Doing Good in Spite of Circumstances

I Peter 4:19,  "So then those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator AND CONTINUE TO DO GOOD."

I have not only read I Peter 4:19 several times on my way through the Bible, but I have taught the book of I Peter at Community Bible Study.  And yet when I ran across this verse in my quiet time this week, it was as though I had never seen it before.  God is telling us that, whatever our situation or circumstances might be--even if we are suffering a grief or an illness or some other kind of infirmity--God expects us to trust Him and do good to others at the same time.  No pity parties allowed!  In fact, our circumstances may form the perfect background from which we can minister to others more effectively.

When people see Christians reaching out in love in spite of their own sorrows or struggles, it makes a great impact.  I think of Eric Liddell and Corrie Ten Boom who ministered to their fellow prisoners in enemy concentration camps.  When Eric Liddell died in a prison camp, one of the guards who did not even speak English but  who had observed his unselfish acts of kindness, said, "He was a Christian, wasn't he?"

Father, may we be available to You 24/7/365 regardless of our own griefs or struggles.  May we trust You to take care of us, and may we be channels You can use to care for others.  Amen.

Victory Over Sin

I Corinthians 10:13,  "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man.  And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.  But when you are tempted he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it."

    If we are to have victory over sin, we must first acknowledge our sin and agree with God about it.  It does us no good to try to cover it up, excuse it, or rationalize it.  We cannot get away with blaming our sins on other people or circumstances.  A Christian psychologist named Dr. Henry Brandt pointed out that "People and circumstances do not cause our spirits.  They reveal our spirits."  Matthew 12:34b-35 say it this way,  "For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.  The good man brings forth good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings forth evil things out of the evil stored up in him."  In other words, what's in the well comes up in the bucket.
    Once we agree with God that we have sinned, we can repent and be forgiven according to I John 1:9, a verse that has often been called 'the Christian's bar of soap."  It says,  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."  You might think, " I might as well do anything I like and then ask to be forgiven."  One problem with that philosophy is the fact that there are adverse consequences to sin even though we have been forgiven.  Also, sin grieves our Heavenly Father and disrupts our fellowship with Him.  So it is much better not to sin in the first place.
    How do we keep from sinning?  Our flesh is weak.  The pull of temptation is strong, and the enemy is tricky.  It's a matter of choice.  There is always a space of time, however small, between a temptation and sin.  James tells us what to do at the moment of choice in 4:7,  "Submit yourselves, then,to God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."  We submit to God first so we can resist temptation in His power rather than fight in our own weakness.  A little girl gave me this excellent piece of advice.  She said, "Mrs. Eyster, do you know what to do when the devil knocks at your door?  You just send Jesus to answer the door."

Father, keep us from evil.  At the moment of choice between obedience to You and the temptation to sin, I pray that we will submit to you and resist the devil in Your strength.  Thank You that You have made a provision for us to keep from sinning.  Amen.
    

The Body of Christ

Romans 15:5-7, "May God...help you live in complete harmony with each other--each with the attitude of Christ Jesus toward the other. Then all of you can join together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.  So accept each other just as Christ has accepted you; then God will be glorified."

      Imagine yourself in heaven.  Picture the heavenly choir around the throne of God.  What do the members of the choir look like?  Are they "red and yellow, black and white," or do they all look pretty much like you?  In what language are they singing praises to God?  It is natural for us to think of other people in terms of our own appearance and culture.  But God created and loves all kinds of people.  While we may be prejudiced, He is impartial.

      Perhaps you have always worshiped with people who believe pretty much as you believe and have the same form of worship that you have. 

Maybe you feel uncomfortable around people who believe or worship differently.  But there are great diversities in the bod y of Christ. 

There are major doctrines about the person of Christ and the way of salvation which all must share to actually be Christians, but there can certainly be many ways to live out the Christian life.  In fact, every single Christian has a testimony that is unique--no two are alike.  For me, the bottom line is this: if God accepts a person, then how can I not accept them?  And worship and fellowship with them?

      The Christian experience can be so much richer and fuller as we rub shoulders with all kinds of other Christians.  I encourage you to be open and let your fellow travelers enrich your walk.

Father, You are so creative.  I revel in the differences we find between people.  May our hearts be open to love and embrace all fellow believers and reach out to all non-believers.  Amen.

Care Givers

Matthew 11:26,  "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."

      A caregiver is a person who provides direct care for children, the elderly, and the chronically ill.  This is the definition of a person who cares for someone who isn't able to care for himself,

      The term "care giver" has taken on a much deeper meaning for me lately.  On the last Friday in July, I slipped down on my porch and broke my ankle in two places. One-footed definitely isn't the same as being sure-footed.  In fact, I have suddenly lost most of my mobility and independence.  I feel like a turtle on its back with its little stubby legs waving in the air,  trying to do the most basic jobs of getting around.  I am learning to appreciate the "little things in life."

      I had no inkling that I was about to fall on that Friday afternoon.  I began searching right away for a person with caregiving skills and a care giver's heart.  How fortunate we are that God provides such people in every generation.

      Caregivers model for us the kind of care we find available for us in the Trinity.  When we feel overwhelmed, we always have a place to go for helpl

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for always being available to Your children and for providing just the help we need.  Amen