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Daily Devotions - Entries tagged "Suffering"

MonMondayJanJanuary30th2012 Monday, January 30

Posted Monday, January 30 2012 @ 8 AM byJonathan Ziman Tagged Colossians Suffering 0 comments Add comment

I do not like pain and suffering. Sounds obvious, I know, but it has to be said. In fact, nobody enjoys suffering, not even Paul. Even when he says things like, “Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you” (Col. 1:24). As tough as he was, I don’t think Paul enjoyed being beaten or stoned or shipwrecked. However, what he did rejoice over was his service to God. What he lived for was the mission that God had set before him. What gave him cause to celebrate was that, like the apostles in Jerusalem before him, he “had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name” (Acts 5:41).

Paul (and Peter, and Jesus) were not encouraging some kind of masochistic outlook on life that embraces pain as being somehow purifying or ennobling (as some religions might claim). Rather, the focus was specifically on suffering for and in the cause of Christ. As Paul said to Timothy,

Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God’s word is not chained. Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. (2 Tim. 2:8-10, NIV)

The same message applies to the Colossian believers. Paul rejoiced in what he was suffering “for you,” “for the sake of his body, which is the church.” The suffering therefore became a sign that Paul was doing and saying and teaching and proclaiming all that God wanted him to do and say and teach and preach. The same message went out to the Philippians as well,

For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him, since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have. (Phil.1:29-30, NIV).

There are a thousand sources of suffering in this world. Sometimes we even bring it on ourselves. However, we have hope because of the person we serve, Jesus Christ. This passage is both a reminder of God’s love as well as a challenge—how will we respond to the pain and suffering we will experience in this life? With anger and bitterness, or confident hope in God? Moreover, to what lengths are we willing to go to see God’s message of hope spread throughout the world? In what ways are shrinking back from the task of making disciples because we fear that there may be repercussions that are uncomfortable?

FriFridaySepSeptember23rd2011 Friday, September 23

Posted Friday, September 23 2011 @ 5 AM byKim Miller Tagged Suffering When the Bottom Drops Out 0 comments Add comment

On Sunday, Pastor Rob will continue his sermon series drawn from the content of his new book, When the Bottom Drops Out. During this series, he is sharing the lessons he and his family learned about God’s grace in the midst of profound disappointment. As we prepare our hearts for the next message in his series on God’s grace in the midst of disappointment, we will take a closer look this week at Joseph from the Old Testament, and how he models what living well in the light of adversity looks like.

We thank Kim Miller -- a senior editor at Tyndale House Publishers who worked with Pastor Rob on the editing of his book -- for preparing these devotional thoughts . Kim also attends Wheaton Bible Church, and leads a small group of sixth grade girls in Quest56.

Today we are reading and meditating on 1 Chronicles 29:11-12 from the New Living Translation:

11Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is yours, O LORD, and this is your kingdom. We adore you as the one who is over all things. 12Wealth and honor come from you alone, for you rule over everything. Power and might are in your hand, and at your discretion people are made great and given strength.

Have you ever had a paper cut? If so, you might have been surprised at the intense, throbbing pain caused by such a tiny wound. Sensitive nerves are concentrated in the hands, particularly in the top layers just beneath the skin. It takes very little to activate these nerves, so while paper cuts usually pose little danger, the affected nerves in your hand or finger scream for attention.

Likewise, our natural reaction to intense suffering -- whether from physical pain, emotional trauma, or disappointing relationships -- is to howl in pain. We may lash out in anger, sink in despair, or plot our revenge.

Given the magnitude of his trials, it would be hard to fault Joseph for reacting in any of these ways. Instead, he modeled a counterintuitive response, one that led to healing and glorified God. His ability to remain strong wasn’t due to his own goodness or power; it was possible only because of his vision of God. Because he saw God as holy, he was pure; because he saw God as all-powerful, he was bold; and because he saw God as sovereign, he was content, gracious, and unusually forgiving.

In other words, Joseph was able to see beyond his circumstances to God’s goodness and His larger plan. As a young man, he might not have known where God was leading him, but he knew better than to stray from the course set out for him. In fact, Pastor Bugh points out in When the Bottom Drops Out that the best indicator of how well someone will cope with adversity is his or her view of God. Does he or she continue coming to God in hope and expectation, or does the person turn away from God in anger or despair?

