If people look at our lives, what do they most see us representing with what we say and do? It should not be: a political party or personality, a charity or company, our family or favorite team, or ourselves and our standards. While those things may be a part of what we stand for and show forth, what people most need to see in and through our lives is Jesus. Let us live out and speak out the gospel in a way which makes it clear that we worship Him and not any other thing, and in a way which makes it clear that He is the ultimate source of hope and happiness and not any other thing.
Short #1: Conviction And Celebration
When reading the Bible, if you don’t experience both conviction and celebration, you’re not reading it correctly. On one hand, we should not ignore the places where God’s words challenge and correct the way we are living if we are disobedient to His commands. On the other hand, we should not isolate the places where God issues His commands so all we have is a list of “dos and don’ts”. A proper reading and understanding of the Bible should equip us to joyfully do as God intends and encourage us with all that Jesus has done, is doing and will do for us which makes it possible and makes it worth it.
A “Short” Break For The Upcoming Seaso …
Beginning tomorrow morning I’ll be publishing a “short” each day until the end of our Runner Church ministry season in October (instead of the normal weekday devotions). These “shorts” will usually be a 4-6 sentence “thought for the day.” This will allow me to focus my time on message prep for our Runner Church gatherings. Normal weekday devotions will resume at the conclusion of the Runner Church season this Fall. Please pray for us as we “show and tell” runners what the good news of Jesus is all about.
NOTE: As time allows, I’ll post some lengthier content too. This just won’t be on a regular schedule.
He Has Risen As He Said
But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. – Matthew 28:5-6
Do you believe that Jesus is alive? Then don’t live as if He’s still dead. Don’t live as if you are left to your own wisdom, strength and resources to navigate through life. Don’t live as if this world and its stuff is all there is, and you can’t be happy unless you have more of it. Don’t live as if your life has no real meaning and purpose, and how you spend your time doesn’t really matter. Don’t live as if you are a victim of temptation and sin, powerless to stand up to it and resist it and defeat it. Don’t live as if life is out of control, and you have just cause to worry and fear and dread. Listen… The empty tomb changes everything! You couldn’t live up to God’s standards, so Jesus lived perfectly for you. You couldn’t break free from sin, so He set you free. You couldn’t atone for your transgressions, so Jesus died in your place. You couldn’t defeat death, so He conquered the grave so you too will rise. You couldn’t earn an eternal retirement, so He paid for your inheritance. You have become rich in salvation, forgiveness, joy, peace, glory, kindness, favor, righteousness, love and hope because of what Jesus accomplished on your behalf. Because He lives, you can live too … abundantly in this world and eternally in the world to come. Because the Lamb of God was slain, rose again and the tomb is now empty, if you are trusting Him, you are a new person with a new eternity in your future, and new potential, new purpose, new power, new pleasure in Him for everyday life even now. When you and I live in this newness that Jesus purchased on the cross for us, we do so to bring glory to the Lamb of God who was slain for us, conquered sin and death for us, offers forgiveness and life to us, and has become a treasure to us. If you are trusting in Jesus, your life is full because the tomb is empty. He has risen as He said, and He will return as He said. Until He does… If you believe that Jesus is alive, then don’t live as if He’s still dead.
They Laid Jesus There
So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. So because of the Jewish day of Preparation, since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there. – John 19:40-42
Confusion. Shock. Fear. Uncertainty. Heartbreak. Silence. When they laid the breathless, lifeless body of Jesus in the tomb, it must have seemed like their own breath and life had been drained from them. And when the stone was rolled into place, it must have looked like their hopes and fate were sealed inside with the One they had pinned their hopes on and trusted their fate to. They were discovering what we all discover… Things often won’t go as we planned them. Things often won’t work out like we hoped. Things often won’t happen as we thought they would. Things often won’t be as simple or easy or comfortable as we would like. Instead, things will break our hearts and leave us in stunned silence. But, in the hands and plans of God, our struggles are not setbacks, they are stepping stones. When we go through hard times, it’s not in the way of God’s plan; it is His plan. Our God is sovereign, and though the sinfulness of people, the brokenness of this world and the maliciousness of Satan all rise up to seemingly stop God’s work, He makes them bow down and serve His purposes! The story is never over … NEVER OVER … until God has claimed the final victory, for God is always working things out for good in the end. Struggles will be defeated. Suffering will be defeated. Sin will be defeated. Satan will be defeated. Death will be defeated. Every foe we will ever face will be overturned, overthrown and overcome because Jesus is putting and will put every enemy under His foot. Until then, we wait. But we wait in hope of better things. For we know the rest of the story that these disciples were about to experience first-hand… They laid Jesus there. But He would not lie there for long. They thought it was the end. But it was just the beginning. It was finished. But it was not over.
