"He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything." Colossians 1.18
"Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions." Colossians 1.24
The Church is the body of Christ. Christ is the head, and verse 18 tells us that He is the beginning. The Church starts with Christ. He is the one who leads it, guides it, and instructs it. Christ is the standard that the Church is to follow. Christ is to be the focus of the Church, not Mary, but Christ.
In verse 24 Paul says, yet again, that he rejoices in his sufferings, doing his share on behalf of the body. Suffering is part of following Christ. We will suffer because Christ, the head suffered, and when the head suffers the whole body is affected. Paul rejoices, as we all should, because the suffering is done for Christ's sake, to make him more like Christ.
This thought just came to me, but when part of my body has been injured, I am constantly aware of it from that moment on. I had a wrestling accident about ten years ago where I had three of my teen broken. Every time I bite something I think about them. I have had other injuries (some self-inflicted stupidity ones) that have left scars I see daily. I wear glasses, something that wasn't a result of injury, but something that doesn't work as it should, and I am constantly aware of my poor vision.
When part of the body suffers the head is immediately aware of it. Nerves send messages to the brain to let it know that there is pain. The body of Christ works the same way. If you are part of the body of Christ, God knows your paid the moment it happens. The moment you feel pain, for any reason, God feels it with you. And the Church is to feel their pain as well. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 12, the chapter on Spiritual gifts, "And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it" (verse 26).
The Church is the body of Christ. All those who call are believers make up the body. Paul says we are individual members of it (1 Corinthians 12.27). Each member is essential, each member has a function that must be carried out. When one part suffers they whole body is to feel for them and support them. And when one part rejoices all are to rejoice with it. We are one body, with Christ unifying us and holding us all together.
We are the body of Christ, literally His hands and feet. So let us live as Christ leads. Let us look and be like Christ. We are His body, let's act like it.
"I have been young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or his descendants begging bread."
To God alone be the Glory!
Peace be with you
Showing posts with label Suffering. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Suffering. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
The Place of Adversity in the Will of God
Clearly my mind has been on this subject for a while now. As I've shared about the River idea of God's will, and discerning His will for our lives based on, ability, desire, and opportunity, my mind has been thinking about a few verses in Romans 8 a lot.
Romans 8.28-30, "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified."
Everything in life that happens, God causes it to work for those following Him to become more like Christ. Everything that takes place is to mold us and shape us into Christlikeness. God's call on our lives is for us to become like Christ, and everything works out for our good because everything works to that end.
My mentor spoke Sunday about adversity. He used three examples, a carrot, an egg, and coffee beans. The adversity was represented by boiling water.
A carrot is strong and crisp, but when it gets put into boiling water it becomes soft and mussy. It crumbles easily in your hands.
An egg has a hard exterior that protects the life giving substance inside of it. But when it is put in boiling water the inside becomes hard and it no longer needs it's outer shell, because the life is gone.
Both of these examples show the negative responses to adversity. Some crumble, others become callused and bitter. Adversity causes them to fall apart or grow resentful.
But the third example shows what happens if we go through adversity with God, if we keep in mind that all things work to make us more like Christ. Coffee beans, once they are ground and put in boiling water, according to my mentor and countless others, become a divine gift. Boiling water turns coffee beans into a brew that many depend upon to get them through the day. And when we face adversity with God, that's what happens to us.
If we allow God to take us through the adversity and the hardship we face, to grind us, we become like Christ. We become something that is useful and pleasing, something that is delightful and in some ways essential.
All things, including suffering, serve to make those who follow God more like Christ. It isn't always easy, the Bible tells us that there will be hardships, their will be suffering, there will be death, but all of that leads to life (Philippians). God's will and God's plan for your life is ultimately for you to look like Christ, and everything is working towards that goal. And when that goal is achieved it brings the glory of the presence of God.
It is only through becoming like Christ that we can ever reach glorification. Let's go back to the river analogy. All rivers lead to the ocean, but it is only by swimming the river, by going through the rapids, that we are prepared to enter the currents of the ocean. Only the rough waters we face strengthen our arms and legs to be able to swim in the ocean.
God causes all things to work together to mold into the image of His Son. And those who become like His Son will be glorified. That is His will, that is His plan. Everything that happens in your life is to help you become more like Christ. As my mentor said, "A brew that Starbucks would be envious of."
Whatever is going on in your life, know that God loves you, and all of this is happening to help you become more like Christ. Know at the end there will be glorification for the faithful, but only through the hardships can we get there.
