Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory. We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. (Romans 5:1-5 NIV).
I happened on an illustration that appeared in a publication promoting a transition ministry for people who have recently been released from prison in London. The painting showed a small child blowing on a dying ember with the following words written beneath: Perhaps there remains a spark! It certainly fits the ministry of this half-way house, but I would remind you that it also fits the ministry of the Holy Spirit in our lives. It is this hope that we have been given that allows us to recognize victory in every trial.
I know that your first reaction might be that you haven’t been victorious over every trial. In fact, some of them might have knocked you done to your knees or worse. You may have been hurt in a way that you cannot possibly imagine any good coming from it. And, from my own experience I would agree with you in the short term. That’s where the rub really comes. We live so rooted in the present that it is extremely difficult to get past it to see how God could possibly bring victory in the future.
The story is told how one night at dinner a man, who had spent many summers in Maine, fascinated his companions by telling of his experiences in a little town named Flagstaff. The town was to be flooded, as part of a large lake for which a dam was being built. In the months before it was to be flooded, all improvements and repairs in the whole town were stopped. What was the use of painting a house if it were to be covered with water in six months? Why repair anything when the whole village was to be wiped out? So, week by week, the whole town became more and more bedraggled, more gone to seed, more woebegone. Then he added by way of explanation: "Where there is no faith in the future, there is no power in the present." That’s the principle! We can manage to overcome the trials of the present because we know the outcome for the future.
I read the following from an unknown author recently: "Hope has something to offset every discouragement. It gathers the sunbeams from near and far and causes them to shine upon the pathway. It rings a bell of gladness in the dull ears of those who are struggling in the valley.” Hope… that’s the remaining spark!
Showing posts with label restoration. Show all posts
Showing posts with label restoration. Show all posts
Friday, August 6, 2010
Thursday, July 15, 2010
"Rebuilding the City of Our Fathers" (Part 4)
I also said to him, "If it pleases the king, may I have letters to the governors of Trans-Euphrates, so that they will provide me safe-conduct until I arrive in Judah? And may I have a letter to Asaph, keeper of the king's forest, so he will give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel by the temple and for the city wall and for the residence I will occupy?" And because the gracious hand of my God was upon me, the king granted my requests. (Nehemiah 2:7-8 NIV).
I hope you are following this series. However, if you are just joining Morning Devotionals you may find the other issues on the web at www.gracerestoration.org. Today we come to the last principles which are revealed in Nehemiah’s exchange with King Artaxerxes. There are two important things in our reading today. First note that Nehemiah knew what he needed to get the job done. Often we talk in terms that keep people from seeking knowledge. We act as if faith alone is enough. Faith is essential, but knowledge with faith is most powerful. In the case of restoring grace and rebuilding the walls for our families and churches this is precisely the reason I have committed my time and energy to answer a specific call of God in the establishment of Grace Restoration Ministries. I have sensed God’s call to work with families and churches in a unique ministry of life coaching and counseling for some time. You’ll hear more about that soon, but the point is each of us has been prepared for a task and must learn from others in the rebuilding of the walls. There is no weakness or disgrace in seeking the wisdom and help of others. In fact, we are told to do so (cf. James 1:2-5).
Second, note that Nehemiah understood the basis of his hope. Never lose your sense of hope. As bad as it may seem, there is always hope because of the God we serve. Do you remember Charles Shultz’s book “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown”? On Halloween night, the Peanuts gang goes trick-or-treating and to a party, but Linus refuses. Instead, he persuades Charlie Brown’s little sister, Sally, to sit with him in a pumpkin patch to await the Great Pumpkin. Linus announces that if you “sincerely” believe in the Great Pumpkin and wait for him in a “sincere” pumpkin patch, he would arrive bearing gifts. “He’ll come here because I have the most sincere pumpkin patch and he respects sincerity,” Linus muses. Charlie Brown tells Sally that the Great Pumpkin doesn’t exist, but she joins Linus anyhow. What beckons her, however, is not so much her belief in the Great Pumpkin as her crush on Linus.
The basis of our hope is somewhat the same. Through the grace of God in Christ Jesus we have been given a restoration relationship and standing with Him. Because He has loved us so much that He sent His only begotten Son to die on our behalf and in our stead, we can KNOW hope. Let’s each take back our family, church, community, and nation. Let’s rebuild the walls and fight for our family!
I hope you are following this series. However, if you are just joining Morning Devotionals you may find the other issues on the web at www.gracerestoration.org. Today we come to the last principles which are revealed in Nehemiah’s exchange with King Artaxerxes. There are two important things in our reading today. First note that Nehemiah knew what he needed to get the job done. Often we talk in terms that keep people from seeking knowledge. We act as if faith alone is enough. Faith is essential, but knowledge with faith is most powerful. In the case of restoring grace and rebuilding the walls for our families and churches this is precisely the reason I have committed my time and energy to answer a specific call of God in the establishment of Grace Restoration Ministries. I have sensed God’s call to work with families and churches in a unique ministry of life coaching and counseling for some time. You’ll hear more about that soon, but the point is each of us has been prepared for a task and must learn from others in the rebuilding of the walls. There is no weakness or disgrace in seeking the wisdom and help of others. In fact, we are told to do so (cf. James 1:2-5).