One of the psalmists expressed the outlook Joseph maintained in lyrics he wrote for pilgrims to sing as they ascended the hills around Jerusalem: “I lift my eyes to you, O God, enthroned in heaven. We keep looking to the Lord our God for his mercy, just as servants keep their eyes on their master, as a slave girl watches her mistress for the slightest signal” (Psalm 123:1-2).

As with Joseph, the Lord has a path for you and me. The way may get rocky at times with twists and turns that seem to lead nowhere or even backward. That’s the time to take our eyes off ourselves and look up -- to our holy, all-powerful, sovereign God.

Father,
Today please keep troubles from tripping me, temptations from enticing me, and my to-do list from distracting me from the sound of Your voice or the sight of Your footsteps in front of me. May all my steps bring me closer to You
Amen

ThuThursdaySepSeptember22nd2011 Thursday, September 22

Posted Thursday, September 22 2011 @ 5 AM byKim Miller Tagged Suffering When the Bottom Drops Out 0 comments Add comment

On Sunday, Pastor Rob will continue his sermon series drawn from the content of his new book, When the Bottom Drops Out. During this series, he is sharing the lessons he and his family learned about God’s grace in the midst of profound disappointment. As we prepare our hearts for the next message in his series on God’s grace in the midst of disappointment, we will take a closer look this week at Joseph from the Old Testament, and how he models what living well in the light of adversity looks like.

We thank Kim Miller -- a senior editor at Tyndale House Publishers who worked with Pastor Rob on the editing of his book -- for preparing these devotional thoughts . Kim also attends Wheaton Bible Church, and leads a small group of sixth grade girls in Quest56.

Today we are reading and meditating on Genesis 50:19-20 from the New Living Translation:

Joseph replied, “Don’t be afraid of me. Am I God, that I can punish you? You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.”

Realizing she was far more moved by stories of forgiveness than of revenge, British freelance journalist Marina Cantacuzino joined with photographer Brian Moody in 2003 to create an exhibition of words and images exploring the topics of forgiveness and reconciliation. The Forgiveness Project, a website devoted to collecting and sharing stories that explore the nature of forgiveness, grew out of the enthusiastic response to the exhibition.

One remarkable story that doesn’t appear on the website is that of Joseph. Years after his brothers sold him into slavery, he came face-to-face with them again. Now the tables were turned. This time, they were at the mercy of Joseph, who was second only to Pharaoh in power.

Instead of throwing them into prison or even denying their request for food, Joseph tearfully extended forgiveness to his brothers. Why? Because he recognized that God had allowed his suffering for a higher purpose. He had come to rest in the sovereignty of God.

Not all of us will have the privilege in this life of seeing why God has permitted great loss, suffering, and pain. Certainly Pastor Rob cannot explain why God chose to allow his wife, Carol, and his good friend, Tom Williams, to die at such relatively young ages. Yet they, and all of us who are God’s children, can rest in the assurance that God is in control of both the good bad times; that He is always working out His plan; and that He works all things together for the good of those who belong to Him (see Romans 8:28).

Because of our fallen nature, the “default setting” of our hearts tends toward anger, resentment, and bitterness. Unfortunately, these natural responses lead only to more pain and bondage. How much better to look up at God and rest in His holiness, His power, and His sovereignty. In what circumstance do you need, like Joseph, to acknowledge, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good”?

Sovereign Lord,
Help me to trust that Your thoughts and Your ways are higher than mine, even when I struggle to understand how good and righteousness can come from pain and suffering. May Your name be glorified as I respond to difficult circumstances from this perspective.
Amen.

WedWednesdaySepSeptember21st2011 Wednesday, September 21

Posted Wednesday, September 21 2011 @ 5 AM byKim Miller Tagged Genesis 41 Suffering When the Bottom Drops Out 0 comments Add comment

On Sunday, Pastor Rob will continue his sermon series drawn from the content of his new book, When the Bottom Drops Out. During this series, he is sharing the lessons he and his family learned about God’s grace in the midst of profound disappointment. As we prepare our hearts for the next message in his series on God’s grace in the midst of disappointment, we will take a closer look this week at Joseph from the Old Testament, and how he models what living well in the light of adversity looks like.

We thank Kim Miller -- a senior editor at Tyndale House Publishers who worked with Pastor Rob on the editing of his book -- for preparing these devotional thoughts . Kim also attends Wheaton Bible Church, and leads a small group of sixth grade girls in Quest56.

