong will be rewarded with bad, and doing right will be rewarded with good. This can be applied to the neglect I mentioned earlier. Sowing neglect will FROM the neglect produce disappointment. But, being careful to keep up with particular things ensures that the result will be positive. Making time to learn the things in our life that God is teaching us, instead of putting them on the backburner, makes our efforts pleasing to God. The neighbors in this scenario were not sowing carefulness, but instead were sowing neglect. Fortunately (for them), I was there to reap the brunt of the disappointment (and tall grass) for them. ;)
However, being proactive in the things of God has its benefits, for sure. Ecclesiastes 3:13 reads: "And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God." Taking care of things in our lives and making sure they are presentable for God allows us to enjoy the fruits of our labor. Much like a well-maintained yard where you can enjoy a good cookout, a maintained life is going to be much more pleasant than one with unattended problems popping up at every turn. This is undoubtedly one of the greatest challenges, at least personally, in the Christian experience. God is faithful to teach us things and give us the tools to work past difficulties in our lives, but we have to maintain. Mowing the yard once each spring doesn't keep it looking nice and habitable for an evening cookout. It takes regular maintenance and hard work to keep up. Once God has given us a lesson or brought us through a trial, we still have to maintain what we have learned and make sure we don't let any sprouts of bitterness, anger, or any other evil fruit pop up in our life. Cut them off. Cast them away. Maintain. You'll be the beneficiary of a clean heart, just as the family who lives there is the primary beneficiary of a well-kept yard.
God also gives us each one different gifts. To some, it is singing. To some, exhortation. To some, helps. They are widely varying, but all essential components of who God intends for us to be. I Timothy 4:14 warns us to not neglect the gift in us. Don't let things of the world choke it out. Don't let the beauty be marred by neglecting to practice the gift or use it. Exercise it, and be an example of the believers in your life. Some neighborhoods have strict lawn codes, requiring that grass be a certain height and no taller. We don't want our life to look so drastically different from Christ's (who is our ultimate example) that people can't tell who we are representing. We especially don't want to cause God, figuratively, to admonish us that the grass in our yard is too long.
Romans 1:16 says "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth..." We don't want to be ashamed of such a wonderful gift. We don't want our yard to look so bad that we are too embarrassed to invite people over to see it. But, much more importantly, we don't want to be ashamed unto God for the condition of our souls. A common scripture, 1 Corinthians 3:16, says "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?" God dwells in us. We want our lives to be acceptable to Him. We don't want to be embarrassed about how our life looks, and we certainly don't want to give place to works of the flesh and evil fruit in our life. If Jesus were coming to visit, we'd be sure every tall weed was trimmed, the grass was properly maintained, and that there was plenty of food for a cookout.
We want our souls, and our lives, to be a habitable place for the Holy One to dwell. Clean, trimmed, maintained, and pleasant. God is our ultimate judge, and we want to be worthy of the blessings He's waiting to give. Don't let your zeal for the Lord become overgrown. Cultivate and grow the desire to serve Him. We inhabit what we make for ourselves in our lives. It needs to be good enough for us and also pleasing for company. God is going to be there. Make it pleasing to Him.
Keep encouraged!
Monday, August 28, 2017
Peace
Jesus is good to me. I've had this thought for quite awhile, and it has been one of great encouragement and strength to me. For those who are more aware of my personal life, they know I've faced some very difficult things this year. A lot of things have threatened to disturb my peace and cause me great heartache. Yet, those circumstances don't have a one-way effect. They can also be great stepping stones of faith and help me grow in the Lord. I'm very grateful to say that God has been right beside me the whole time and has worked these things for good in my life in some way.
God is faithful to the wanderer. There have certainly been times in my experience where I haven't felt as close to God as I know I should have been. Times like that are discouraging because you're never at total peace. Especially when situations come that rock the waters, your boat seems to be on the verge of sinking. I want to testify that God didn't let me stay in those places. As the lyrics of a song says: "He is with you in the valley of despair, and He won't leave you there." He rescued me, kept me safe, and encouraged my heart. It wasn't easy and it required surrendering, but He is faithful to help us in time of need when we humble ourselves.
