When we shift our focus away from Christ and put it on our circumstances, we miss much of what God is doing in our lives. We lose focus. We lose peace. We lose hope. Like Eeyore, Winnie the Pooh’s gloomy friend, we have a tendency to imagine that we are “grinning and bearing it,” forcing a smile, when we are actually greeting others with a miserable and mournful countenance.
But this is not for you! When the storm winds are blowing, keep your focus on your Savior. When the waves of challenge are washing over you, keep your focus on your Christ. When Peter got out of the boat and was walking across the water, all was well . . . as long as he kept his focus on Jesus. But as soon as he shifted his focus to the winds and the waves, he began to sink. The same is true for all of us. Sinking is a certainty when we allow what is going on around us to determine what is going on within us. The author of Hebrews gives us the prescription to make sure we are Eeyore no more:
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith . . . (Hebrews 12:1-2)
Jesus promised we would have trouble in this world. Life is chock full of challenging circumstances, and if we focus on what is going on around us, soon what is going on within us will be marked by worry, fear, and doubt. We will begin to sink. When that happens — and at times it will, no matter how committed we are to focusing on Jesus — let us remember what Peter did. He cried out to Jesus, “Lord, save me!” And that is exactly what Jesus did.
So do not fear, for I am with you;do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10)
This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!
My God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19)
There are a number of ideas and events that can cause us to wonder whether Jesus is more than enough in our lives. Today we will focus on loss. When we lose something or someone, we can get caught in the untruth trap of wondering if Jesus is more than enough to meet us in our place of deepest need because that loss is so great in our lives. I have fallen into this trap on more than one occasion; perhaps you have too. I hope that today’s message will encourage you and empower you to rest in the reality that, no matter what you are going through, Jesus is more than enough for you!
The German hymn writer Catharina Von Schlegel put it this way hundreds of years ago: “Be still my soul, your Jesus can repay from His own fullness all He takes away.” Those words are as lovely as they are true, but the battle to sustain in the midst of loss is as real as it is raw, because we are still in the process of being conformed to the image of Jesus. It is not uncommon for us to ask questions like, “Why did God allow this to happen?” . . . “Why is God allowing this trial to continue?” The pain is all too real, but we must learn to look beyond the pain, where we will find the purpose of God. The cross of Jesus makes it clear that there is purpose in pain — all pain — regardless of how agonizing that pain may be.
Job is a wonderful example of someone who understood this truth. God allowed Satan to test Job, and the test was severe. Job lost his wealth, his health, and all ten of his children. He even lost the respect of his wife, who urged him to “Curse God and die” in the midst of his terrible pain. Job did not understand the reasons why he had suffered all this loss, but he trusted in the fact that God is good and was working all things together for his good. Job blessed God as he rested in the reality that God is in sovereign control of all things, including all his losses and crosses:
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.” (Job 1:20-21)
Through every loss, God proved to be more than enough for Job. God showed Job his hope and his happiness were not to be found in anything smaller than God Himself. And that is exactly what Job was able to do. He trusted God even when he could not trace God, and he was able to see God’s purpose in his pain. Job came to the conclusion that God was more than enough, no matter what he was going through.
The question is, “Do we believe that too?” If we fix our focus on Jesus, we will be able to rise above every wave of challenge, knowing that Jesus is always more than enough . . . no matter what.
This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!
Blessed are those whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the Lord. (Psalm 119:1)
Containing 176 verses, Psalm 119 is the longest psalm and the longest single chapter in all of sacred Scripture. Inasmuch as we do not know the identity of the earthly author, we know the heavenly One, and what Psalm 119 contains should arrest our attention and strengthen our resolve. This psalm can be divided into a several themes – such as persecutions, afflictions, and the challenges of daily living – but the theme I would like to focus on today is the importance of the Word of God.
When you read through Psalm 119, take note of the words that are used for the Scriptures: law, precepts, statues, testimonies, judgments, commandments, word, and ordinances. The Word of God is mentioned in nearly every verse; most scholars agree that only five of the 176 verses do not make a direct reference to the Scriptures.
Why should this be a source of eternal encouragement to you today? Because it not only expresses the character of the Scriptures, but the character of our Savior too. Here are just a few verses to consider as a sampling of many throughout this magnificent Psalm:
The Word of God and He who is the living Word of God are both . . .
