God uses trials to teach us to persevere, which helps us to grow in maturity (James 2:2-4). But, sometimes, God uses hardship to move us out of a situation or area, such as He did with Abraham (Genesis 12:10) and Jacob (Genesis 41:56-42:2). How are we to know whether to persevere or to leave?
Some basic principles of decision making are:
Does the Bible speak specifically about the issue?
Does the Bible speak about the general principle?
If the Bible doesn’t speak on it, you are free in your decision.
God may want you to persevere, or He might be moving you to do something new or to another place.
Ruth is a wonderful example of someone who endured in hardship. She was faithful and devoted to her mother in law, Naomi, regardless of the sacrifice it required of her. Her perseverance resulted in marrying Boaz who gave protection to both her and Naomi. Ruth and Boaz had a son, an heir to carry on the family name, a great blessing to them. Not only that, but her great grandson was David, king of Israel (Ruth 4:21-22). He will always be known as their esteemed king. Even greater than this, the Lord, Jesus, King of the Universe, is the descendant of Ruth and Boaz (Matthew 1:1-16).
Paul and Barnabas are examples of those whom God moved away from a particular hardship. In Acts 15:36-41, they had such a sharp disagreement over whether or not to take Mark on the journey, that they separated. There is no reprimand or mention of sin in this account. We know that Mark departed after Elymas, the magician, was blinded for hindering the work of the Gospel (Acts 13:4-13). Perhaps, Mark left in fear--the reason isn't clear. What we know is that Paul and Barnabas couldn't agree and decided to separate. The result is that now there were two evangelistic journeys instead of one. So, God used even a disagreement between Christians for His glory and the expansion of the Gospel.
We shouldn't be too quick to leave a difficult situation, but neither should we be reticent to leave if God is moving us out. Perhaps God can use us better someplace else. Scripture, prayer and wise counsel are means that God uses to show us His will, and in that, He is always glorified.
Thursday, July 25, 2013
Sunday, July 21, 2013
The Good Shepherd
Pastors and teachers love to tell their congregations that God calls them sheep and sheep are dumb. Yet, the Scriptures are filled with imagery of how God, as the Shepherd, cares for His sheep. He loves them, nourishes them and protects them. He goes after the sheep that stray and even lays down His life for His sheep. Far from an insult, it is a wonderful thing to be called one of God's sheep.
John 10: 27-29 gives a good description of just what it means to be part of God's flock:
"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand."
Every phrase is packed with doctrine.
He knows His sheep
His sheep hear Him and follow Him
He gives them eternal life
They will never perish
No one will snatch them out of His hand
His Father gave them to Him
His Father is greater than all
No one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand
If these things are true, then the opposite must be false. Spend some time pondering that--what do you really believe about your relationship to Jesus as your Shepherd? Do you comprehend the assurance that He gives to you as His own?
Verses 26-27 imply that we are His sheep even before we believe. The people didn't believe Him because they weren't His sheep. But, those who are His sheep hear His voice and follow Him. We don't become His sheep because at some point we recognize Him--we recognize Him because we are His sheep. God is the author and giver of salvation, we can only respond to His call, which we assuredly will do if we are His. We must learn to rest in this great truth~
John 10: 27-29 gives a good description of just what it means to be part of God's flock:
"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand."
Every phrase is packed with doctrine.
He knows His sheep
His sheep hear Him and follow Him
He gives them eternal life
They will never perish
No one will snatch them out of His hand
His Father gave them to Him
His Father is greater than all
No one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand
If these things are true, then the opposite must be false. Spend some time pondering that--what do you really believe about your relationship to Jesus as your Shepherd? Do you comprehend the assurance that He gives to you as His own?
Verses 26-27 imply that we are His sheep even before we believe. The people didn't believe Him because they weren't His sheep. But, those who are His sheep hear His voice and follow Him. We don't become His sheep because at some point we recognize Him--we recognize Him because we are His sheep. God is the author and giver of salvation, we can only respond to His call, which we assuredly will do if we are His. We must learn to rest in this great truth~
Friday, July 12, 2013
Cause For Stumbling
Jesus never took a course in 'how to win friends and influence people'. Sometimes, it seems just the opposite. As I am working my way through the Seven Signs of John, it's somewhat astounding how Jesus didn't care if people were insulted by what He said or did. He healed on the Sabbath, knowing that the Jewish leaders of His day would accuse Him of being against God. He spoke to a Samaritan woman, even His disciples were shocked that he would waste His time with a Samaritan, let alone a woman!
Jesus told the crowds that they don't believe Him, but all that the Father gives to Him, will believe. He is straightforwardly telling them that God isn't saving them, for if He was, then they would believe. Jesus tells them that they are listening to their father, but, he is not God, or Abraham or Moses, he is, in fact, the devil. Even more than this, Jesus claimed to be greater than Abraham, greater than Moses, and equal to God, Himself. Jesus was certainly not trying to win their affection.