He Set His Face To Go To Jerusalem
When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. – Luke 9:51
Jesus knew what awaited in Jerusalem. Unimaginable torment. Unthinkable anguish. Unspeakable evil. Unwarranted brutality. Unprecedented suffering. No one would ever face anything like what Jesus set His face to go to. He would absorb the wrath of God for our sins to secure the grace of God for our salvation so we could become the people of God for all eternity. He knew what was coming, but He didn’t avoid it. He didn’t bypass it. He didn’t stop it. He set his face towards it, locked eyeballs with it, and did not back away, back off or back down from it. He knew what Jerusalem meant for Him. He knew what Jerusalem would cost Him. But He was determined to complete the mission for which He came … to save sinners like you and me. So… The spotless Lamb of God headed for the place of His slaughter. The gruesomeness of that statement should grip you. So, let it. This was going to be an ugly, horrific scene that should rightly furrow our brows, sicken our stomachs, and stab our hearts because it was our sin that caused this sacrifice to be needed. He set His face to go to Jerusalem to suffer in our place, take the wrath we deserved, and be crushed for the weight of our sin. Oh, let us never take our sin lightly! The graciousness of that statement should also grip you. So, let it as well. This was going to be a beautiful, wonderful act of love that should make our eyes dance, make our faces smile, and make our hearts leap with joy because He was willing to do this for us. He set His face to go to Jerusalem to bring us from death into life, bring us into His family, and someday bring us into the very presence of God in heaven where there is fullness of joy and pleasure forevermore. Oh, let us never take our worship lightly! Jesus is our way out of hell and our way into heaven. No one comes to the Father except through Him. And no one would come through Him unless He went to Jerusalem.
Two Week Sabbatical
Hey there, finishers! Jimmy here. I’m away for a two week sabbatical with Paula and will not post weekday devotions here again until we return.
Until then, check out my shorter daily posts on our Facebook page at https://www.Facebook.com/FinishLineFaith/
And keep an eye out on your inbox for my next 3 devotions on April 2-4 (Easter Weekend).
Your prayers are appreciated as we step away for a couple of weeks to get refreshed for our upcoming Runner Church season.
It’s Okay To Not Be Okay – Part 2
Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. – Galatians 6:2
God means for us to share our burdens with others and bear the burdens of others. Yet, one of life’s biggest struggles for many people is to let others inside. We’ve been programmed to think we shouldn’t let people see our weaknesses. Or to believe that we are tough enough to take care of ourselves. Or to expect people to walk away if they get to know the real person inside of us. We drift from God’s design to the enemy’s desire for how our lives ought to be fashioned. We find it easier to ask for help carrying groceries into the house than we do in carrying the burdens of our hearts. We tend to talk about our fantasy football struggles, but not our marital struggles. We let people know our thoughts about the weather, politics, and workplace matters, but we tuck away our battles with depression, worry, fear, addiction, and overwhelm. Yet God sent Jesus as the ultimate burden-bearer to take on to Himself our sin and struggles. He lived the life we could not live, died in our place on the cross, and rose from the dead to secure both forgiveness and freedom for every place we are not okay. To those He called to be in the family of God, He also called to live as the family of God in administering His care to one another until the day comes when He will welcome us into our heavenly home, and there will be no more burdens to bear. Until then, it’s time to repent of thinking, believing, and acting as if you’re alone in the struggle. It’s also time to repent of leaving others alone in their struggles when God has called you to step in and offer His care. It’s okay to not be okay. It’s not okay to stay that way. Especially when God has equipped the church to take care of one another as we depend upon Him to graciously provide what we need in our time of need. The smartest thing you can do when you find yourself feeling overpowered, overwhelmed or overloaded is to ask for help. If it’s more than you can handle alone, that’s God’s way of saying He doesn’t want you to handle it alone.