Today we are reading and meditating Genesis 41:15-16 from the New Living Translation:

15Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream last night, and no one here can tell me what it means. But I have heard that when you hear about a dream you can interpret it.”

16 “It is beyond my power to do this,” Joseph replied. “But God can tell you what it means and set you at ease.”

As a young man, Andy van der Bijl didn’t seem to have much going for him. His father was a deaf blacksmith; his mother was a semi-invalid. He didn’t finish high school, and even his stint as a commando in the Dutch army came to an abrupt end when he was shot in the ankle.

God began drawing Andy to himself through the kindness of the Fransciscan sisters who tended to his wound in the hospital. Eventually he gave his life to Christ and, during the height of the Cold War, felt God calling him to help Christians behind the Iron Curtain.

Not long after, he decided to smuggle Bibles into Romania. Driving to the checkpoint, he pulled up behind several waiting cars. As he watched the inspections, he began to worry. The soldiers were stopping each driver and carefully checking every inch of the cars for contraband.

Andy knew that they were sure to find the Bibles he’d hidden, so he began praying, “Lord, I know that no amount of cleverness on my part can get me through this border search. Dare I ask for a miracle?” So that he would know that God, not his own cleverness, had protected him, he took out a few of the Bibles and placed them in the front seat.

When he reached the front of the line, Andy handed the guard his documents and prepared to exit his VW. After a cursory glance at the papers, however, the guard waved him on. As Andy drove away, he saw the driver of the car behind him get out as the soldier opened his hood.

This Bible smuggler, known today as Brother Andrew, says, “My heart was racing. Not with the excitement of the crossing, but with the excitement of having caught such a spectacular glimpse of God at work!” [Open Doors, “Brother Andrew’s Story,” http://www.opendoorsusa.org/about-us/brother-andrew/.]

Thousands of years ago, Joseph got a similar glimpse of God’s power when he was asked to interpret the Pharaoh’s dream. Joseph’s first words to the Egyptian ruler were, “It is beyond my power to do this. . . . But God can tell you what it means and set you at ease” (Genesis 41:16).

What is your response when trouble comes? Do you fret and stew, or like Brother Andrew and Joseph, do you immediately acknowledge your weakness and then ask God to show His strength? Whenever you face a challenge today, why not make your first response a prayer that Christ would work His power through you for His glory?

Heavenly Father,
I ask for the privilege of seeing Your power at work around me today. I praise You because You are all-powerful -- my rock, my fortress, and my shield in times of trouble.
Amen.

TueTuesdaySepSeptember20th2011 Tuesday, September 20

Posted Tuesday, September 20 2011 @ 5 AM byKim Miller Tagged Genesis 39 Joseph Suffering When the Bottom Drops Out 0 comments Add comment

On Sunday, Pastor Rob will continue his sermon series drawn from the content of his new book, When the Bottom Drops Out. During this series, he is sharing the lessons he and his family learned about God’s grace in the midst of profound disappointment. As we prepare our hearts for the next message in his series on God’s grace in the midst of disappointment, we will take a closer look this week at Joseph from the Old Testament, and how he models what living well in the light of adversity looks like.

We thank Kim Miller -- a senior editor at Tyndale House Publishers who worked with Pastor Rob on the editing of his book -- for preparing these devotional thoughts . Kim also attends Wheaton Bible Church, and leads a small group of sixth grade girls in Quest56.

Today we are reading and meditating on Genesis 39:6–9 from the New Living Translation:

Joseph was a very handsome and well-built young man, and Potiphar’s wife soon began to look at him lustfully. “Come and sleep with me,” she demanded.

But Joseph refused. “Look,” he told her, “my master trusts me with everything in his entire household. No one here has more authority than I do. He has held back nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How could I do such a wicked thing? It would be a great sin against God.”

A few years ago, the Ethics Resource Center surveyed 2,852 workers and found that about 15 percent of the respondents said it’s acceptable to call in sick when they are not actually ill. [Sarah Needleman, “‘The Cat Hid My Car Keys’ -- Excuses Workers Make,” Wall Street Journal, May 14, 2010.] How did the employees rationalize this? Many workers said they deserved more time off than their companies gave them.

