cupakathy

Never have I been more awakened to God's love than in recent years. And I sincerely believe that trials are not to teach us a lesson, are not to make us stronger in faith (to pick up our sword and go into battle) - but to reveal just how great God is.

See, you don't know that unless you grasp the futility of mankind. And you can't know that until you see your own futility. Unless you have experienced complete and utter desperation in that you do not have any resources within yourself to survive a situation either physically, emotionally, or mentally, you will not understand how weak you really are.

Isn't it amazing how prideful humanity is? We are specks in the universe, yet, we think we're pretty important. The basketball celebrity slam dunked and won the game. The singer sold a million copies of his album. The special forces went in and captured the terrorist. And we have made so much about who we are in Christ that we have become invincible in our thinking. If not invincible, at least surprised that such a thing should befall us. The other extreme is to take on an impoverished mentality, thinking that our lot in life is to suffer. Somewhere along the way we have to strike a balance.

On a recent flight, I was high enough to see the cars moving along on the street. But then, we got so high that I could see the streets but no cars. They were there, but just too tiny for me to see. I thought about the smallness of man.

We have a purpose and God is mindful of us. Yet, we must take our rightful place in relationship to God. If the 50ish group distanced themselves from denominations and rituals to seek after a more vibrant relationship with God, we may err on being prideful if we think we always know God's will.

What is our first response when someone is facing a trial? We either automatically think God's dealing with someone (think Job's comforters) or we think someone is being taught to be victorious in battle. What if our first response was to think that God is wanting to show someone how great His love is?

Have we become Pharisees?

God is so great in his love, He continually places sure footing before our steps - even when we have messed up. God doesn't sit back like some of us do, just waiting for the ax to fall on someone. His mercy is so great and His compassion is so deep that He weeps over us.

As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him. - Psalm 103

Shouldn't we be expressions of God's mercy and compassion?

Trials bring us to a place many are unwilling to go. It takes complete surrender and trust to walk through difficult situations, especially when you are falsely accused, persecuted, slandered, mocked - a complete victim of circumstances. But something wonderful happens in this secret place, too, since God does not leave us without showing us some amazing treasures that are not seen by others.

Consider what Peter says - paying attention to verse 8:

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴ and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, ⁵ who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.

⁶ In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. ⁷ These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire —may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is

revealed. ⁸ Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, ⁹ for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

There is a joy which is inexpressible in knowing God in a trial. He opens up a whole new dimension of living. When we are willing to enter into a trial and walk through it, trusting God, we become lights to the world. 

Sacrifice means something. We don't pay for our sin but we do pay in other ways to show people what God is like. Otherwise, Jesus wouldn't speak of taking up your cross, denying yourself, and laying down your life. These are things that no one wants to do. We have strong wills and we do not comprehend just how strong they are. But God does. And He wants us to be free from the imprisonment they bring to us so we will be completely free from ourselves. Then, Christ in us, the hope of glory, will not only shine brightly to others, but it will bring us great freedom as we know peace and joy not defined in human terms!

There is more to the Christian life than what many of us are living. There are far too many caught off-guard when plans are thwarted or tragedy strikes.

I have found, most people are knocked off their feet.

Don’t get me wrong. I am not talking about the emotions that come with difficulty. Read the Psalms. I am talking about the response. People today do not surrender to their situation. They do not acknowledge God in it. It’s from the devil, it’s to be resisted, and if I don’t, I won’t be victorious.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. -Hebrews 11:1

Who marks out the race? You or God?

to be continued…

Do you know where joy comes from?

It comes from knowing God. That's what you learn when you become a Christian. But there's more to tell.

When we look at joy in the Bible, we find it came from a kind of once I was blind but now I see moment.

A few examples:

• A gal lives a lifestyle of promiscuity. A guy is addicted to cocaine. A corporate supervisor is addicted to gambling. All are coping in various ways. They discover how much God loves them and their life drastically changes. They have had the burden of addiction removed from their life. Their misery after coming off their high is now a constant joy deep within their soul. They once were blind but now see (this pertains to Christians, too).
• A gal or guy who has been a Christian for a few years faces a situation of dire straits. It was unexpected .. and they were unprepared. With courage and resolute, they enter into that battle. Walking through the minefield they trust God. It isn't until they walk through and a year later, the gal discovers the worry and anxiety she once struggled with is gone. The guy notices the he's not a arrogant as he once was. Both had noted these were weaknesses they struggled with and had tired to overcome. But through the trial they had faced - God had removed the weakness which were great burdens.

Peter said this:

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

Notice that Peter says "these have come so that your faith". Today, many Christians are looking for an "on the offense" kind of faith that will speak to mountains in the trial, thinking the trial will be shortened or completely removed. Certainly this can be the case but far too often we dismiss that it may not look like that. And people have to be ready.

