My purpose for this blog is deeply rooted in my previous post (click on the link if you haven't read it: 2016: Reflections & Resolutions), in which I mentioned the importance writing down a resolutions list and reviewing it regularly. I also mentioned a lesson I learned last year, that lasting change begins, continues and ends with the Holy Spirit.
I have already started working on my resolution list, and it's already pretty long
although it's not done..and that's kind of scary BUT the good thing is
that most of the points are interconnected, so we'll just call it
detailed instead of long 😉. And these past days, God has been pointing out things to me that need to change...things that I didn't consider when I started writing. God wants me to change for the better and He is initiating that change, and that perfectly aligns with what I wrote about lasting change. The things that He has been pointing out are so deep and definitely something that needs to be worked on before I find myself in worse situations. I see that God is giving me another chance or a grace period and I am so thankful for it. I see them as "God's resolution list" for me and I'll be sharing them in the coming posts.
So this whole, "God's resolution list" kind of shocked me and I was wondering if it's Biblical and it actually is. Let me explain. I was reminded of these verses from Psalm 139.
Investigate my life, O God,find out everything about me;
Cross-examine and test me,get a clear picture of what I’m about; See for yourself whether I’ve done anything wrong—then guide me on the road to eternal life.
God knows us our hearts through and through. He knows everything about us. He can examine our lives and point out things that are wrong in our lives and He can lead us on the road to right road.
So as good as it is to write lists from our view, we have an incomplete view of ourselves. Therefore, I encourage you to ask God to point out areas as you write your list. Some of you may be thinking that it's too far into the new year to write or to be talking about resolutions or even to make them. But let me remind you that we have 340 days left of the year, and January isn't over yet!😁 It's never too late to want to change for the better, and we don't have to wait for a new year to make resolutions. Everyday is an opportunity to do better. And last but not least, let us ask God to guide us so that we can live out the resolutions that we have.
The Word of God, when we think about it, we think about the Bible.
But the Word of God is so much more. Let's take a look at the Bible and at Jesus.
The Bible is active and alive, it's our daily bread, it gives life,
it's the Truth, it shows us the way, it is there for correction,
encouragement and teaching, it's as sharp as a double sided sword, it's
perfect in itself, it enlightens our ways by enlightening the path of
our feet and much more.
Jesus is the living Word of God. He was
in the beginning and He was with God and He was God Himself. He became
flesh and dwelt among us.
Jesus says of Himself that He is the
Truth, the Way and the Life. He says that He is the Bread of Life. He
speaks what God speaks without error. When He speaks, He speaks with
divine authority, with grace, with wisdom, with power, with knowledge,
with truth and love. He proclaims the righteousness of God. And He uses
Scripture to rebuke and correct and to guide.
Now, both of them
are the Word of God but we can not live with one while neglecting the
other one. They belong together and are one. You can not love Jesus but
have no desire to read the Word also if you think that Jesus spoke to
you but you can't find it in the Word it is not of Jesus, since He
doesn't speak anything against or not according to His Word.
The
Word of God is what God, Himself, speaks. It is what He thinks and it is
coming out of His very heart. When we know and understand His Word, we
get to know and understand His heart.
It is very interesting to
see that He blessed us with His whole Word. Now, this doesn't mean that
God doesn't have more to say, NO! God's wisdom is endless. It just means
that He told us everything WE need to know in order to survive in this
world and to be prepared for the world to come. He told us everything we
need to know from beginning to end. There is nothing which should
surprise us since He made sure to tell us everything we need to know
concerning history, present and future events.
His Word also
says that it is forbidden to take anything away from it or to add
anything to it. Otherwise the Word would be twisted and not perfect and
complete and holy in itself. It wouldn't be 100% the truth. With
that being said there are two parts of the Word. The reading part and
the living part. The Scriptures help us to understand God's heart and
will for our lives and Jesus helps us living according to it through His
Holy Spirit.
If you don't read the Word, you won't understand
God and you would be spiritually dead and defenseless against the tricks
of the enemy. If you don't live it, you can't please God, since your
faith wouldn't be complete and faith without works is dead and it's
impossible to please God without faith.
We have to abide in Him and His Word to understand and live it.
Through His Word, by beholding Jesus, we are being transformed more and more into His image.