What if Joseph had followed similar reasoning when approached by Potiphar’s wife? What if he had decided he was entitled to a little human affection after being rejected and treated so miserably by his own brothers? Or what if he had determined that he deserved some “relaxation” after working so hard to advance Potiphar’s interests and increase his wealth?

If the ERC took another survey in which they asked whether Joseph should have been excused for giving in to the advances of Potiphar’s wife, I suspect a fairly high percentage of respondents would give him a pass. And yet Joseph stood firm. Why was that?

Interestingly, he doesn’t mention fear of being caught or indicate that Potiphar’s wife was unattractive. Rather, his response to her advances makes clear that Joseph recognized God’s holiness. Refusing her invitation, he said: “How could I do such a wicked thing? It would be a great sin against God” (Genesis 39:9).

When the bottom falls out of our own lives, we are vulnerable, just as Joseph was. We may distance ourselves from God out of anger and hurt. That makes it easy to rationalize sinful behavior. Joseph stood strong because he revered God. He was willing to delay gratification but unwilling to violate God’s standards -- even in difficult circumstances.

That allowed the Lord to work out His purposes for Joseph’s life. Before elevating Joseph to a high position of honor where he “could instruct the king’s aides as he pleased and teach the king’s advisers” (Psalm 105:22), God refined his character through servitude, temptation, and imprisonment.
Not surprisingly, Joseph is included in the “faith hall of fame” found in Hebrews 11. He is commended because he remained confident in God’s promises all his life. Perhaps the writer of Hebrews still has Joseph in mind when, in chapter 13, verses 5 and 6, he quotes from Proverbs 3:11-12: “My child, don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline, and don’t give up when he corrects you. For the Lord disciplines those he loves.” In verse 11, he adds, “God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness.”

Sharing in God’s holiness? May that be true in our own lives as we invite the Spirit to give us a glimpse of God’s purity, even today!

Heavenly Father,
Today I praise You for Your holiness, purity, and majesty, though they are far beyond what my mind can comprehend. Remind me that sometimes Your love comes in the form of righteous discipline designed to refine and shape me. Give me the grace to turn to You for strength in times of trouble.
Amen.

MonMondaySepSeptember19th2011 Monday, September 19

Posted Monday, September 19 2011 @ 5 AM byKim Miller Tagged Acts 7:8-10 Suffering When the Bottom Drops Out 0 comments Add comment

On Sunday, Pastor Rob will continue his sermon series drawn from the content of his new book, When the Bottom Drops Out. During this series, he is sharing the lessons he and his family learned about God’s grace in the midst of profound disappointment. As we prepare our hearts for the next message in his series on God’s grace in the midst of disappointment, we will take a closer look this week at Joseph from the Old Testament, and how he models what living well in the light of adversity looks like.

We thank Kim Miller -- a senior editor at Tyndale House Publishers who worked with Pastor Rob on the editing of his book -- for preparing these devotional thoughts . Kim also attends Wheaton Bible Church, and leads a small group of sixth grade girls in Quest56.

Today we are reading and meditating on Acts 7:8–10, Stephen’s testimony before the Jewish high council after he’d been accused by lying witnesses of speaking against the Temple and the law of Moses. When asked if the charges against him were true, Stephen walked them through key events in Israel’s history to illustrate how the nation had a long history of resisting God and his servants.

Today’s reading, which comes from the New Living Translation, focuses on Joseph’s life:

8Jacob became the father of the twelve patriarchs of the Israelite nation. 9These patriarchs were jealous of their brother Joseph, and they sold him to be a slave in Egypt. But God was with him 10and rescued him from all his troubles. And God gave him favor before Pharaoh, king of Egypt. God also gave Joseph unusual wisdom, so that Pharaoh appointed him governor over all of Egypt and put him in charge of the palace.

In the early 1960s, the classic children’s book Fortunately hit the shelves. On the cover is an illustration of a little boy named Ned floating down from the sky in a bright white parachute. For decades kids have been delighted by this tale in which Ned, fortunately, is invited to a birthday party.

Unfortunately, the party is being held a thousand miles away. Fortunately, a friend loans him a plane so he can fly there. Unfortunately . . . well, you get the idea.

In the Old Testament, we meet Joseph, a man who might have been the model for Ned. Fortunately, Joseph was given a colorful coat because he was his father’s favorite. Unfortunately, his jealous brothers stripped him of that coat, threw him in a cistern, and then sold him to some nomadic traders.