Wonderful – V. 18
Trustworthy – V. 42
Truthful – V. 43
Righteous – V. 62
Faithful – V. 90
Eternal – V. 89
Immutable – V. 89
Light – V. 105
True – V. 160
The beauty and the blessing of the Word of God as it is set forth in this amazing chapter cannot be overstated. God’s Word is as pure as it is powerful . . . as wise as it is watchful . . . as encouraging as it is equipping . . . as life-giving as it is life-changing. God gave us His Word in a book, not for it to collect dust on a shelf, but to be meditated on and marinated in every day of our lives. The more time you spend in the Word, the better you will be able to live according to God’s perfect plan and purpose for your imperfect life.
The second verse assures us, “Blessed are they who keep his statues and seek him with all their heart.” If that describes you today, praise His mighty name! If not, you can do something about it right now. As James, the brother of our Lord, assured us, “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you” (James 4:8 ESV).
I’d like to close by encouraging you to memorize verse 75, which I am sure you will find to be most helpful, especially during times of trial: “I know, O Lord, that your laws are righteous, and in faithfulness you have afflicted me.” In faithfulness – not in anger or disappointment or disgust – does our loving Lord send us storms. Let that truth keep you going, confident that God is using it all to conform you to the image of His beloved Son, Jesus.
This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!
Cast all your cares on him because he cares for you. (1 Peter 5:7)
Just like casting a fishing line out onto the water, we are to cast all of our cares on Jesus because He cares for us. Lord knows, none of us can hide our burdens, anxieties, difficulties, and cares; they are published on our face, they are broadcast in the tone of our voice, they are revealed through our eyes. I hope you will let today’s verse encourage you to give all of your cares to the One who cares for you far more than anyone else could possibly care.
Here are a few practical steps to consider:
Step #1 – Acknowledge Your Cares
There is no need to deny the difficulties of daily living. Ever since Adam and Eve’s terrible fall in the Garden of Eden, all of life is marked by “thorns and thistles” – troubles, trials, temptations, and testings. Jesus told us there will be a lifetime of problems: “In this world you will have trouble” (John 16:33). So acknowledge your cares and concerns to Him.
Step #2 – Cast Your Cares
When the waves of challenge wash over you, cast them to Jesus. When the storms winds are howling, cast them to Jesus. When you find yourself in a fire or a flood, cast them to Jesus, because he cares for you. Remember, immediately after Jesus warned that we will have problems, He went on to say, “But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Never forget that the power in you is greater than any power that comes against you. Not only does Jesus care for you, He is the only One who can carry each and every one of your cares. So cast them on Jesus!
Step #3 – Trust Jesus
As it relates to care-casting, experience has taught me two things: Once we have cast our cares, either Jesus will take them completely from us or take us through them. Either way, we must trust that Jesus’ plan our lives is better than our plan. Jesus knows exactly what we need and when we need it, and that includes the cares of life.
In closing, as you continually practice care-casting, keep this little phrase before you: I WILL, THY WILL. This is shorthand for “I want your will for my life because Thy will is better than my will.” When you do that, submitting your life to Him and trusting that He cares for you, you will be reminding yourself that all things are ultimately working together for your good and God’s glory. And that is the essence of care-casting!
This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!
Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. (Matthew 4:4)
When Jesus was being tempted by the devil during His wilderness experience, He quoted Deuteronomy to dispatch the enemy. The Son of God knows that our need for spiritual sustenance (sustenance being something that gives support and strength) is, at the deepest level, far more pressing than our need for the daily bread that sustains physical life on this side of the grave. Clearly, our deep need for God can be compared to the basic needs of both hunger and thirst.
As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. (Psalm 42:1)
Just as the life of the deer depends on water, our lives depend totally on God. He is not only the giver of life, He is the sustainer of life too. Those who seek Him will find Him (Matthew 7:7-11; James 4:8), and in finding Him we have everlasting life. Seeking a fresh encounter with the living God each day provides the spiritual sustenance we all need. We must seek God early and often, in His Word, in prayer, and in community.
