2nd Causes, 2of2

~ This is From Me! ~

In part one of this blog we ended with the question, can you say with Job, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him” (Job 13:15a) and “When He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold” (Job 23:10b)?  Part one was the overview and now we need to look at real life issues which we face.  In all situations we need to remember that Jesus Christ fully experienced our humanity and was “in all points tested as we are” (Hebrews 4:15).

   

Are You In Financial Difficulty?  ~  God has allowed your present circumstances even though He has infinite supplies.  Our problem is that we confuse our wants with our needs.  God will supply what you need.  “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).  Even though He has all the resources He only gives us what is best for us from an eternal standpoint.

our example:  Jesus Christ never possessed much in the way of material goods or financial mans.  “And Jesus said to him, ‘Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.’  Then He said to another, ‘Follow Me’” (Luke 9:58-59).  We must remember that ultimately it is Jesus Christ from whom receive or fail to receive and He has our best eternal interests as the goal.

Are You Misunderstood?  ~  Have your right actions spurred by right motivations been misunderstood?  God is the God of your circumstances.  God allows everything that happens and He is aware of everything that happens.  Are you blaming the mailman or are you looking to your Savior?  Nothing happens to you which He is not aware of!  Jesus said, “Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin?  And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will.  But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows” (Matthew 10:29-31).

our example:  Jesus Christ lived a perfect sinless life.  He came to bring a path to salvation to fallen mankind.  But He was misunderstood by many and ultimately died a horrific painful death on the Cross.

Have You Been Betrayed by a Friend?  ~  Did someone you trusted prove untrustworthy?  Jesus understands your heartache.  He is the only One who remains perfectly faithful (Revelation 19:11).  The old hymn “What a Friend we have in Jesus” contains so much truth.

our example:  Jesus Christ was denied by Peter, one of His own disciples, three times (Matthew 26:34, 75).  Later Judas, one of His inner circle, betrayed Him with a kiss (Matthew 26:47-48).  Even after these events Jesus loved both Peter and Judas.  Peter was restored went on to a great ministry for His Lord and Savior.

Have You Been Gossiped About or Slandered?  ~  Having untrue things said about you to someone you value can be one of the deepest hurts we can experience in this life.  God hates this behavior.  Interestingly enough “a false witness” is one the seven things we are told God hates—and three of the seven are directly related to false speech (Proverbs 6:16-19).  “Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who deal truthfully are His delight” (Proverbs 12:22).

our example:  Jesus Christ was slandered.  Pilate after hearing the accusers could not find fault but in bowing to the wishes of the people said, “I am innocent of the blood of this just Person” (Matthew 27:24).

Have You Experienced Significant Loss?  ~  Loss is hard—especially the loss of the life of a loved one.  Even when death is anticipated sorrow follows.  There are other extreme kinds of sorrow as we live on this planet occupied by fallen mankind.  In such circumstances can you hear the words, “this thing is from Me.”  Do you still trust your sovereign God?

our example:  Jesus Christ was “a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief” (Isaiah 53:3).

Have You Plans Failed?  ~  You’ve mapped out the future.  You prayed about it.  You made commitments of time, talent, and treasure.  But things just didn’t work out as you anticipated.  God has allowed it and Jesus says to you, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:28-29).

Have Your Ministry For God Not Worked Out?  ~  Have you sincerely wanted to do something special in ministry for God?  But somehow the results were not as you expected.  God does not see success as we evaluate it, rather than looking at the tangible results he looks at our heart and our faithfulness.  “A faithful man will abound with blessings, but he who hastens to be rich will not go unpunished” (Proverbs 28:20).

“Oh, love the Lord, all you His saints!  For the Lord preserves the faithful, and fully repays the proud person” (Psalm 31:23).  “God gave the increase.  So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.  Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.  For we are God's fellow workers” (1 Corinthians 3:6b-9a).

Perhaps God has put you in a position where you need to pray more while being less physically active for Him.  What a privilege is yours to be with Christ in the school of prayer.

Are There Unrealistic Expectations Placed Upon You?  ~  Have you been thrust into a difficult situation that you are not qualified for?  When called upon by God to do great things Moses started making excuses.  “Then Moses said to the Lord, ‘O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue’” (Exodus 4:10).  The accounts of any other Biblical characters are similar.  Here is a verse for you, “‘My [Jesus Christ] grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’  Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2 Corinthians 12:9b).

key thoughts:  Have you meditated upon the reality that your concerns are well-known to your God.  God knows your emotions, your concerns, your fears, and your anxieties.  Can you accept whatever comes your way as being allowed by your heavenly Father for your ultimate good?  Can you rejoice in the fact that, “We do not have a High Priest [Jesus Christ] who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.  Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrew 4:15-16).

Are you going through a difficult time?  If so, has it driven you to closer intimacy with your God and Savior?  If not, why not?  If you are not as close to God as you once were, guess who moved?

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

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