Fortunately, God was with him and, as a result, his master, Potiphar, prospered and put him over everything in his household. Unfortunately, Potiphar’s wife falsely accused Joseph of attempted rape and he was thrown in prison.

Fortunately, the warden was so impressed with Joseph that he put him in charge of all the other prisoners, which put him in position to correctly interpret the dreams of Pharaoh’s chief cupbearer and baker. Unfortunately, the cupbearer forgot Joseph’s request that he tell Pharaoh about his plight. And so Joseph’s saga continues.

Sometimes Christians make the mistake of treating Joseph a little like the fictional Ned -- a memorable character for a kids’ story that ends on a happy note. Yet in his book, When the Bottom Drops Out, Pastor Rob urges us take a closer look at Joseph. The reason Joseph triumphed over enslavement, false accusations, and imprisonment wasn’t because of his good looks, winsome personality, or raw intelligence. Instead, the Lord entrusted him with increasing responsibility and wisdom because of the way Joseph viewed God in the midst of his many troubles.

For the rest of this week, we’ll consider three of God’s attributes that Joseph focused on -- even in the grimmest of circumstances. Because of his confidence in God, Joseph did nothing to dishonor the Lord and refused to give in to despair.

Unfortunately, like Joseph, we will encounter trials in this life, and we may be hurt by people who envy us, misuse us, or ignore us. Fortunately, we have a God who is close to the brokenhearted; who saves the crushed in spirit (see Psalm 34:18).

Father,
When I encounter trouble or pain today, help me to see that You are far bigger than anything I might face. And let me respond with compassion to those around me who are weighed down with difficulty.
Amen.

FriFridaySepSeptember16th2011 Friday, September 16

Posted Friday, September 16 2011 @ 5 AM byKim Miller Tagged Suffering When the Bottom Drops Out 0 comments Add comment

Today we are reading and meditating on 2 Corinthians 5:17-18 in the New International Version:

17If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 18All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

When my sons were younger, our family often watched Extreme Home Makeover together. The high point for us -- and certainly for the family whose home had been rebuilt -- was when Ty Pennington raised his megaphone and belted out, “Move that bus!” As soon as the gigantic tour bus drove forward, Mom, Dad, and kids got the first glimpse of the beautiful new home that had replaced the worn-out house they had left just a week or two before.

I wonder what would happen if the show adopted a slightly different format and became Existing Home Makeover. What if, instead of building dream homes, the construction crew merely renovated each family’s home? Think how much time and money could be saved if Ty and his crew simply replaced the porch lights; patched the cement steps; maybe even painted over any mildew they found creeping along the foundation.

Okay, maybe not. Such a change would definitely take away the “wow” factor. The difference between Extreme Home Makeover and the fictional Existing Home Makeover is similar to the difference between the transformation the Holy Spirit works in us and our attempts to make ourselves over.

Most people express a desire to be better human beings -- more patient, more generous, more courageous. Yet the truth is, resolving to be less selfish on our own is like slapping bright white paint over mildew: we might look better temporarily, but the mildew is bound to reappear. God is the only source of the grace we need to be transformed into His likeness and prepare ourselves for Truth #4:

Whoever believes in Jesus will live with Him in heaven forever.

In When the Bottom Drops Out, Pastor Rob encourages us not to allow the troubles we face to obscure the reality that Christ’s death and resurrection solved the biggest problem we ever faced -- eternal separation from God. Paul, the once-proud Pharisee who later called himself a slave of Christ, reminds us that “it is by grace you have been saved, through faith -- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God -- not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9, NIV).

God’s gift of salvation is wondrous enough in itself, but Paul goes on: “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (v. 10, NIV). If you haven’t yet accepted God’s gift of salvation, do that today. If you have, will you invite the Holy Spirit to continue to transform you into God’s masterpiece? That, truly, is the only extreme makeover that will last.

Lord Jesus,
I often feel so unlovely and wonder how You could ever use me. I ask that You would transform me -- that You would not allow me to be content with surface change but would re-create me through the Holy Spirit’s power. Help me to remember that He will not waste my troubled times but wants to use them to make me more like You.
Amen.