It’s Okay To Not Be Okay – Part 1
Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. – Galatians 6:2
It’s okay to not be okay. It’s not okay to stay that way. It’s not okay to hide your hurt. It’s not okay to handle it alone. It’s not okay to refuse help. It’s not okay to keep silent. It’s not okay to withdraw. It’s not okay to settle. It’s not okay to lose hope. It’s not okay to push others away. Self-sufficiency was never a part of God’s design for us. From mankind’s beginning, He purposed that we would be a people who needed help. Help from Him. Help from each other. God did not give us the means to accomplish every task, satisfy every need, solve every dilemma, and fulfill every longing in isolation from other people. In reality, there is actually very little we can do completely on our own. There is no shame in admitting you need help. We are broken people living in a broken world, so of course, there is going to be an open-ended need for assistance in every category of our lives. To need help is simply to be human. You and I are not wise enough, strong enough, or resourceful enough to go at it alone. God never meant for us to. Instead, He made us to be a people who would look to Him for help. Of course, He sometimes delivers this essential aid through divine intervention. But many times, He works through divine community. He calls, gifts, empowers, mobilizes, and sends the church of Jesus to be His hands, feet, and mouth to people inside and outside the family of God. To care for His people and to care for others so they become His people. He made us to be interdependent upon each other as a means of being dependent on Him. Therefore, it is your responsibility to let me know when you’re not okay so I can do what God called me to do in providing you help. It is my responsibility to do the same in reverse. It is our mutual obligation to “bear one another’s burdens” by asking for care when we are in a place of need, and giving care when we are in a position to meet needs. This is God’s design for us. This is how God works through us. This is how God provides for us. #shareyourburdenswithothers #beartheburdensofothers
Battles, Fighting And Armor – Part 2
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. – Ephesians 6:10-13
God does not leave us defenseless or powerless against the enemy of our soul. Instead, He gives us His Spirit to go with us. God does not send us ill-equipped into battle against this powerful adversary who is seeking to devour and destroy us. Instead, He dresses us in His own armor. We cannot fight with our limited human resources, but we are more than conquerors through Jesus who loves us. (Romans 8:37) In order for us to fight the good fight of faith, we must put on the armor of God … ahead of time, in advance of the skirmish. We put ourselves and others at extreme risk if we wait until the battle begins to ready ourselves for war against sin and evil. The enemy does not allow us to call timeout or grant us a recess to gather our ammunition and put up our shield. This is why we should arm ourselves with a daily dose of God’s instructions and God’s truths and God’s promises found in God’s Word. It is for this reason that we should spend time praying for God’s power and God’s wisdom and God’s protection every day and throughout the day. We need to remember, rejoice in, and rely on the good news of Jesus in order to safeguard our heads, hearts, and homes. Knowing how the enemy works, let us be vigilant in our advance preparation for the battle and reliant on the armor and presence of God when the battle rages. Jesus is with us in the battle, giving us the courage, guidance, and strength that we need to conquer every foe. Make war! And if you go down, go down swinging, knowing that there is grace for every lost fight because you are trusting in Jesus, and Jesus has dealt a knockout punch to sin, Satan and death for you. You will rise again to fight again and win in the end. Because of grace we don’t give up in our fight against our spiritual enemies; by grace we get up and fight on!
Battles, Fighting And Armor – Part 1
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. – Ephesians 6:10-13
You may not realize the extent it reaches into your life. You may not grasp the effect is has upon your life. Perhaps you’ve dismissed it as a bad rap, bad influence, bad habit, bad luck, bad timing or bad news. Labels aside, there is something very palpable and perilous that is happening in our lives. The threat is real. The danger is imminent. The stakes are high. There is a battle that is raging in us, around us, and against us. The spiritual enemies of God are making war against the family of God. Just as God is advancing His kingdom, Satan and his allied army are intent on achieving their own objective. Namely, to stop God from advancing His kingdom. It is, of course, ultimately in vain, but in the time and space we now reside, there is conflict. The enemy forces will come at us in an all-out assault upon our faith and an all-out attempt to control, cripple, or crush us. Therefore, we must fight for… our marriage and family, thought life and beliefs, purity and righteousness, calling and purpose, loyalty to God, satisfaction in Jesus, God-given hopes and dreams, wise use of time, stewardship of money, delight for God’s word, devotion to prayer, dependence upon the Holy Spirit, next step of faith, stand against injustice, voice for the truth, platform to share the gospel, Christ-purchased abundant life and love for our heavenly Father. We cannot afford to yield ground in these areas. We cannot afford to be passive in the fight. We cannot be ignorant of or indifferent to the seriousness of the calculated aggression of our enemy. We cannot let the enticement, frustration, deception, opposition, confusion, distraction, or coercion of any enlisted person or power to convince us to settle for a cheap and comfortable substitution for God and His ways. The warfare comes in many different forms, but the endgame is always the same: to convince us to live as if we do not need God. Therefore, let us fight like our lives depend upon us depending on Him. Because. They. Do.