The Apostle Paul walked through many trials:

imprisonment

faced death numerous times

39 lashes from the Jews 5 times

beaten with rods 3 times

stoned

spent a day and night at sea

and was in continual danger from rivers, robbers, his own people, Gentiles

was in danger in the city, in the country, at sea, from false brothers

was weary and in pain often, without sleep

often hungry and thirsty, cold and naked

"Woe to the one who quarrels with his Maker-- An earthenware vessel among the vessels of earth! Will the clay say to the potter, 'What are you doing?' Or the thing you are making say, 'He has no hands '? Isaiah 45:9

In the 1600s, England suffered two great tragedies; the Plague and the London Fire. Some believed it was God’s judgment since King Charles II had not been a good leader. He had dismissed the teachings of the Bible that his predecessor had held strongly to. England had lost its righteousness and respect.

Not all trials are judgements. We tend to think when something goes wrong we did something wrong. The New Testament tells us that the wrath of God was satisfied at the cross. God’s draws the world with chords of love. And when something tragic occurs in our lives, he works it all out for good. He redeems it all.

Many believed that the London Fire was a blessing in disguise because it cleared the air of the plague germs.

Christians are not immune from trials. We know that but do we really know it? Because we are surprised when they hit.

 Peter also said:

 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation. I Peter 4

The deeper the trial, the deeper the revelation of His glory. If we surrender to the trial, trusting God, and seeing a purpose in it, we will come out of it rejoicing. Why? Because we will have seen Him.

This is where joy comes from. It is not happiness because everything is going smoothly. ‘Cuz when a trial hits, you are anything but happy. Read the Psalms and hear the anguish. When you walk through the trial, holding your head up high (as the song says), your strength is not your own. It is God’s. Divine deposits are imparted in the dark night of the soul when only God can comfort and strengthen. And when our fleshly, worldly efforts and perceived strengths are removed (because we discover that we cannot make it on our own), the relief and release of our natural abilities and strengths, and ultimately our will, decreases – and God increases.

Then and only then will true, sustaining, permanent, no-demon-in-hell-can-take-your-joy will be yours.

I believe many churches today have forgotten the concept of death to self, decreasing, losing your life for Christ, dying daily, and so on. When the emphasis is more on personal plan, destiny, and purpose, along with gifts, talents, and abilities - it creates one egocentric person.

This revelation that has hit the Church has drawn us away from what God tell us:

I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.  He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. John 12

With good intentions in our attempt to draw people to church, have we put a spin on the scripture? These seeker friendly churches have all the bells and whistles but I cannot help but wonder how shallow the church attenders are. I attended one such church a couple of times and it was repulsive. Not because I didn't like the smoke machine and the loud music and all the cutting edge ways they presented the sermon, but something was missing. I couldn't help but wonder as I looked into the separate children's church auditorium and the play area with all its equipment that looked like a small Disneyworld. The coffee bar had the trendy tavern tables with lots of coffees and pastry offerings. But amidst the laughing children and dressed to the nines adults, curiosity tugged at my heart. How's everyone doing during the week?

When church was over and the 2,000 cars were trying to get out of the lot, impatient people cut each other off and honked horns.

Are you getting where I'm going with this?

This post is not about my personal preferences. It is about people's hearts. It is about how people are faring in their faith. God doesn't need help to draw people into church. Any church that has that on their leadership meeting list is in big trouble.The message of the cross is sufficient. It is the beginning and it is the end. Period.

In many of these hyper, mega, seeker-friendly church atmospheres, the Gospel is preached. But what else they produce makes it appear that the Christian life is exciting. It's not. It's abundant. There is a difference.

When a Christian handles the small troubles and inconveniences that come along in life with impatience, anger, frustration, and more, they do not understand what Christianity is. This is the training ground. This is the friction God uses. Not lessons but the Potter's Wheel which shapes and fashions us for His glory.

We talk about glorifying God, but we don't do that when we read a book or take a course. It happens one way and only one way and if one is not willing to lose him or herself, be assured that you are not glorifying God. You may as well save your energy in sharing the gospel because you are not going to be a pure light that draws people.

We must be prepared to lose ourselves, whatever that may entail, that God may be all in all. Losing an argument for his sake, losing something we held dear, losing "face," reputation, a position of power or superiority, losing a claim on someone or on his affection or respect--can these be a part of the answer to our prayer to glorify God in our lives? Elisabeth Elliot

Taking up our cross daily and following Him means we will accept what comes our way, see God in it, and allow Him to make us living epistles, vessels of honor, fit for His use.

If not, what then?