Easy For You To Say!

 Rejoice in the lord always. Philippians 4:4

This is a great verse for a coffee mug with pretty cursive font. It would be a perfect refrigerator magnet or on a greeting card. It makes you sound spiritual if you tell your friends, rejoice in the Lord always!' 

Who wrote that verse anyway? Do you always rejoice in the Lord? The apostle Paul wrote that verse from all places in prison. But did he rejoice when he was in prison? He did! 

Can you picture him? Thrown into prison on the cold, hard ground with open wounds. Maybe he had a broken nose or a couple of broken ribs. No doctor, nurse, band-aids, or ibuprofen. What did he do? He rejoiced!

Paul was praising God for The Who not the what. There wasn't any "what" he could point to but his God was still good. He wasn't praising God for the what. He was praising God for The WHO and can do that too. 

Paul was praising God BEFORE He showed up. Acts 16:26. He didn't praise God because he showed up, God showed up because he praised him. When we praise him he will show up.

He's Got The Power

 

Having power at your fingertips is a thrilling experience. Whether it's a powerful car, a new power tool, or an awesome powerboat. If there's one thing men love its power. Unfortunately, sooner or later, we all experience a power failure.

Maybe your child gets cancer. Maybe you lose your job. Maybe you lose your spouse. No matter what the circumstance; losing power is a nightmare! My car has broken down on the interstate on several occasions. I felt totally helpless! But it's when you feel the weakest that God's power can be most visible.

What do we do when we can't fix the problem? God doesn't guarantee that every tragedy will have a happy ending. But He does promise to pour out His power into our lives. And that is the paradox of the Gospel. Even in the midst of suffering and pain, you can experience His power and have peace! We may not fully understand the loss, pain, betrayal that caused the 'power outage' but the unending strength of our Savior will help us through,

The Apostle Paul struggled with a special weakness that drove him to his knees. 2 Corinthians 12:9-11 His reliance on God's strength is what really empowers us. Once we apply that truth, we'll survive every power failure we will ever have to face.

It's Horrible

 Four and one-half weeks I had cardio bypass surgery. Many people who had or knew people who had the surgery all said the worst part of the surgery was the recovery process. Words like "horrible," terrible" "tough" were frequently used to describe the recovery.

But like many words they can have relative meaning. I wasn't sure what I was going to experience and to what degree. Though I "knew" the words, it was only while experiencing the words did I fully understand them. I now have a new empathy for those who have experienced the recovery process. I understand their depression, depths of emotions and pain.

You can only truly say, "I know how you feel" when you have experienced the experience. We should not make glib statements unless we have walked a "mile in their moccasins." (Indian proverb.)

Times of Injustice

We have all felt the emotion of injustice. It may have experienced the pain of abandonment, the shock of being cut out of an inheritance, you may have worked harder than anyone else only to have someone else get promoted ahead of you. Getting a raw deal can be emotionally disturbing. The unfairness eats away at us. 

I remember being madly in love as a 15-year-old and having the "love of my life" leave me. I thought my life had ended. How many parents have heard their children say, "But that's not fair!"  Of course, the parents usual response is, "Life is not fair!" Which probably did not change their child's attitude! The fact is, life is not fair.  

The Levite Asaph voiced the same attitude in Psalm 73:3 "I saw that wicked people were successful and I became jealous of those proud."  Asaph was complaining to God life was not fair.  How many times have WE complained to God that we were trying to do what God says is right, yet not more problems and frustrations as a Christian than I remember having before. 

Jesus did not come to make us comfortable and shield us from hardship. 2 Timothy 3:12 

Worship of the God who is above all will ultimately unravel our sense of injustice. God WILL right every wrong but it may not be in our lifetime! 

You Are Hated

 I know that the title I choose for this post probably does not encourage any of you but it is still a fact. (I will explain this later.)

I am sure that many of you are baffled as much as I am like you watch the coverage of the news concerning the 'protests.' I see a man driving peacefully down the street when someone from the crowd opens his car door and forcefully removes him from their car and proceeds to physically attack him. I saw a video of a police officer walking that his car when someone threw a large metal disc that hit the officer on the back of the neck dropping his to the pavement. I know I do not know all the details of either scenario but from all appearances, these men did nothing to provoke such an attack! They probably thought, "What did I do, to deserve that?" Probably nothing.

We all would like to think everyone likes you but you know that is not possible. In Psalm 69:4 we read, "Those who hate me without cause..." It is part of life sometimes to be accused even when you are innocent. Your boss may blame you for something you did not do! Even Jesus Christ faced unjust hatred; "“At my Father’s direction, I have done many good works. For which one are you going to stone me?”

With that background, allow me to explain my title choice. If you are a true Christ-follower, you are hated by association. Jesus made it very clear are but two forces: good and evil. John 15:18 says, " If the world hates you, know that is has hated me before it hated you...If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you..."   

All evil has a leader. Every enemy has a general. When Jesus prayed in John 17, He was very specific calling out the "evil one." Jesus knew something that we often forget; Satan has an agenda to destroy you. He ultimately hates Jesus Christ but he cannot hurt Him, so he does the next best thing; he hates His children. 

Be encouraged. Even 'bad' things happen to good people. "“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 

Satan does hate you BUT God loves you more!

No Rose Garden

“…In the world ye shall have tribulation…”  John 16:33 

One of the hit songs of the 60’s was I Never Promised You a Rose Garden. Basically the song said you have to accept the bad along with the good. Life has its ups and downs. But for some unknown reason, we don’t think that applies to our walk with Christ. Many believe that when we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior, God will protect us from everything bad. 

But the Bible is clear that bad things DO happen to good people. Job was a godly man who suffered loss. The Apostle Paul was beheaded for his faith. Even Jesus was crucified unjustly. And today there are more Christians martyrs then anytime in history. I know children hate hearing that life is not fair bit it’s still the truth. 

So, why do ‘bad’ things happen to people who are trying to live a life pleasing to God? Without being too simplistic, I believe that the answer is found in Roman 8:28  “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” So, what is God’s purpose for everyone?  Verse 29 “…be conformed to the image of his Son…” 

Life is a constant tension. This world wants us to conform to its world view. Romans 12:2 says,  “One translation translates this verse “Don’t allow this world to press you into its mold.” 

God wants you to allow the events of your life to help you to become like His Son, Jesus Christ. 

So ask yourself,  How will I use this to conform me to be like Jesus?