I remember the story of a man with large, empty fish aquarium. The man had some large rocks, smaller pebbles, and some very fine sand to fill this aquarium. In order to get fit everything into the aquarium, the larger rocks had to go in first, followed by the smaller pebbles, and finally the sand. The point of the story is that we need to focus on the big, important things in our lives. Jesus will becomes the biggest rock in your life, if you let Him! It is imperative that you place Him first in everything. There are Christians who fail to do this everyday! They pay dearly for it. How do they pay? Ask them about their marriages, their children, their jobs, their lives, and the troubles that fill up their lives like sand.
Taking up our cross daily does not seem fun. We ask ourselves, “What must I give up for this menacing God who created this universe?” Maybe the questions we ask ourselves are scarier than that. “What if there is no God?” we ask ourselves. Who or what can we turn to then? I have seen man treat his fellow man in most horrible ways. I have seen wars and rumors of war. I have seen men riot and destroy property and people. I have seen children mistreated and abused. Did they not even kill Jesus, the Son of God? Yet, I have seen the Amish community come together and raise a barn for their neighbor. I have seen people come from different states to help victims of natural disasters who have lost everything. I have seen people give to telethons to help people attend college. I have seen people who jump into the water to save people who are drowning.
If you have been mad at God for a long time, ask yourself "why"? Whatever happened or did not happen, did God really cause it? God so loved this world that He sent His only begotten son, Jesus, to die on a cross, so that we might be reconciled to Him. Is this the kind of God who puts sickness on a child? Why would God do that? The Bible tells us in Matthew 7: “If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” How much more does our Heavenly Father know how to give than our earthly parents? When God gave us His son Jesus, there was nothing else comparable with that gift.
Wait you say, I have done t0o many things in the past. I have sinned greatly. How can I start fresh? If you are a child of God, then all things have become new and you are a new creation. If you are not a child of God, why not choose to be one? Do you want to continue living the life of sin that has left you broke, disgusted and down, or do you want to lead a life of greatness following the Way of Jesus? The choice between Heaven and Hell between life and death, between victory and defeat seems easy. Choose life.
God is telling us to trust in Him and he will protect us. God will deal with all of your enemies, if you let Him. Bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you! When we forgive and pray for our enemies, we are clean, we are set free, and we have God's forgiveness. God said He would forgive us as we forgive others. Forgiveness, prayer, and love for our enemies are radical ways of living!
The Bible tells us that our Father in heaven collects our tears in a bottle. It is interesting that we have the ability to cry and even more amazing that our Father thinks enough of our tears to collect them. You cannot solve every problem in this world, but you can solve some of them. Do not become paralyzed by the enormity of the problems of this world, help the starfish you can. Become an ambassador for Jesus to someone today.
The only answer we have is God's peace. Jesus let us know that He was leaving His peace with us. This peace is offered without strings attached. If we are to live in these perilous times, we must seek someone greater than ourselves. People will let us down. Institutions will let us down. Our faith needs to be in nothing less than the God who made us. Our Father is aware of what is happening, it is no surprise to Him. God loves us all.
I believe if you are reading this, then God has lead you here. I believe you have greatness in you! I believe that your heavenly Father placed greatness inside of you. God will use you, if you allow Him. What a time we live in. Remember it was said of Esther that for such a time as this she was born. I say with great certainty you were born for such a time as this.
Do you ever feel frantic? Are there moments when the pace of life is so demanding that you are unsure whether you can "keep it together". The world has gone crazy. We live in a never ending news cycle that brings bad news. It is easy to fall prey and become absorbed in the daily crisis. News organizations thrive off the latest crisis. Fear is the greatest weapon that nations can wield. President Roosevelt said, "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself". Between our jobs, marriages, children, parents and the multitude of other obligations we have, down time seems unrealistic.
Finish Strong Never Quit 
Recent Comments