Lifeopoly, Part 2
And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen. – Philippians 4:19-20
The way to win the game of Lifeopoly is to go to Jesus. Go immediately, personally, expectantly, honestly, submissively, willingly, hungrily, persistently, confidently, obediently, adoringly, fearlessly, gratefully, humbly, corporately, sincerely, hopefully, lovingly, trustingly and frequently. For those moments we are in over our heads and about to lose our minds, let us go directly to Jesus to collect peace and rest. Whenever we land on a space that has us wondering what to do, let us go directly to Jesus to collect wisdom and guidance. If the next roll leaves us so weak we think we cannot continue on, let us go directly to Jesus to collect strength and endurance. Should some turn scare us, let us go directly to Jesus to collect courage and assurance. As we cause some of the bad things that happen, let us go directly to Jesus for forgiveness and transformation. Of course, even in this world of brokenness and even in our own sinfulness, not every turn turns out badly. Some moves bring us to pleasant places. What should we do then? Go to Jesus. Go directly to Jesus. To thank our God for His gracious gifts, and to ask Him to help us rightly enjoy them so they do not become idols that take us to a bad place. We do not have to handle the demands of this life by ourselves. In fact, we cannot. God never intended for us to. Instead, His Son, Jesus is with us and for us as we round the board. Go directly to Him and be refreshed and reoriented. God’s supply of peace, hope, joy, wisdom, strength, courage, security, companionship, and every other good thing He has for us in Jesus is endless. There is grace for our every roll, every turn, every landing space until this game is over, and it all goes back into the box. Then, Eternal-Lifeopoly begins. In which there are no bad spaces to land. And every player gets fullness of joy and pleasure forevermore with God.
Lifeopoly, Part 1
And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen. – Philippians 4:19-20
Do you ever feel like the game of Lifeopoly is rigged, and you’re always a roll away from landing on another bad space? As you survey the board, there are unexpected burdens, unreasonable people, unpleasant circumstances, uncertain details, unknown outcomes, unmet expectations, unrealized dreams, unkind words, and unmanageable schedules. All of this can leave you feeling undone! On some days and in some seasons, it’s like every roll of every turn plops you down on a hotel-laden property whose owner demands you pay up. You look at your resources and find that you have a measly $12 and one of the utilities, forcing you to mortgage off your peace, hope and joy. Overdrawn. Overextended. Overwhelmed. There is no way this game is going to end well. Unless… You follow these instructions: Go to Jesus. Go directly to Jesus. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200. In other words, don’t try to play the game on your own with your own resources. You. Will. Never. Win. The only way to handle all of the tough landing spaces in this broken, sin-stained world is to go to Jesus. Go directly to Jesus. There is unbelievable grace available for every unsettling thing you face. Let us go to Him over and over to give Him our worries in time of need. Let us go to Him over and over to give Him our worship in time of needs met. How relieving and reassuring and renewing it is to talk to Him about our cares and trust Him to do something about them. Whatever space you find yourself landing on today, go to Jesus for peace, joy, hope, guidance and provision. He will give you gracious help in whatever way He knows is best. Relying on Him is the only way to play the game of Lifeopoly. You. Will. Never. Lose.
Are You Confident? Jesus Offers Assurance.
And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. – 1 John 15:11-13
There are some things you need to understand about good news. It’s only good news if it overcomes or obliterates bad news, if it applies to you personally, if it’s true and if you believe it. When one of those things is missing, it’s not really good news for you at all. The gospel checks those first three boxes; the fourth one is checked off when you put your faith in Jesus. The question is: how do you know if you really believe and are headed for eternal life in heaven when this life has ended? The Bible makes it clear that you can know. It’s called assurance, and it’s one of the many things that Jesus offers to us. You can know that you believe when you look back to see that your faith in Jesus has changed your life, and look around to see that your faith in Jesus is still changing your life. That is, assurance comes when you see evidences of the power of God at work in shaping who you are and what you do. It has caused to you hate your sin and fight against it, and love your Savior and fight for joy in Him. You’ll not always do this, but an evidence that you belong to Jesus is you want to do this, and you strive to do this. There is progress in your faith journey where your beliefs and motives and views and desires and attitudes and words and deeds become less like the world and more like Jesus. Not because you are trying harder to be better, but because the love that God has for you in Jesus has gripped your heart and is making you into someone who desires to know, trust, obey, enjoy and please Him. You’re not going to get this right all the time, so don’t let your assurance rise and fall on your fluctuating faith, desire and effort. There will be ups and downs, steadfastness and stumbles, progress and detours, but true believers will persevere because God finishes what He starts in our lives. That’s what genuine belief and assurance is all about: knowing that you’ll make it to heaven not because of what you are able to do, but because you are trusting in what Jesus graciously does on your behalf.