As a young Christian, I head countless sermons on how Jesus wants to save us, He is waiting and pleading for us to come. Jesus is knocking at the door of our hearts, He wants to come in and be with us--will we let Him in? If we would take just one step, Jesus will take the other 99 to meet us. Always the gentleman, Jesus will not go where He isn't wanted.
Scripture contradicts these teachings--Jesus is always there for His own, but there is no begging for people to believe in Him. He states the truth about who He is and what He has come to do and leaves it at that. Jesus has a security which we don't have--of course, He is God and we are not. He knows our hearts, we don't have the privilege of knowing that of others. But, I wonder how we would both think and evangelize differently if we learned to rest in Jesus and not strive to persuade. Speaking the truth, as Jesus did, and leaving the power of change to God.
Jesus told the crowds that they don't believe Him, but all that the Father gives to Him, will believe. He is straightforwardly telling them that God isn't saving them, for if He was, then they would believe. Jesus tells them that they are listening to their father, but, he is not God, or Abraham or Moses, he is, in fact, the devil. Even more than this, Jesus claimed to be greater than Abraham, greater than Moses, and equal to God, Himself. Jesus was certainly not trying to win their affection.
As a young Christian, I head countless sermons on how Jesus wants to save us, He is waiting and pleading for us to come. Jesus is knocking at the door of our hearts, He wants to come in and be with us--will we let Him in? If we would take just one step, Jesus will take the other 99 to meet us. Always the gentleman, Jesus will not go where He isn't wanted.
Scripture contradicts these teachings--Jesus is always there for His own, but there is no begging for people to believe in Him. He states the truth about who He is and what He has come to do and leaves it at that. Jesus has a security which we don't have--of course, He is God and we are not. He knows our hearts, we don't have the privilege of knowing that of others. But, I wonder how we would both think and evangelize differently if we learned to rest in Jesus and not strive to persuade. Speaking the truth, as Jesus did, and leaving the power of change to God.
Saturday, July 6, 2013
The Seven Signs of John
The Gospels record the miracles of Jesus--Matthew, Mark and Luke each record over twenty, but John records only seven. But, there is a purpose in his doing so:
"Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name." (John 20:30-31)
You would think that there would be great numbers of people believing in Jesus because of these signs, but, there were not. At the wedding feast, His mother and His disciples believed. When the official's son was healed, he and his family believed. It is unclear if the man at Bethesda believed, even though he experienced Jesus' miraculous powers and was healed. Likewise, when Jesus fed the 5,000 there is no evidence that anyone believed, even though they were fed and saw the abundance of what was left. They even demanded a sign from Jesus to prove his claims the very next day!
Even the disciples didn't believe when they observed this miracle. We know this from studying the parallel accounts of Jesus' next sign, walking on the water. The man born blind believed, but his parents, neighbors and Jewish leaders did not, even though they saw the evidence. After Lazarus was resurrected, many of the Jews believed, but some reported it to the Pharisees, who were hostile towards Jesus.
What struck me is that in our culture, these miracles would be considered a failure, for the most part. Only one in seven indicates that many believed--the others indicate just a few believed, if that many. Since Jesus wasn't concerned with numbers as a measure of spiritual success or of God working, then, neither should you or I.
One must take the long view--these things were written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing, you may have life in His name. Do you believe the claims of Jesus? How many, through the centuries, have life in His name because they believed? Is it possible that God is using us in our everyday doings to bring others to eternal life, even though there are no 'so called numbers' to show our success?
"Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name." (John 20:30-31)
You would think that there would be great numbers of people believing in Jesus because of these signs, but, there were not. At the wedding feast, His mother and His disciples believed. When the official's son was healed, he and his family believed. It is unclear if the man at Bethesda believed, even though he experienced Jesus' miraculous powers and was healed. Likewise, when Jesus fed the 5,000 there is no evidence that anyone believed, even though they were fed and saw the abundance of what was left. They even demanded a sign from Jesus to prove his claims the very next day!
Even the disciples didn't believe when they observed this miracle. We know this from studying the parallel accounts of Jesus' next sign, walking on the water. The man born blind believed, but his parents, neighbors and Jewish leaders did not, even though they saw the evidence. After Lazarus was resurrected, many of the Jews believed, but some reported it to the Pharisees, who were hostile towards Jesus.
What struck me is that in our culture, these miracles would be considered a failure, for the most part. Only one in seven indicates that many believed--the others indicate just a few believed, if that many. Since Jesus wasn't concerned with numbers as a measure of spiritual success or of God working, then, neither should you or I.
One must take the long view--these things were written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing, you may have life in His name. Do you believe the claims of Jesus? How many, through the centuries, have life in His name because they believed? Is it possible that God is using us in our everyday doings to bring others to eternal life, even though there are no 'so called numbers' to show our success?
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