ThuThursdaySepSeptember15th2011 Thursday, September 15

Posted Thursday, September 15 2011 @ 5 AM byKim Miller Tagged Matthew 16:24-27 Suffering When the Bottom Drops Out 0 comments Add comment

Today we are reading and meditating on Matthew 16:24-27 in the New International Version, but feel free to read from another translation:

24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. 26 What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? 27 For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.”

Because all eyes were on China as it prepared to host the 2008 summer Olympics, restrictions on unregistered churches in the host city temporarily eased. In fact, one Beijing house church began meeting openly each week in a large rented building.

However, once the games had ended, the government resumed its crackdown on unregistered churches. Soon after, the house church found itself locked out of its rented building by a fearful landlord who suggested they go back underground. Instead, the first Sunday after their lockout, thousands of believers gathered for worship in a city park.

In their book The Privilege of Persecution, Carl Moeller and David Hegg use this illustration to point out what the persecuted church has to teach us: “When [members of the persecuted church] come together to worship, they are coming to an outpost of heaven; they are experiencing a foretaste of what it may be like to be standing before God’s throne. They don’t want to leave, because when they do, what they go back to is hell.” [Carl Moeller and David Hegg, The Privilege of Persecution (Chicago: Moody, 2011), 63.]

In the United States, we often lose sight of eternity in our rush to get all we can from this life; in closed countries, believers keep their eyes on eternity because they expect to get very little from this life. In fact, they find great hope in Truth #3:

The believer is not home yet.

Although you and I may not suffer intense persecution, we will not escape this life without trouble. If this life was all there was, that would be terrible news. However, heaven is coming. And not only that, the difficulties we experience now actually prepare us for forever.

In chapter 2 of his book, Pastor Rob says, “As soap is to the hand, suffering is to the soul.” In fact, suffering is generally the only agent that will wash away the selfishness and pride that keep us from loving as God intended. Only when we have become perfect in love -- a process that God begins in this life but that won’t be completed until we reach our heavenly home -- will we be all that He created us to be.

Father,
Thank You for the promise of heaven. Please help me to number my days, to remember what a short time I’ll spend on this earth, and to look ahead to my heavenly home. In hard times, help me to remember that You are with me and want to use those circumstances to cleanse me and make me look more like You.
Amen.

WedWednesdaySepSeptember14th2011 Wednesday, September 14

Posted Wednesday, September 14 2011 @ 5 AM byKim Miller Tagged Job Suffering When the Bottom Drops Out 0 comments Add comment

Today we read and meditate on Job 1:20-22 in the New International Version, but feel free to read from the translation of your choice:

At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised.” In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.

Several familiar passages became especially significant to Pastor Rob during his wife’s illness. One of them is Job’s response after he’s been told that his vast herds of livestock have been stolen, his servants massacred by raiders, and his children killed by a freak windstorm: “The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.”

Note that Job doesn’t hide his grief. The messengers who delivered the terrible news would recognize that by tearing his robe and shaving his head, Job was expressing great sorrow. It wouldn’t be surprising to see a grieving man fall on his face either -- but notice why Job prostrated himself: he was deep in worship.

Was Job in denial? Or perhaps in shock? No, Job chose to hold fast to what Pastor Rob points to asTruth #2:

God is wonderfully and completely sovereign.

When we face troubles of our own, our heavenly Father invites us to rest in the confidence that He is in control and that nothing happens to us that He has not permitted.

Tom Williams and Carol Bugh both clung to God’s sovereignty. Though they didn’t like losing their health and facing the prospect that they might die at relatively young ages, they didn’t give in to despair. In fact, when e-mailing friends and family before undergoing major surgery, doctors’ final effort to keep his cancer in check, Tom wrote, “My life is, as always, in His hands.” He died just a few weeks later.

If you wonder if God expects too much from hurting people, remember Jesus’ fervent prayer in the garden of Gethsemane: “Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will” (Mark 14:36). Knowing He would be betrayed and sentenced to death that very night, Jesus acknowledged His preference yet chose His Father’s will above His own.

If you are hurting, come to your heavenly Father. Don’t be afraid to express your raw feelings and your deep desires, yet ask for the grace to put your complete trust -- your very life -- in God’s hands.

Father,
When I bring You my doubts, my fears, my questions, You may not give me the answers I want, but thank You that You always offer me Your presence, Your peace, and Your comfort. Please give me the grace to grab hold of those today.
Amen.