What We Believe Changes Us
If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. – 1 Timothy 6:3-4a
What we believe – negatively or positively, rightly or wrongly, godly or worldly – will always shape what we value and how we live. When we believe the message of the gospel more fully in more areas of our lives, we are transformed into people who: Embrace God’s plans because they are superior to anything else. Slow down to enjoy Jesus because He is our joy-producing treasure. Rely on the Holy Spirit because in our weakness He makes us strong. Join God in His redemption mission because it is the most important work in the universe. Love and serve the people of God because we are all one body in Christ. Fight against our sinfulness because we want to be holy like our Savior. Long for heaven because it, not this world, is our home. Above all else, we will rest in God’s grace to help us do all of these things, and forgive us when we don’t. Listen: Embracing the truths of Scripture, God’s promises to us, and the good news of Who Jesus is and what He has accomplished for sinners like you and me, is what counteracts the message of the world. Its message is full of empty promises, half-truths and lies. Its message is all about convincing us to prioritize, pursue and prize things ahead of, and instead of, God and life with Him. Its message is all about robbing us of our happiness and destroying us in the end. Its message is all about glorifying sin and self and stuff. God is all about removing those things that rob us of our happiness! God is all about destroying that which will destroy us! God is all about glorifying Himself and His Name and His Son! Therefore, we should believe and build our lives upon the truth of Scripture. It is the way to life for sinners. It is the way of life for sinners who have been saved by grace.
When Trials Come
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. – James 1:2-4
Three quick observations about trials…
- It’s not “if” but “when” trials come into our lives. It’s a certainty that we will face them. It should not surprise us. We know they are coming in various formats, durations, intensities and frequencies no matter how hard we try to insulate our lives from them. Hardships are a normal part of the Christian life in this broken world. So, how are we to respond to their arrival and presence?
- Christians should count the various trials in our lives as joy. Not as defeat. Not as pleasant. Not as punishment. Not as meaningless. Not as insignificant. Not as a reason to complain. Not as a lack of God’s care. Trials can be many things, but they cannot be joy-stealers unless we let them. We are to consider it all joy when they come, and we do this by considering how God is at work for good in and through our hardships…
- Trials produce an unshakeable faith in Jesus. They are a means to an end. God uses trials in our lives to grow, enrich, solidify, purify and mature our faith as we trust in, and rely on, the steadfast presence of Jesus to preserve us until the end. In order for us to count our present hardships as joy, we must think about our future. Our faith muscle becoming stronger. Our deliverance becoming sooner. Our witness becoming louder. Our homecoming becoming sweeter. Yes, you have hardships; but you also have hope.
Take heart! While it may feel like trials are breaking you today, you can be sure that God is building you up through them in ways that are going to be amazingly good in the days to come.
Expect God To Work, But Maybe Not That Way
And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen. – Philippians 4:19-20
God will provide for you in time of need. God will transform you into who you were made to be. God will deliver you from evil. God will use you to make a difference. God will bring you incredible joy and peace. God will forgive you for your sin. God will work in you and for you and through you in countless ways. But He likely won’t do many of those things in the way you think He will. Instead, He will astonish you with a “didn’t see that coming” choice of the 81st way you might have thought He’d come through for you. Think about it… He delivered the Israelites from the Philistine giant through a shepherd boy. He tore down the walls of the fortified city Jericho with marching trumpeters. He allowed an innocent man to spend years in prison to provide during a famine. He strengthened the faith of the disciples by sending them into a terrifying storm. He restored the sight of a blind man by taking spit and rubbing it in his eyes. He converted Saul from a church persecutor into a church planter. And the single most wondrous unlikelihood of them all… He sent Jesus to be born in a lowly manger and crushed on the cross to save sinners like you and me. No one would have scripted these events. No one except God. He does the unexpected. He does the unexplainable. He does the unparalleled. Our God weaves a story so incredible that it takes faith to believe it could be true. That’s what He does for you and me. He takes care of us in ways that can only be Him at work. Why? So He gets the glory forever and ever, amen! We get the help and God gets the honor. What. A. Deal. Today, expect God to work in your life for good. Just don’t expect Him to do it like you think He will.
Are You Finished? Jesus Offers Endurance.