Remember, just as our physical body requires certain nutrients to sustain life, our spirit also needs nourishment. The consequences of spiritual malnutrition cannot be overstated; when we are not taking in the spiritual nourishment we need, we begin to drift away from God. Drift lapses into distance . . . distance sinks into depression . . . and depression crumbles into despair.
All this can be avoided simply by ingesting the spiritual sustenance we need. How are you doing at feeding on Jesus every day? It was after Jesus fed the 5,000 that He said, “I am the bread of life” (John 6:48). Everyone within the sound of His voice knew what He was talking about: Physical food is good and necessary to sustain physical life, but Jesus is the better thing and absolutely necessary to sustain spiritual life — right here, right now, and on into eternity.
This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!
As for me, I said in my prosperity, “I shall never be moved.” By your favor, O Lord, you made my mountain stand strong. (Psalm 30:6-7 ESV)
When the sky is blue, the clouds are fleecy, and the sun is brightly shining, we have a tendency to believe it will always be this way, just as David boasted, “I shall never be moved.” Charles Spurgeon, the 19th-century “prince of preachers,” warned that “We are never in greater danger than in the sunshine of prosperity. To be always indulged of God, and never to taste of trouble, is rather a token of God’s neglect than of His tender love.”
It would not be long before the harsh reality of the challenges of daily living would drive David to the only true source of safety and security: the Lord God Omnipotent. David finally understood that his prosperity was not due to his wisdom, strength, or commitment; it only came from the hand of God. David made the cosmic confession that it was God’s favor and God’s faithfulness that made his life strong and secure.
David knew from personal experience that everything good in his life was totally dependent upon God. Every victory in battle was due to the hand of God’s favor on his life. Every obstacle overcome was because God made him an overcomer. This truth deepened his dependence on God in seasons of both success and of scarcity. More than 1,000 years later, the apostle Paul would express this same trust in the trustworthy One: “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:12-13).
The question we all must ask and answer is, Do we know the secret of being content? There is nothing wrong with a bit of boasting in life, as long as we are boasting in God and not ourselves. Do you recognize that it is God who has made you stand strong, regardless of the seasons you are going through? Christian, there is no testimony without a test, and the One who is testing you has promised to bring you through every test more conformed to His image and likeness. Let this truth encourage you today and empower you to keep your eyes fixed on the One who has favored you and is favoring you every step of the way into glory.
This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. (Psalm 23:1)
One of the most instructive metaphors for our relationship with Jesus is that of the Shepherd with His sheep. Sadly, much of the power of the analogy is lost on you and me because we have little or no understanding of the life of a shepherd or the ways of sheep. The Bible tells us that Jesus is our Good Shepherd who willingly laid His life down for His sheep (John 10:11). Scripture also tells us that the Lord’s sheep hear His voice and follow Him (John 10:27). Yet we all know by way of personal experience that we are prone to wander; when we do, our Good Shepherd comes after us to bring us back into the fold, all the while restoring our soul.
Psalm 23 continues . . .
He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. (Psalm 23:2-3)
When Jesus raises us from death to life, He is not only is the Savior of our souls, He is the Shepherd of our souls too. Regardless of where we go and what we do, we have our Soul Shepherd who cares for us, comforts us, and corrects us with loving kindness. When wolves come after us, our Good Shepherd does not run away; He protects us and provides for our every need. We are set apart by Jesus. We are safe with Jesus. We are secure in Jesus.
Psalm 23 concludes with these words:
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 comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. (Psalm 23:4-6)
Could your soul use a little refreshing today? Perhaps a bit of restoring? Go to the One who loves you so much He died on a cross so you could be in relationship with Him. Go to the Shepherd of your soul and receive all the refreshing and restoration you need today. He is the Shepherd and Overseer of your soul (1 Peter 2:25), and He has promised never to leave you nor forsake you. And He is calling you to come to Him today!
This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!
He knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold. (Job 23:10)
It is not uncommon to hear people who are in a season of trial and difficulty say that God is punishing them for something. They are convinced that they have failed God in some way and God is exacting His pound of flesh from them. But this simply cannot be true! The reason I am so emphatic about that is the cross. Jesus hung on that cross and was punished in our place for every sin of all those who will believe — sins past, present, and even those still to come.