Second, note that Nehemiah understood the basis of his hope. Never lose your sense of hope. As bad as it may seem, there is always hope because of the God we serve. Do you remember Charles Shultz’s book “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown”? On Halloween night, the Peanuts gang goes trick-or-treating and to a party, but Linus refuses. Instead, he persuades Charlie Brown’s little sister, Sally, to sit with him in a pumpkin patch to await the Great Pumpkin. Linus announces that if you “sincerely” believe in the Great Pumpkin and wait for him in a “sincere” pumpkin patch, he would arrive bearing gifts. “He’ll come here because I have the most sincere pumpkin patch and he respects sincerity,” Linus muses. Charlie Brown tells Sally that the Great Pumpkin doesn’t exist, but she joins Linus anyhow. What beckons her, however, is not so much her belief in the Great Pumpkin as her crush on Linus.
The basis of our hope is somewhat the same. Through the grace of God in Christ Jesus we have been given a restoration relationship and standing with Him. Because He has loved us so much that He sent His only begotten Son to die on our behalf and in our stead, we can KNOW hope. Let’s each take back our family, church, community, and nation. Let’s rebuild the walls and fight for our family!
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
"Rebuilding the City of Our Fathers" (Part 3)
In the month of Nisan in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was brought for him, I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had not been sad in his presence before; so the king asked me, "Why does your face look so sad when you are not ill? This can be nothing but sadness of heart." I was very much afraid, but I said to the king, "May the king live forever! Why should my face not look sad when the city where my fathers are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?" The king said to me, "What is it you want?" Then I prayed to the God of heaven, and I answered the king, "If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my fathers are buried so that I can rebuild it." (Nehemiah 2:1-5 NIV).
I hope you are following this series. However, if you are just joining Morning Devotionals you may find the other issues on the web at www.gracerestoration.org. Today we come to the second principle which is revealed in Nehemiah’s exchange with King Artaxerxes. Nehemiah had come to feel the burden of the rebuilding of Jerusalem, but he didn’t know specifically what to do until he prayed! Simply stated praying and spending time with God is essential to understanding the call from God. Success in your life depends on success in your personal time with God. If you fail in your personal devotions with God, you will fail.
Some years ago I read the experience of Jay Kesler, once President of Youth for Christ and the President of Taylor University from 1985-2000. He was on one of his frequent flights when lunch was served and the young man seated next to him declined a lunch tray. During the whole lunchtime this man sat with his head bowed, apparently in prayer. Kesler was impressed by the man's apparent devotion. He commented to the young man that he wondered if he was a Christian because it appeared that he was fasting. The young man replied with words that shook Kelser to the core of his being. "I am a Satanist and the members of my church have agreed to fast every Friday at noon. During that time we pray that the leaders of the Christian world will fall. We pray that they will fall into sexual sin, and that their family life would crumble." They understood the importance of prayer!
Before you dismiss that story as merely an isolated incident, in March, 2009 Richard Dawkins, noted atheist, began a tour across our nation’s universities evangelizing to his cause. At the end of the lectures he invites people to come forward to denounce their “faith” and be “debaptized.” They are immersed with the declaration that they no longer believe in God! Our walls have been reduced to rubble and our nation is on the brink of destruction! I fear that many in the church today have ignored the signs of our times and continue to imagine that someone else will guard their family and community. The call to rebuild the walls is clearer than ever. To succeed we must be joined in prayer and devotion to our God. Join me in commitment to daily devotion and prayer!
I hope you are following this series. However, if you are just joining Morning Devotionals you may find the other issues on the web at www.gracerestoration.org. Today we come to the second principle which is revealed in Nehemiah’s exchange with King Artaxerxes. Nehemiah had come to feel the burden of the rebuilding of Jerusalem, but he didn’t know specifically what to do until he prayed! Simply stated praying and spending time with God is essential to understanding the call from God. Success in your life depends on success in your personal time with God. If you fail in your personal devotions with God, you will fail.
Some years ago I read the experience of Jay Kesler, once President of Youth for Christ and the President of Taylor University from 1985-2000. He was on one of his frequent flights when lunch was served and the young man seated next to him declined a lunch tray. During the whole lunchtime this man sat with his head bowed, apparently in prayer. Kesler was impressed by the man's apparent devotion. He commented to the young man that he wondered if he was a Christian because it appeared that he was fasting. The young man replied with words that shook Kelser to the core of his being. "I am a Satanist and the members of my church have agreed to fast every Friday at noon. During that time we pray that the leaders of the Christian world will fall. We pray that they will fall into sexual sin, and that their family life would crumble." They understood the importance of prayer!
