I'm such a fragile man when I rely on my own strength and my vulnerable emotions. But my weakness isn't limited to my own existence, it's shared by more than might be willing to admit. In fact it's a kind of disease common to all of mankind, laying in wait for opportunities to over take us if we allow it. With hearts and minds inclined to be fickle, we can easily find ourselves in a prone position before a powerful enemy who would destroy not only our bodies, but his ultimate goal - our souls with them.
There's a lot of fear and concern in the world right now because of the seemingly rampant plague of a disease that mankind seems ill equipped to deal with. It's humanly normal for us to be concerned and perhaps even somewhat fearful because of our limitations. Our fragile bodies are subject to a number of vulnerabilities and threats that could cause them to fail. But this situation isn't something new.
I would agree with any that it's incumbent on us to make wise and reasonable choices and to be prepared for what might come. But excesses are historically a consuming problem for us and if we're not careful, we might be tempted to begin to rely more on our own capabilities than on the Most Capable. If that becomes true of us, then in the larger picture we're destined to fail.
Even as followers of Christ, we have the ability to become so overwhelmed with information that what's true sometimes has a tendency to get crowded into a dusty back corner somewhere. It's pretty obvious that we're flooded with things that are designed with intent to grab our attention and entertain our minds in one way or another. From mysteries and mayhem to determining the details along the long trail of our lineage, we're constantly invited to join in. But even when it comes to exploring something as seemingly benign as our ancestry it's easy to forget the most important truth while sifting all of those many details. Whether we find those distant relatives glimmering examples or something we'd rather forget - we're all descendants of Noah, who in turn was a descendant of Adam, created by Father God. Those details in between are far less important than the beginning and end points of our ancestry - from Father God to us. Every one of our ancestors in between had the same origin and the same ultimate, true source of provision. In all of those many details of ancestry in between, we might be tempted to forget that the distance between us and our divine source and point of origin is a short one.
If you were to create a sliding scale and plot both fear and faith on opposite ends, I'm concerned that the pointer indicating the actual measure of society's current mood would be far more inclined toward fear rather than faith. Although I doubt this is true of you, I tend to think that it's because a large portion of mankind has forgotten some basic tenets of Reality #101 - We're not ever alone and though we ourselves may be weak and find ourselves struggling at times, we're not without access to ultimate, overcoming power. The details of that access though, in a world teeming with details,... are important.
John 14:12-21 (NLT) (Jesus speaking)
12“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. 13 You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. 14 Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!
15“If you love me, obey my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. 17 He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. 18 No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you. 19 Soon the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Since I live, you also will live. 20 When I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.”
It's also important to remember though that as human beings, our tendency to fail at times isn't exclusive to any one of us and doesn't exclude our ability to access our source of power...
Romans 7:21-25 (NLT) (the Apostle Paul speaking)
21 "I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. 22 I love God’s law with all my heart. 23 But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. 24 Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? 25 Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin."
1"So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. 2 And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death." Romans 8:1-2 (NLT)
If as followers of Christ we fail, we're not the first. We need only to repent, ask His forgiveness and reconnect. Don't let the enemy convince you that you're powerless or lost - because he'll definitely try and you'll only lose if you buy into the garbage he's dishing out. Faith isn't necessarily living continually without fear or doubts. We struggle with these things sometimes because of our weaknesses. Faith isn't a walk of perfection - living without fears and concerns.We're not perfect and Jesus knows this. Faith is actively believing what our God's told us and acting on those things rather than what human fear might tempt us to.
Remember that in the midst of the worst conflagration of disaster that might come to bear, our source of provision, protection and rescue never wavers and never changes. And as His children, neither does our access to Him...
18 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20 (NLT)
“I am the Alpha and the Omega—the beginning and the end,” says the Lord God. “I am the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come—the Almighty One.” Revelation 1:8 (NLT)
Sometimes things are allowed in order to point us back to where we belong - in the lap of the very One who created and loves us so dearly. And who has also allowed in history that as human beings created for His pleasure in relationship with us, that we might suffer for a moment in order to avoid losing us for an eternity. Rise up, look up, lift up your hands and connect with your source of strength. You're in such good hands - your Heavenly Father's.