I mentioned some in an earlier post about Bro. Michael Smith's message (Back to Bethel), so I won't talk about that, I'll just continue from there. It was a great encouragement to me, but we're never done learning. God showed me some areas in my life that were lacking, and with His help, I'm trying to work on those. He also spoke to me in a message Bro. Kenny Elwell preached at Monark this year. I highly recommend it to anyone who wasn't there to hear it (or just needs encouragement again!). It was such a great message and gave me some much-needed instruction. The world around us rages with problems, issues, and controversies. We don't live in a world of total peace. Yet, God has the power to deliver us from those things and carry us through them. He mentioned an example from the Bible that really stuck out to me. The glory belongs to God for the victory in our lives. At Jericho, the children of Israel came up against something they could not defeat themselves. God instructed them to march around the walls. They were obedient, and God brought down the walls. It's the same way in our own lives. God gives the instructions and tells us what He wants to us. It will never be outrageous or something we aren't capable of; it wasn't an incredibly difficult task for the children of Israel to march around the walls. The hardest part will be accomplished by God if we are faithful and obedient. It was such an encouragement to know He is with me and is an unfailing help when I can't do it on my own.
Another verse He has blessed me with is 2 Chronicles 20:15b:
"Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's."
God fights for us and doesn't leave us alone. The righteous have never been left forsaken (Psalm 37:25). In 2 Chronicles 20:17, God again gives instruction and promises to accomplish the feat.
"Ye shall not need to fight in this battle; set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the Lord with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them: for the Lord will be with you."
God gave simple instructions, things totally doable, and promised to take care of His children. All they had to do was obey. It's a wonderful peace to know that God will keep you secure if you trust Him with everything in your life. It's never easy to let go of the things we feel the need to control, fix, or handle ourselves... but God always blesses a willing, surrendering heart -- even if it's not immediately apparent.
God taught me in these things that I can't handle everything on my own. The greatest things I can do on my own will never be able to match some of the battles I will have to face. On my own, I'm fallible and incapable. Recognizing my shortcomings and acknowledging His omnipotence brings a great peace. It takes work on my part to keep things committed and my life submitted to Him, but it's really worth it. God is able to keep His children without spot and blameless. He will keep His holy remnant and turn away their captivity (Zephaniah 2:7) and restore the things in our life that have been taken by the enemy. When we are fully surrendered to God, He brings a calming peace to our soul. I'm very thankful for how far God has brought me this year, and I am expecting that He will continue to lead and teach me.
I would appreciate your prayers that I would stay faithful to Him and do what He wants me to do and that He would draw me closer to Him where I can better hear his voice. I'll be praying for all of you, too. It is important that we all pray for each other. These years in our lives are not easy ones, but we can make it!
Keep encouraged!
God is faithful to the wanderer. There have certainly been times in my experience where I haven't felt as close to God as I know I should have been. Times like that are discouraging because you're never at total peace. Especially when situations come that rock the waters, your boat seems to be on the verge of sinking. I want to testify that God didn't let me stay in those places. As the lyrics of a song says: "He is with you in the valley of despair, and He won't leave you there." He rescued me, kept me safe, and encouraged my heart. It wasn't easy and it required surrendering, but He is faithful to help us in time of need when we humble ourselves.
I mentioned some in an earlier post about Bro. Michael Smith's message (Back to Bethel), so I won't talk about that, I'll just continue from there. It was a great encouragement to me, but we're never done learning. God showed me some areas in my life that were lacking, and with His help, I'm trying to work on those. He also spoke to me in a message Bro. Kenny Elwell preached at Monark this year. I highly recommend it to anyone who wasn't there to hear it (or just needs encouragement again!). It was such a great message and gave me some much-needed instruction. The world around us rages with problems, issues, and controversies. We don't live in a world of total peace. Yet, God has the power to deliver us from those things and carry us through them. He mentioned an example from the Bible that really stuck out to me. The glory belongs to God for the victory in our lives. At Jericho, the children of Israel came up against something they could not defeat themselves. God instructed them to march around the walls. They were obedient, and God brought down the walls. It's the same way in our own lives. God gives the instructions and tells us what He wants to us. It will never be outrageous or something we aren't capable of; it wasn't an incredibly difficult task for the children of Israel to march around the walls. The hardest part will be accomplished by God if we are faithful and obedient. It was such an encouragement to know He is with me and is an unfailing help when I can't do it on my own.
Another verse He has blessed me with is 2 Chronicles 20:15b:
"Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's."