Before you dismiss that story as merely an isolated incident, in March, 2009 Richard Dawkins, noted atheist, began a tour across our nation’s universities evangelizing to his cause. At the end of the lectures he invites people to come forward to denounce their “faith” and be “debaptized.” They are immersed with the declaration that they no longer believe in God! Our walls have been reduced to rubble and our nation is on the brink of destruction! I fear that many in the church today have ignored the signs of our times and continue to imagine that someone else will guard their family and community. The call to rebuild the walls is clearer than ever. To succeed we must be joined in prayer and devotion to our God. Join me in commitment to daily devotion and prayer!
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
"Rebuilding the City of Our Fathers" (Part 2)
In the month of Nisan in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was brought for him, I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had not been sad in his presence before; so the king asked me, "Why does your face look so sad when you are not ill? This can be nothing but sadness of heart." I was very much afraid, but I said to the king, "May the king live forever! Why should my face not look sad when the city where my fathers are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?" The king said to me, "What is it you want?" Then I prayed to the God of heaven, and I answered the king, "If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my fathers are buried so that I can rebuild it." (Nehemiah 2:1-5 NIV).
The first principle is revealed in the highlighted verses of our reading today. Nehemiah had come to feel the burden of the rebuilding of Jerusalem. It affected him so deeply that the king noticed it on his face. He called it a “sadness of heart.” The king asked him an incredibly penetrating question: Why?
Isn’t that the question we all ask in times of crisis? We want to know why the innocent suffer. We can’t seem to grasp why there is such injustice in our world and we long to have the answers to why. Why do bad things happen to good people? Why is this world so unfair? We’ve all heard the explanation that we simply “can't understand God's ways." The trouble with that answer is in its very nature. It’s the wrong question, so it is the wrong answer! Nehemiah didn’t ask why. He knew that question and its answer wouldn’t make a difference for the future of Jerusalem. Of course, we must all learn from the mistakes of our past. We ought to be careful not to repeat destructive behavior. That will always produce destructive consequences. However, our incessant bemoaning of the present will not change the future.
Understanding Nehemiah’s answer, the king then asked the correct question: what do you want? Nehemiah wanted to rebuild the city and restore peace to his homeland. Now, here’s the real issue for us today… I am sure there are few, if any, who do not want to rebuild our nation and restore peace in our nation. The differences are in the solutions being offered today. Our government and many of our churches today have adopted a philosophy that the solution rests in a process or program. That philosophy will never work. You will never lighten the load until you feel the pressure of the burden in your own heart. Programs must never take the place of people. People must always precede programs.
WE must take the responsibility of restoration into our hearts and then put our hands to the task one person at a time. Jesus always affected change in the lives of others one person at a time. He did it because he felt their needs and pain one person at a time. If our nation fails it will not be because the wrong party was in power, or the program was not sufficient for the need. If our churches fail, it will not be because we didn’t implement the most recent programs. If our families fail, it will not be because we didn’t follow the rules perfectly. If they fail, it will be because we didn’t begin the rebuilding of the walls! As for me, I’m committed to doing everything I can to rebuild the walls to join in Nehemiah’s commitment to fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes (Nehemiah 4:14). Will you?
The first principle is revealed in the highlighted verses of our reading today. Nehemiah had come to feel the burden of the rebuilding of Jerusalem. It affected him so deeply that the king noticed it on his face. He called it a “sadness of heart.” The king asked him an incredibly penetrating question: Why?
Isn’t that the question we all ask in times of crisis? We want to know why the innocent suffer. We can’t seem to grasp why there is such injustice in our world and we long to have the answers to why. Why do bad things happen to good people? Why is this world so unfair? We’ve all heard the explanation that we simply “can't understand God's ways." The trouble with that answer is in its very nature. It’s the wrong question, so it is the wrong answer! Nehemiah didn’t ask why. He knew that question and its answer wouldn’t make a difference for the future of Jerusalem. Of course, we must all learn from the mistakes of our past. We ought to be careful not to repeat destructive behavior. That will always produce destructive consequences. However, our incessant bemoaning of the present will not change the future.
Understanding Nehemiah’s answer, the king then asked the correct question: what do you want? Nehemiah wanted to rebuild the city and restore peace to his homeland. Now, here’s the real issue for us today… I am sure there are few, if any, who do not want to rebuild our nation and restore peace in our nation. The differences are in the solutions being offered today. Our government and many of our churches today have adopted a philosophy that the solution rests in a process or program. That philosophy will never work. You will never lighten the load until you feel the pressure of the burden in your own heart. Programs must never take the place of people. People must always precede programs.
WE must take the responsibility of restoration into our hearts and then put our hands to the task one person at a time. Jesus always affected change in the lives of others one person at a time. He did it because he felt their needs and pain one person at a time. If our nation fails it will not be because the wrong party was in power, or the program was not sufficient for the need. If our churches fail, it will not be because we didn’t implement the most recent programs. If our families fail, it will not be because we didn’t follow the rules perfectly. If they fail, it will be because we didn’t begin the rebuilding of the walls! As for me, I’m committed to doing everything I can to rebuild the walls to join in Nehemiah’s commitment to fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes (Nehemiah 4:14). Will you?
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