TueTuesdaySepSeptember13th2011 Tuesday, September 13

Posted Tuesday, September 13 2011 @ 5 AM byKim Miller Tagged Romans 5 Suffering When the Bottom Drops Out 0 comments Add comment

On Sunday, Pastor Rob will continue his sermon series drawn from the content of his new book, When the Bottom Drops Out. During this series, he is sharing the lessons he and his family learned about God’s grace in the midst of profound disappointment. In addition, he will lay out a biblically based “theology of suffering” that will enable us to persevere through the inevitable storms of life. In our devotions this week, we’ll examine four biblical truths that we see playing out whenever we face trouble of any kind.

We thank Kim Miller -- a senior editor at Tyndale House Publishers who worked with Pastor Rob on the editing of his book -- for preparing these devotional thoughts . Kim also attends Wheaton Bible Church, and leads a small group of sixth grade girls in Quest56.

This week we are reading and meditating on Romans 5. Today we will read verses 6 through 8. The text below is taken from the New Living Translation, but feel free to read from the version of your choice.

6At just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. 8But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

If you’ve ever spent any time around a two-year-old, you can probably vouch for the following unspoken property laws that dictate toddlers’ behavior:

1.   If I want it, it’s mine.
2.   If I’m holding it, it’s mine.
3.   If it looks just like mine, it’s mine.
4.   If it’s broken, it’s yours.

Whether your reaction to watching two toddlers tussle over a toy is annoyance or amusement, what you’re witnessing is evidence of original sin -- the inborn propensity we all have to turn from God and put ourselves first. The good news, according to our reading for today, is that God has provided a solution for the sin that would otherwise destroy us: “Christ died for the ungodly.” And notice that He acted “when we were still powerless.” We deserve eternal separation from God, yet even though sin blinded us to our need for Him, Christ came to die for us.

And that’s not all: When we repent and admit our utter dependence on God, the Holy Spirit works in us so that we are no longer helpless to sin. Yes, we will still fall, but we are no longer unable to resist sin.

Still, we can’t escape the consequences of selfish decisions and evil actions, let alone flash floods, biting dogs, or cancer. They are a consequence of what Pastor Rob, in his book, identifies asTruth #1:

We live in a fallen, sinful world.

In chapter 2 of his book, Rob acknowledges our tendency to get angry at God when we or someone we love suffers because of an illness, accident, or other misfortune. In fact, unbelievers often point to suffering as proof that either God doesn’t exist or is powerless in the face of evil.

Yet when we understand the magnitude of God’s work on our behalf, we no longer need to live like screaming toddlers, out to get what’s ours. We no longer need to shake our fists at God or try to make life work on our own terms.

Because of Christ, there is hope. Even through our tears, we can “rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation” (Romans 5:11).

Lord Jesus,
Thank You that You loved me so much that You were willing to suffer and die so that I could find freedom from the weight of sin. Thank You for shouldering the penalty for my sin on the Cross. Help me to look to You for the strength I need to move past the difficult things of this life, filled with joy as I look forward to living with You forever.
Amen.

MonMondaySepSeptember12th2011 Monday September 12

Posted Monday, September 12 2011 @ 7 AM byKim Miller Tagged Devotions Romans 5 Suffering 0 comments Add comment

On Sunday, Pastor Rob will continue his sermon series drawn from the content of his new book, When the Bottom Drops Out. During this series, he is sharing the lessons he and his family learned about God’s grace in the midst of profound disappointment. In addition, he will lay out a biblically based “theology of suffering” that will enable us to persevere through the inevitable storms of life. In our devotions this week, we’ll examine four biblical truths that we see playing out whenever we face trouble of any kind.

We thank Kim Miller -- a senior editor at Tyndale House Publishers who worked with Pastor Rob on the editing of his book -- for preparing these devotional thoughts . Kim also attends Wheaton Bible Church, and leads a small group of sixth grade girls in Quest56.

Today we are reading and meditating on Romans 5, verses 1–5. The text below is taken from the New International Version, but feel free to read from the version of your choice.

1Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

The New-England Primer, the first textbook widely used in the American colonies, reflected the Puritans’ concern that children learn to read so they could study the Scriptures for themselves. No wonder, then, that each letter of the alphabet was introduced through a religious phrase. The first three letters were presented this way:

A   In ADAM’S Fall
We sinned all.
B   Heaven to find;
The Bible Mind.
C   Christ crucify’d
For sinners dy’d.