He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:5-6)
OK, you might ask, if God does not send the storms of life to punish us, then what is He doing? The answer is that He is pursuing us! I have said it here many times, but it bears repeating: God’s greatest goal in our lives is to conform us into the image of Christ, and He will use any means necessary to accomplish that goal . . . and one of those means is seasons of difficulty. When I look back at my own life, I can testify that God used storms to draw me closer and closer to Him. When the waves of challenge were washing over me, God was working all of it for my ultimate good . . . and that good is conformity to Christ.
God was pursuing me in the storm, not punishing me! God wanted to deepen my faith walk with Him, and He used those storm winds to do exactly that. Job knew it; you see that certainty in our verse for today. Hezekiah, king of Judah, knew it; he wrote, “Surely it was for my benefit that I suffered such anguish” (Isaiah 38:17). Christian, I hope you know it too.
Regardless of the difficulties you may be facing today — relationship tensions, financial troubles, health crises, or soul-crushing losses — God is in hot pursuit of you through all of it. God is testing our faith because there is no testimony without a test.
These trials have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith – of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire – may result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. (1 Peter 1:7).
It has been well said that a faith that has not been tested is a faith that cannot be trusted. Rest in the truth that God is pursuing you, not punishing you, no matter what difficulty you are facing this day.
This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!
Abraham said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.” (Genesis 22:5)
If you are familiar with the story of Abraham and Isaac, you will remember that God called Abraham to do the unimaginable . . . the unthinkable: to sacrifice his son. Did Abraham simply head out and blindly do what God commanded? Not at all! Abraham knew God, both His promise and His character, and he trusted that God would do what was right and true, even in issuing this heart-wrenching, inexplicable command.
God had promised Abraham that he would be the father of a great nation and that his wife Sarah would bear him a son. Both Abraham and Sarah were childless at the time and Sarah was well beyond child-bearing age, but Genesis 15:6 tells us that Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness. And when Abraham was 100 and Sarah was 90, Sarah gave birth to the child of the promise: Isaac.
So what might seem at first glance like blind faith in following the command of God wasn’t blind faith at all, and Abraham’s assertion in in today’s verse makes that clear. He told his servants that “We [that is, “Abraham and Isaac] will come back to you.” The testimony given in the “Hall of Faith” chapter in the New Testament explains Abraham’s confidence:
By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.” Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death. (Hebrews 11:17-19)
Abraham acted out of reason, not a blind faith. He remembered God’s promise regarding his son Isaac, and because he knew that God could be taken at His Word, Abraham acted accordingly. All throughout the Scriptures, we are instructed to operate by faith, and that faith is often rooted in wisdom, reason, and logic. God gave us the ability to think and reason, which means our faith is not blind, but a firm reliance on the One who can be trusted no matter what, even when we do not fully understand God’s plan. As Hebrews 11:1 tells us, “Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
Where does this message find you today? Whether the sun is brightly shining or the storm winds are blowing, remember to act in faith on all of the promises of God. Abraham followed God faithfully, holding fast to God’s gracious promise, and we are to do the same. We don’t need to know the future. We just need to know the One who holds it all in His nail-scarred hands. Let that truth set you free today.
This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. (1 Corinthians 9:24-25)
I have officiated at many funerals over the years. Some are filled with heartfelt memories of the one who has passed on. Some are not. I have come to understand that the difference comes down to what the deceased had been living for, and there are only two choices: We can either live for the self or live for our Savior. The choice is always ours.
I learned a long time ago that the only life worth living is a life lived out for the glory of Jesus. And if we are living for the glory of Jesus, we live to make an eternal difference in the lives of others. Living this kind of a life does not happen by accident; it only happens by choice. The impact we have in the lives of others will come down to the things we choose to do or not do . . . and we make those choices moment by moment.
Living a life that truly matters will stand the trial by fire. There will be circumstances in life that will burn us, but we will not burn up; our work “will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work” (1 Corinthians 3:13). The simplest way I can restate what Paul is saying is this: If what we are doing is done for our glory, it will burn up; but if what we are doing is done for the glory of God, it will survive the test of fire.
So . . . whose glory have you been living for lately? Who has been sitting on the throne of your life?
Remember, what we do echoes in eternity. May that echo be for the glory of God and the good of others – all others — regardless of the cost or circumstance. Then we will know we are living a life that truly matters.
This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!
Grace for the Race 