There's a lot of fear and concern in the world right now because of the seemingly rampant plague of a disease that mankind seems ill equipped to deal with. It's humanly normal for us to be concerned and perhaps even somewhat fearful because of our limitations. Our fragile bodies are subject to a number of vulnerabilities and threats that could cause them to fail. But this situation isn't something new.
I would agree with any that it's incumbent on us to make wise and reasonable choices and to be prepared for what might come. But excesses are historically a consuming problem for us and if we're not careful, we might be tempted to begin to rely more on our own capabilities than on the Most Capable. If that becomes true of us, then in the larger picture we're destined to fail.
Even as followers of Christ, we have the ability to become so overwhelmed with information that what's true sometimes has a tendency to get crowded into a dusty back corner somewhere. It's pretty obvious that we're flooded with things that are designed with intent to grab our attention and entertain our minds in one way or another. From mysteries and mayhem to determining the details along the long trail of our lineage, we're constantly invited to join in. But even when it comes to exploring something as seemingly benign as our ancestry it's easy to forget the most important truth while sifting all of those many details. Whether we find those distant relatives glimmering examples or something we'd rather forget - we're all descendants of Noah, who in turn was a descendant of Adam, created by Father God. Those details in between are far less important than the beginning and end points of our ancestry - from Father God to us. Every one of our ancestors in between had the same origin and the same ultimate, true source of provision. In all of those many details of ancestry in between, we might be tempted to forget that the distance between us and our divine source and point of origin is a short one.
If you were to create a sliding scale and plot both fear and faith on opposite ends, I'm concerned that the pointer indicating the actual measure of society's current mood would be far more inclined toward fear rather than faith. Although I doubt this is true of you, I tend to think that it's because a large portion of mankind has forgotten some basic tenets of Reality #101 - We're not ever alone and though we ourselves may be weak and find ourselves struggling at times, we're not without access to ultimate, overcoming power. The details of that access though, in a world teeming with details,... are important.
John 14:12-21 (NLT) (Jesus speaking)
12“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. 13 You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. 14 Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!
15“If you love me, obey my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. 17 He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. 18 No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you. 19 Soon the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Since I live, you also will live. 20 When I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.”
It's also important to remember though that as human beings, our tendency to fail at times isn't exclusive to any one of us and doesn't exclude our ability to access our source of power...
Romans 7:21-25 (NLT) (the Apostle Paul speaking)
21 "I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. 22 I love God’s law with all my heart. 23 But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. 24 Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? 25 Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin."
1"So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. 2 And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death." Romans 8:1-2 (NLT)
If as followers of Christ we fail, we're not the first. We need only to repent, ask His forgiveness and reconnect. Don't let the enemy convince you that you're powerless or lost - because he'll definitely try and you'll only lose if you buy into the garbage he's dishing out. Faith isn't necessarily living continually without fear or doubts. We struggle with these things sometimes because of our weaknesses. Faith isn't a walk of perfection - living without fears and concerns.We're not perfect and Jesus knows this. Faith is actively believing what our God's told us and acting on those things rather than what human fear might tempt us to.
Remember that in the midst of the worst conflagration of disaster that might come to bear, our source of provision, protection and rescue never wavers and never changes. And as His children, neither does our access to Him...
18 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20 (NLT)
“I am the Alpha and the Omega—the beginning and the end,” says the Lord God. “I am the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come—the Almighty One.” Revelation 1:8 (NLT)
Sometimes things are allowed in order to point us back to where we belong - in the lap of the very One who created and loves us so dearly. And who has also allowed in history that as human beings created for His pleasure in relationship with us, that we might suffer for a moment in order to avoid losing us for an eternity. Rise up, look up, lift up your hands and connect with your source of strength. You're in such good hands - your Heavenly Father's.
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