Seventeenth-century schoolchildren learned the truths of the Christian faith through rote memorization. While we may question the effectiveness of this teaching technique today, don’t we often approach the Good News in the same way? That is, don’t we often accept scriptural principles with our head without fully embracing them in our heart?

That is one reason why the apostle Paul, in verses 4 and 5 above, tells us to rejoice in our sufferings. While hardship is a tough teacher, it is often the only way we come to rock-solid faith in God’s faithfulness, mercy, and love.

Throughout this week, we are going to look at four scriptural truths that Pastor Rob was forced to examine anew during a time of great loss. In one sense, these four principles are Christianity 101; in another, they are lessons best learned through suffering, a teacher we’d all prefer to avoid.

Today, as you prepare to consider each of these four truths, read the passage above and note what it tells you about God and His plan of salvation. Can you think of three or four other aspects of God’s character (e.g., He loves you unconditionally, He will never leave you, He will protect you) that you’ve learned from Scripture? Which of these truths do you find easier to assent to with your head than to commit to with your heart?

Father,
Through His death and resurrection, Your Son gave me the perfect picture of Your lavish love. How I thank You for the peace and mercy that are mine through Christ. I confess, though, that sometimes I have trouble believing that You will never forget me or let me down. I ask that Your Spirit fill me with a sense of Your presence and peace even now, and I thank You for Your promise that You will never leave me nor forsake me.
Amen.

MonMondaySepSeptember5th2011 Monday, September 5

Posted Monday, September 05 2011 @ 5 AM byKim Miller Tagged 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 Matthew 28 Suffering When the Bottom Drops Out 0 comments Add comment

This coming Sunday, Pastor Rob will begin a six-part series drawn from the content of his new book, When the Bottom Drops Out. During this series, he will share the lessons he and his family learned about God's grace in the midst of profound disappointment. In addition, he will lay out a biblically based "theology of suffering" that will enable us to persevere through the inevitable storms of life. In our devotions this week, we will begin to consider two truths: the inevitability of trials in this life and God's sovereignty over everything that happens to us.

We thank Kim Miller -- a senior editor at Tyndale House Publishers who worked with Pastor Rob on the editing of his book -- for preparing these devotional thoughts. Kim also attends Wheaton Bible Church, and leads a small group of sixth grade girls in Quest56.

Today we are reflecting 2 Corinthians 4:17-18. The text below is taken from the New Living Translation, but feel free to read from the version of your choice.

17Our present troubles are small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! 18 So we don't look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.

The apostle Paul makes a striking claim in verse 17 -- particularly when you consider that later in his letter, he enumerates the trials he had already endured as an apostle: numerous imprisonments, death threats, whippings, beatings, stonings, nights adrift at sea, hunger, thirst, sleeplessness, and cold, all because he was a servant of Christ (see chapter 11:23-27). Did he really believe his troubles were small and relatively insignificant?

His list of trials may leave you wondering if you can even relate to Paul. If I compared my troubles to his, I'd feel like the daughter who complains about having to walk two blocks to the bus stop, only to hear her dad respond that when he was her age, he had to walk two miles to and from school -- and the path was uphill both ways.

Yet Paul is not making light of his troubles or our struggles. He's not suggesting we just grin and bear them. Nor is he suggesting that we deny our pain. Instead, he offers an invaluable perspective on how we should view trouble.

Notice, first, that in light of eternity, our troubles won't last long. Not only that, but God is using the problems that so often discourage us to shape and mold us into Christ's likeness even now. And the joy that can bring far exceeds the greatest trials we face.

C. S. Lewis described that delight this way: "To please God . . . to be a real ingredient in the divine happiness . . . to be loved by God, not merely pitied, but delighted in as an artist delights in his work or a father in a son -- it seems impossible, a weight or burden of glory which our thoughts can hardly sustain. But so it is." [C. S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory, New York: The Macmillan Co., 1966]

If you feel burdened today, be open with God about your struggles. You might even express your pain in writing. Then rest in the knowledge that Christ will never leave you -- nor will He waste your pain.

Father, Thank You that, as difficult as some days are, You are using every one of my struggles to prepare me to spend eternity with You. Help me to see Your glory in the world around me today. Amen.