For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. – John 6:39-40
There are days when our faith falters, but Jesus does not abandon us. There are days when we feel like giving up, but Jesus does not let us. There are days when we are too overwhelmed to carry on, but Jesus does not move on without us. Jesus came from heaven to earth to make a way for sinners like you and me to go from earth to heaven. And every step we take together is assured because of His willingness and faithfulness to do the Father’s will: namely, to keep us until the end of this life and raise us up at the beginning of the next. Ours will be a journey full of mountains and valleys, victories and failures, eases and hardships, prosperities and poverties. Yet through it all, we will be empowered by His presence and encouraged by His promises as we rely on Him in faith to keep moving on to our eternal home. He will not lose us on the way. He will not let us lose our way. Through every sinful setback, every stagnant season and every stormy squall, Jesus remains faithful to get to heaven all those who believe in Him. We will keep going. We will endure. We will make it. Not because of anything we can do apart from Jesus, but because Jesus is a part of us, enabling us by God’s grace to persevere to the end. Until then, even when our days include struggles and our walk include stumbles, let us press on in joyful confidence that getting to our heavenly home does not depend upon us but on Jesus. He will stay right with us. He will do whatever it takes. He will provide all that is needed. He will take as long as required. Yes, we work hard by His grace to follow Him closely in loving obedience, but He alone will ensure that we are able to do so. Rejoice as you hold on until the end-before-the-beginning, knowing that Jesus is holding on to you. On this our eternal security firmly rests: We will remain faithful to Him because He remains faithful to us.
The End Of Your Story Is Written
…let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith… – Hebrews 12:1c-2a
Our stories don’t always make sense to us. They don’t unfold the way we would have written them if it was up to us. They are full of unpredictable plot twists that catch us by surprise. They can be joyful one page and painful the next. God simply doesn’t do things our way. And that’s a good thing. For His ways are always good, right, wise, and loving. Yet as unforeseeable as how God works in our lives often is to us, there is also something wonderfully reassuring in the knowledge that He is indeed always at work. It’s like we’ve seen this all a thousand times before. Our hero rushes in at just the right moment to save the day. As unpredictable as it is, it is also anticipated. God has proven Himself faithful over and over again. As with any good narrative, questions unfold as the story does. How will God provide? What kind of people will we become? How will God work through us to help others? Where are we going in life? What good will come from this suffering? When will this trial end? Why is this so hard? Do we win in the end? How will this serve God’s purpose? How will my story tell the greatest story ever told? Who’s the real hero? Spoiler alert: That’s Jesus! We may not know how this chapter ends, and the next one begins, but we trust that God knows exactly what He is doing in every scene of our lives. By faith, we travel the course marked out on its pages, knowing that the end of our story has been written, and it’s wonderful. We don’t know what comes next with each turn of the page, and it won’t always make sense to us, but it doesn’t have to. Because our faith is in the One who does know the happily-ever-after ending to our story. After all, He’s the One who wrote it.
Are You Grumbling? Jesus Offers Thankfulness.
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Aware of it or not, we are constantly analyzing and evaluating how we think our lives are going and where they are heading. Thanklessness usually happens when we don’t like what we see about our lives, or we fail to see God’s grace at work in our lives. If we are grumbling about what we don’t have, what we don’t like, or what we don’t understand, then we will overlook all that He is doing for us and all that He is to us. Jesus offers us reason after reason after reason to be joyful and thankful because He offers us Himself, and He offers us His salvation. Not perishing is a gift that is so spectacular and stunning it is impossible to comprehend its full magnitude. Having eternal life is a gift that is of such pricelessness and preciousness it is impossible to estimate its full worth. From these two mind-blowing, breath-taking kindnesses of God in Christ are an innumerable and inexhaustible inventory of gospel benefits and blessings for those who believe. And we don’t deserve any of it. It’s all because of Jesus. It’s all because of grace. Rejoice! Give thanks! Don’t you see? If you know Jesus, your life is going unbelievably well (even if there is suffering present). If you know Jesus, you’re heading home to everlasting good (even if things are bad on the way). In every circumstance, you have reason to be joyful and thankful because you have Him. You don’t have to look very far or very hard to see the reason, but you do have to look. I’m not talking about looking on the bright side of things, looking for the silver lining, or looking at the glass as half full instead of half empty. I’m talking about looking at reason after reason after reason for rejoicing in Jesus: He puts good things in your life right now, He works out the bad things for good in time, and He has promised that the best possible things you could ever imagine are yet to come.
