Jesus Died so I could Live

Who Has Control

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Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand.
Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone— while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy? Job 38:5-7

We all like to be in control. It’s why some of us are planners, why some would rather drive than fly, why many of us would rather be the driver than the passenger. In our minds we often struggle when we have to hand over control to others. When faced with a potential problem we can move into “solution mode”. What do I need to do? Where do I need to go? How can I fix this? Sometimes that works and sometimes it doesn’t. But often times we encounter things that are entirely out of our control. At those times our first instinct is to panic. Now what?

God has to teach us to react differently. Perhaps that’s why He gave us the book of Job. Though it may seem a little strange, considering the content, it can be one of the most comforting books in the Bible. Job’s life was out of control, and in the end he didn’t even get any answers—no solutions about how to change things or what he should have done differently. He got bad advice from friends, and then he got a bunch of questions from God. But in those questions we see Who is ultimately in control: God.

He was in control at creation (Who shut up the sea behind doors when it burst forth from the womb?). He controls the weather (What is the way to the place where the lightning is dispersed, or the place where the east winds are scattered over the earth?). He controls the animals (Do you hunt the prey for the lioness and satisfy the hunger of the lions?). He controls justice (Do you have an arm like God’s, and can your voice thunder like his?). He was in control of Job’s life (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), just as He is in control of ours. And He’s in control of our death, with a promise of eternity that is just as real as Job’s was:

I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes—I, and not another.

How my heart yearns within me! Job 19:26-27

Knowing that our lives are in the hands of a God so powerful—that He who controls the universe also directs our steps—is only comforting because of who God is and what He has done. If Job can serve as one of the most comforting books of the Bible, Romans 8 is one of the most comforting chapters. God’s power and control over us is rivaled only by His love for us. So instead of panicking when something is out of our control, we can rest secure, convinced of the truth that:

Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39

PRAYER

Lord God, I struggle with control. I know you are always in control, but it doesn’t always feel like it. I get overwhelmed and think that I need to be in control of my life. Jesus, you are my life. You are my refuge and strength in good all things. Give me the peace of mind to know that you are always in control as you direct and guide my life according to your good and gracious will. In your name, I pray. Amen.

grateful

Worthy of Gratitude

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Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights. James 1:17

Did you spend some time focusing on what you’re grateful for this past week? If you did, you may have greatly improved your physical and emotional health. Over the past 20 years, numerous research studies have found that practicing gratitude on a regular basis has amazing positive effects. Being thankful can lower your blood pressure, improve your sleep, reduce depressive symptoms, enhance your long-term happiness, increase your self-esteem, improve your relationships, and even change and rewire your brain. People in all parts of the world and in all types of circumstances are recognizing the value in noticing and naming something to be grateful for every day.

For many, gratitude is simply a positive mindset or a good feeling, with the focus on gifts in this life. As Christians, we don’t just have something to be grateful for, we have Someone to be grateful to! Our focus is on the Giver of those gifts—the Source of all of our blessings, both in this life and in the next. Consider what Scripture tells us about the One who is worthy of our gratitude:

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. I Chronicles 16:34

Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind. Psalm 107:8

But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our LORD Jesus Christ. I Corinthians 15:57

We give thanks to you, LORD God Almighty, the One who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign. Revelation 11:17

We don’t just practice gratitude because of the many health benefits or because it makes us feel warm and fuzzy inside (though it’s pretty cool of God that it works that way). We practice gratitude because it is the natural response to learning more about our God who gives us “every good and perfect gift.” So how do we thank Him? It’s one thing to feel gratitude, but how do we live it out? The Bible gives us a couple of ideas:

With our words and actions: And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the LORD Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:17

With our worship: Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe. Hebrews 12:28

With our prayers: Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6

With our gifts: You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. 2 Corinthians 9:11

With our service to others: Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. I Peter 4:10

With our testimony: I will give thanks to you, LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. Psalm 9:1

As we look forward to our Savior’s second coming, let’s turn our focus from the blessings we have to the One who has blessed us, looking forward to the day we get to thank Him in person. As good as gratitude can feel, nothing will compare with that!

