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I know that I have referred in the past to the blog “Of First Importance” in which a quote is presented that points toward the gospel and Jesus. Today’s post was such a great reminder:
“If we are to change we must be regularly preaching the gospel to ourselves and believing it. We must be continually showing ourselves, and those we counsel, the depths and greatness of God’s love for them. We must stop wasting our time trying to convince ourselves that we are lovable, and instead rest in the glorious fact that we are loved. It is this message which God uses to change us at the motivational level.”
. . .we must stop wasting our time trying to convince ourselves that we are lovable, and instead rest in the glorious fact that we are loved. . .
Talk about a stop-dead-in-my-tracks statement. The fact is, I’m not loveable a lot of the time. Jesus didn’t save me because I was such a “great catch.” That’s a self-centered mindset. My salvation, our salvation, has everything to do with God and His covenant love.
1 John 4:9 God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. 10 This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. (NLT)
And Jesus was not just any sacrifice — He was the atoning sacrifice, the only sacrifice that was sufficient to satisfy the just wrath of God on my sin. Because of Jesus, my sin isn’t just tossed in the corner — it is totally removed.
Then the apostle John continues. . .
1 John 4:11 Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. (NLT)
The resulting action of God’s infinite, unconditional, sacrificial love, is not to be enamored with myself, not to concentrate on how “loved” I feel, but I am to concentrate on giving love to others.
Our culture is so self-centered, we don’t even realize how much it has permeated our thinking. God continually says in His Word that our concentration should be on God, and not on ourselves. Know what God thinks about me; know how God loves me. Believe what He says. Then, give that kind of love to others. Don’t concentrate on what others can do for me, so that I feel special. I am the most precious jewel to God; I am His treasure; I am His beloved child. No mere mortal can top that kind of love.
Let’s stop wasting precious time. I want to concentrate on Believing God. Then I can serve and love others without the petty score-keeping or feeling used or any of that other “junk” that so clutters life and makes it miserable.
Will you choose to belive God with me?
I’ve been waiting to post until I could share something “cheery, uplifting” but was challenged yesterday by a Beth Moore audio from the study “Stepping up” which is a study of the Psalms of Ascent.
“Beware of hidden hypocrisy, which can be even presenting yourself as who you would like to be, rather than who you are. . .” (my paraphrase)
I would like to be cheery and uplifting right now. I would love to be cheery and uplifting right now. But I’m not.
Is my faith failing? Absolutely not. I know that God is Sovereign. I know that He is Good. I know that my life matters to Him. I know that He will fulfill His purposes for me.
This is not a faith issue. This is not a “disappointment with God.” (And, by the way, I cringe at that term, because what does my disappointment or approval have anything to do with how the Sovereign of the Universe governs? It’s always sounded so self-centered to me. . .but that’s just my opinion that no one asked for)
This is. . .I’m tired. It’s been an extremely hard year, emotionally and physically. I truly don’t know where the next step will take me.
” Who among you fears the Lord and obeys the word of His servant? Let him who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God. But now, all you who light fires and provide yourselves with flaming torches, go, walk in the light of your fires and of the torches you have set ablaze. This is what you shall receive from my hand: You will lie down in torment.” (Isaiah 50: 10-11 NIV)
This is a dark path right now. I’m trusting God to show me where the next step is. I don’t want to light my own fires. Been there. Done that. Been in torment.
I’ve been thinking a bit about Mary, the mother of Jesus. She had some really “tough time” periods. Being a pregnant teen, unmarried, with a truly unbelieveable story to tell constituted a hard year. Being the earthly mother of the Son of God, and knowing this calling — talk about responsiblity! That’s as far as I’ve let my brain think — being Jesus’ mother when he was an adult — that’s another post for another time.
I want to have Mary’s attitude and faith in my “hard year” (and no, I don’t see any end in sight)
“I am the Lord’s servant. . .May it be to me as you have said. . .” (Luke 1:38 NIV)
I realize that I haven’t posted in a while. I’m back, after a nasty bout with severe withdrawal symptoms from a medication that I found really works and that I truly need. God, thank you for Lyrica! May I never run out again!
Here’s a passage that’s been on my heart, and I think it’s practically memorized, or at least etched into my brain at some level. . .
“Hebrews 10:32 Think back on those early days when you first learned about Christ. Remember how you remained faithful even though it meant terrible suffering.
33 Sometimes you were exposed to public ridicule and were beaten, and sometimes you helped others who were suffering the same things.
34 You suffered along with those who were thrown into jail, and when all you owned was taken from you, you accepted it with joy. You knew there were better things waiting for you that will last forever.
35 So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you!
36 Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised. (NLT)
Think back, or remember the earlier days. . .when you knew how much grace meant; when your salvation from idols and the realization that a Holy God would become man to die in your place, and then rise again and ascend to heaven, with a promise that He will return in glory to gain the final victory over sin and death.
Suffering is a part of the Christian walk. Why do any of us ever think that we are entitled to no suffering because we follow Jesus? Jesus wasn’t immune to suffering; none of the apostles was immune. Stephen was stoned. Even the friends of the apostles and founders of the church were persecuted just because they associated with them or gave them shelter.
So, how do we suffer well? We accept it with joy, knowing that something better is coming. This life will not last forever; forever is spent with Jesus! Sure, it seems ridiculous, even impossible. In fact, in our own strength, suffering well is impossible. But, as the earlier part of the chapter reveals, Jesus has provided all the strength and example we need. We just throw ourselves on His grace; come boldly before Him, asking for what He is so willing to give.
And here is the admonition that has been ringing in my head for the last several days. . .”Don’t throw away your confident trust in the Lord. . .Patient endurance is what you need now, so you will continue to do God’s will. . .”
Throwing in the towel, giving up, quitting, is throwing away my confident trust in the Lord. Jesus knows that suffering, that this life with all the unfairness and weariness and conflict and temptation, will tempt me to give up. I can’t throw away my confident trust in God. He is Sovereign; He is in control; He does all things well; He is merciful, and kind to all He has made; He will fulfill His purpose for me.
Patient endurance. Continue to do God’s will. Don’t give up. Keep on going. Continue to do what God wants me to do. The reward is at the end. Jesus is here now, but Jesus is there, at the end. I can keep on because He is with me.