God fights for us and doesn't leave us alone. The righteous have never been left forsaken (Psalm 37:25). In 2 Chronicles 20:17, God again gives instruction and promises to accomplish the feat.
"Ye shall not need to fight in this battle; set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the Lord with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them: for the Lord will be with you."
God gave simple instructions, things totally doable, and promised to take care of His children. All they had to do was obey. It's a wonderful peace to know that God will keep you secure if you trust Him with everything in your life. It's never easy to let go of the things we feel the need to control, fix, or handle ourselves... but God always blesses a willing, surrendering heart -- even if it's not immediately apparent.
God taught me in these things that I can't handle everything on my own. The greatest things I can do on my own will never be able to match some of the battles I will have to face. On my own, I'm fallible and incapable. Recognizing my shortcomings and acknowledging His omnipotence brings a great peace. It takes work on my part to keep things committed and my life submitted to Him, but it's really worth it. God is able to keep His children without spot and blameless. He will keep His holy remnant and turn away their captivity (Zephaniah 2:7) and restore the things in our life that have been taken by the enemy. When we are fully surrendered to God, He brings a calming peace to our soul. I'm very thankful for how far God has brought me this year, and I am expecting that He will continue to lead and teach me.
I would appreciate your prayers that I would stay faithful to Him and do what He wants me to do and that He would draw me closer to Him where I can better hear his voice. I'll be praying for all of you, too. It is important that we all pray for each other. These years in our lives are not easy ones, but we can make it!
Keep encouraged!
Friday, August 4, 2017
Mark 3
The gospels keep historical record of the events which took place while Jesus was on earth, but they also hold important spiritual truths and lessons. One such example is in the third chapter of Mark. The opening verse explains the obvious afflicted condition of a man seeking help.
Mark 3:1-6
1 And he entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there which had a withered hand.
2 And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him.
Verse two is interesting because it reveals two things: the Pharisees were actively observing Christ and they did not doubt his supernatural power of healing. They knew his abilities and only questioned whether he would exercise them on the sabbath or not. Their careful attention to Christ was not to heed instruction or experience the wonders of Jesus' time on earth. They sought only to find fault with the Savior. Yet, they knew the truth of His ability.
3 And he saith unto the man which had the withered hand, Stand forth.
4 And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? To save life, or to kill? But they held their peace.
Jesus openly and directly asked the Pharisees about the sabbath. He charged them with a question that would challenge their tolerance of Christ as King. They knew to save life was good and that to kill was bad, but thy weren't willing to accept that Jesus was not bound by the old law and could perform healing miracles at any time. In our human understanding, as did the Pharisees, we are tempted to stick too closely to earthly things and how we expect things to be done. The Pharisees knew their answer would not be acceptable to the Lord, so they kept quiet. Jesus speaks in the voice of truth. His speech cannot be argued.
5 And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored as whole as the other.
Mark is the only gospel that mentions Jesus' anger. The Pharisees' hearts were hardened to the point where they willfully rejected God's truth. Jesus was grieved by their outright rejection. Yet, despite people opposing the work, Jesus performed a miracle. The man's hand was made whole. God's power does not depend on the opinion of man. It is not bound by the old law. It is not limited by man's rejection of the truth. He is still able to work in divine ways for the restoration of the soul and body of those who are willing to accept His truth.
6 And the Pharisees went forth, and striaghtway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him.
Without noting the miraculous work which had just been performed, the Pharisees instead moved right away to how they might get Jesus in trouble. The world won't always recognize the works of God for what they are, and will instead seek for ways to cause trouble. The enemy doesn't care how God works on the behalf of His children, they only desire to turn people away. Insterestingly, the Pharisees and Herodians had very different veiws on some things, but the gospel was a message which threatened them both. Even the most diverse political and religious factions were united in the cause of bringing to naught God's plan. Even when God's power is clearly manifested, it can be lost to those whose hearts are set against Him. That makes it all the more important for use to be instant in season and out of season (II Timothy 4:2) and live an example at all times.
We have to be careful ourselves not to neglect the dealings and workings of God. He has shown Himself powerful time and time again. To deny that power as the Pharisees did is grievous to God. Even if it doesn't make sense in the eyes of man, God's ways are best. The Pharisees rejectred the truth of God. We need to be careful not to reject the truth He presents to us still today.
Keep encouraged!
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