Prayer

Dear Father, thank you for all the blessings you continually give us—for everything we need in this life, and for everything we need for eternal life. Keep our focus on you as the Giver of it all, and empower us to live out lives of gratitude until we see you face to face. Amen.

heart messages

Heart Messages

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As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. John 15:9

You may have heard the tragic news that the iconic Valentine candies, Sweethearts, are going to be harder to find on the shelves in February because the company that makes them declared bankruptcy. Until a new company decides to bring them back, we’ll have to resort to knockoff brands to declare messages of the heart through candy. (Or we can use the new “Cupid’s Messages” or M&M’s – Maybe you like chocolate better anyway!)

What “heart messages” have you given and received throughout your life? Unfortunately, they are not always so sweet. God created our hearts perfectly, but we broke His heart with our sin. In fact, early on in Genesis we hear that “every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time.” As a result of sin, we may be tempted to believe untrue and hurtful messages—told to us by the Devil (the father of lies), others around us, or even ourselves. Messages like…

NOBODY loves you.

You’re NO good.

YOU don’t belong.

You’re ALL alone.

 

Human hearts turned cold toward God, but He didn’t let them stay that way. He promised us.

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. Ezekiel 36:26

Because Christ opened his arms for you in love on the cross, the Holy Spirit now lives in your heart. God sent you the ultimate message of His love through His son. Your heart again looks perfect to God, and it will be united with Him in Heaven. Until then, when you struggle with heart messages, read the Valentine that God gave you and remain in His love. Messages like BE MINE and KISS ME are fun to receive, but they pale in comparison to the heart messages we receive from God:

I LOVE YOU
How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! John 3:1

I FORGIVE YOU
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace. Ephesians 1:7

I AM WITH YOU
And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. Matthew 28:20

Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; YOU ARE MINE. Isaiah 43:1

PRAYER

Dear Jesus, thank you for loving me so much that you brought my heart back to you. In the midst of messages meant to draw me away from you, remind me every day of the truth of your love and forgiveness. Help me to thank you for your grace by loving you and others with all of my heart. Amen

Walking in the Dark

Depression – Walking in the Dark

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Steve struggled to find the energy to make it through the day. He felt limp and lethargic. He knew a lot of people depended on him, which made him feel even worse.

Steve sensed he was depressed. Even worse, he feared he was suffering from depression.

Depression can come in different shapes and sizes. There is clinical depression and then there are the “blues” or brief variations in mood. Sad, irritated, disappointed, and frustrated — Steve barely managed to get himself through his days and nights.

Depression can come in different shapes and sizes.

He found his mind wandering back to memories of his father. Steve’s dad died several months ago, but he couldn’t seem to shake the melancholy feelings of sadness. Steve knew his father was no longer in pain. He believed in the promise of heaven. He knew all these things, but he still felt alone and sad. Sometimes, he even felt guilty for feeling sad and lonely.

Steve found comfort in a couple of close friends who could relate to how he felt. They reminded Steve that it was okay to be sad. One of his friends reassured him that loss hurts but that our future hope is in Christ Jesus. And so, Steve started to really think about why he was feeling so down. He began to be honest about the realities of his depression. He started to write down his feelings and thoughts and reflected on what he had written in the hopes he might discover what was behind his sadness.

Steve began to learn that it was okay to miss his father. It was okay to love his father. Since Jesus lives, so does Steve’s father. Steve learned that his father was not just someone he loved. Because of Jesus’ promise, Steve’s father is someone he loves.

We miss people because we love them. And that hurts. The Lord Jesus understands the weight of depression. He reaches out to us when we are discouraged, down, and depressed.

The Bible promises that God will give us consolation amid depression. The prophet Isaiah offered this encouragement:

[The LORD] provides for those who grieve in Zion – to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. Isaiah 61:3

The Lord knows that depression is not just something we shake off. It needs treatment. He provides caring counselors who desire to help us to heal. The Lord Jesus also provides healing by promising to be with us. He is faithful to us and meets us in our sadness. He loves us so much, however, that he doesn’t leave us where he finds us. He works change.

His loving presence provides the courage to look deep inside to see the pain, loss, guilt, or shame we may carry. Jesus’s love also gives us the permission to bring those hidden hurts to the surface and to place them into his loving hands. And Jesus promises beauty instead of ashes, joy in the place of mourning, and comfort for our heavy hearts. He promises to handle our hurts with loving care. And that’s where hope and healing begin.

Prayer

Lord, sometimes we all get down. Today I feel like I am walking in the dark. I trust you, Jesus. Give me the comfort of your presence in my sadness. Help me to bring my feelings to the surface so that I have the courage to talk to you and with others about them. In your name, I pray, dear Jesus. Amen.