Just as Jesus is with us everywhere and everyday of our lives, it's
important that the written Word is with us everyday and everywhere too.
We are so frail
And yet in all our frailty
He loves us "As for man, his days are like grass; As a flower of the field, so he
flourishes. When the wind has passed over it, it is no more, And its
place acknowledges it no longer." -Psalm103:15-16
Our bodies though magnificent are temporary
The strength of our youth soon fades
Then we are hooked to support systems
Our bodies are opened up to replace parts that are dysfunctional
Yet in all our weakness
We dare think that we do not need the Eternal One
"For dust you are and to dust you will return." -Genesis 3:19 But He loves us still And died so that one day This tent of ours will Be replaced by a house far more beautiful
"For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a
building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands." -2Cor.5:1
A few Sundays ago, I watched Inside Out with a special someone. Overall, it is a great movie because I love animations and also because it has some good life lessons. One of the things I learned was that even though we think that sadness is irrelevant, it actually plays an important role in our lives. If I were to ask a couple people to choose between sadness and joy, many would opt for joy. I probably would too, after all joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit and I am definitely thankful for it. But sadness and all it encompasses has a purpose beyond what we think or often hear of.
Trials,injustices and suffering can result in sadness, grief and sorrow. But these are not the only results, apart from the gloomy and negative stuff, we have the some positive stuff too. The Bible encourages us to take on a different aspect, to see beyond the obvious and common results. How does the Bible do this? I have thought of short list with many verses :)
1. We are not the only ones
The Bible is filled with real people that have faced real heart-breaking situations just like us. Take Joseph for example, he was a teenager when he was sold into slavery by his own brothers, then thrown into prison for a crime he did not commit and then forgotten in prison. Then Job, the classic example of suffering. Joel lost everything! His children, his possessions, his social status, his health. Basically everything we regard dear in today's society. And Jesus, our Lord, the ultimate example of suffering. He was crucified for our sin. He did no wrong, but He willingly lay down His life so that we may be reconciled to God. Apart from the Bible, the news or in our neighborhoods and cities we see others suffering too,we are not alone.
2. They are opportunities to grow, to be identified with Christ and to depend upon Him “We glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh
patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope: and hope
maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts
by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us” (Romans 5:3–5,KJV).
"Dear friends, don’t be surprised or shocked that you are going through testing that is like walking through fire. Be
glad for the chance to suffer as Christ suffered. It will prepare you
for even greater happiness when he makes his glorious return.Count it a blessing when you suffer for being a Christian. This shows that God’s glorious Spirit is with you.But you deserve to suffer if you are a murderer, a thief, a crook, or a busybody. Don’t be ashamed to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God that you belong to him." (1 Peter 4:12-16, CEV)
For we do not want you
to be unaware, brothers,of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we
were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life
itself.Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again.You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many. (2Cor1:8-11) 3. God is with us
For
he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me
under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock. And now
my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me, and I will
offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make
melody to the LORD.
(Psalms 27:5,6)
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,who
comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort
those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we
ourselves are comforted by God.For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. (2Cor1:3-5)
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling.(Psalm 46:1-3)
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,I will fear no evil,for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. (Psalm 23:4)
When you go through deep waters,I will be with you...Do not be afraid, for I am with you. (Isa43:1,5)
4. One day it will all be over
For I
consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth
comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation
waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the
creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him
who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from
its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the
children of God. (Romans 8:18-21)
So
we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner
self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is
preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as
we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are
unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that
are unseen are eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)
And
I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling
place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his
people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe
away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither
shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former
things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:3,4)
When
grief and setbacks come, it is not the end of the world. God is in
control and He is able to bring something beautiful out of it. He is
able to use it to refine us thus making us more Christ-like. I encourage
you to see not only the negative stuff but the positive stuff too, it's
worth it!
“The taste of restoration is sweet. There is nothing so great. Do not allow the bitter taste of past failures and defeat leave you with unresolved issues both in your mind and in your life that will weigh you down as time passes if you allow it. Give them over to God. Take those old wounds – the worries and heartaches about your wasted years, and let God restore to you the very years that were taken away. Then press on confidently in joy, He is your hope and your future.” Darell Creswell