As the early Church Father, Tertullian, said, "Do we test the faith by persons or persons by the faith? No one is wise, no one is faithful, no one worthy of honor unless he is a Christian, and no one is a Christian unless he perseveres to the end."
Go through adversity with God. Persevere and become like Christ. Then we will be welcomed into glory.
To God alone be the Glory!
Peace be with you
Romans 8.28-30, "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified."
Everything in life that happens, God causes it to work for those following Him to become more like Christ. Everything that takes place is to mold us and shape us into Christlikeness. God's call on our lives is for us to become like Christ, and everything works out for our good because everything works to that end.
My mentor spoke Sunday about adversity. He used three examples, a carrot, an egg, and coffee beans. The adversity was represented by boiling water.
A carrot is strong and crisp, but when it gets put into boiling water it becomes soft and mussy. It crumbles easily in your hands.
An egg has a hard exterior that protects the life giving substance inside of it. But when it is put in boiling water the inside becomes hard and it no longer needs it's outer shell, because the life is gone.
Both of these examples show the negative responses to adversity. Some crumble, others become callused and bitter. Adversity causes them to fall apart or grow resentful.
But the third example shows what happens if we go through adversity with God, if we keep in mind that all things work to make us more like Christ. Coffee beans, once they are ground and put in boiling water, according to my mentor and countless others, become a divine gift. Boiling water turns coffee beans into a brew that many depend upon to get them through the day. And when we face adversity with God, that's what happens to us.
If we allow God to take us through the adversity and the hardship we face, to grind us, we become like Christ. We become something that is useful and pleasing, something that is delightful and in some ways essential.
All things, including suffering, serve to make those who follow God more like Christ. It isn't always easy, the Bible tells us that there will be hardships, their will be suffering, there will be death, but all of that leads to life (Philippians). God's will and God's plan for your life is ultimately for you to look like Christ, and everything is working towards that goal. And when that goal is achieved it brings the glory of the presence of God.
It is only through becoming like Christ that we can ever reach glorification. Let's go back to the river analogy. All rivers lead to the ocean, but it is only by swimming the river, by going through the rapids, that we are prepared to enter the currents of the ocean. Only the rough waters we face strengthen our arms and legs to be able to swim in the ocean.
God causes all things to work together to mold into the image of His Son. And those who become like His Son will be glorified. That is His will, that is His plan. Everything that happens in your life is to help you become more like Christ. As my mentor said, "A brew that Starbucks would be envious of."
Whatever is going on in your life, know that God loves you, and all of this is happening to help you become more like Christ. Know at the end there will be glorification for the faithful, but only through the hardships can we get there.
As the early Church Father, Tertullian, said, "Do we test the faith by persons or persons by the faith? No one is wise, no one is faithful, no one worthy of honor unless he is a Christian, and no one is a Christian unless he perseveres to the end."
Go through adversity with God. Persevere and become like Christ. Then we will be welcomed into glory.
To God alone be the Glory!
Peace be with you
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
God, I Trust You
The last few weeks have been really hectic, but let me just tell you about the last three days. Sunday morning was spent in the ER with my wife, I wrote about it, and all of my thoughts about it, in another post.
Monday I got in my vehicle to go to work and it wouldn't start. I called my dad and let him listen over the phone and he said it sounded like the starter was bad. He came down that afternoon and was helping me with it, it took two hours just to get the starter out. Currently my vehicle doesn't have a starter, battery, or alternator in it. My wife and I are living with one vehicle, and I've been biking to work. We'd talked about going to one car, and this is a forced trial run to see if we can do it. It takes a lot of coordination, and I don't know if our life will let us do it right now.
Yesterday we found out that my wife's insurance had been canceled in February. We hadn't gotten any notification, and the last two payments we sent in for it had cleared. After spending a while on the phone with the insurance company they said there was nothing they could do about it, but that they were going to be issuing us a refund for the last two payments we had sent in.
It's been a hectic three days, that has come at the end of a hectic couple weeks. The church I'm serving has a leadership crisis where no one really wants to take leadership. On top of that there are some financial concerns. My wife is frustrated with work and how they have started scheduling by a computer now giving her even less continuity than before. And I found out that the eight year old son of a good friend of mine has been diagnosed with Lymphoma. It's been a hectic couple of weeks.
Today was a day I really didn't feel like getting out of bed. I had to to let my wife's new dog outside, but I really didn't want to get out of bed. I feel worn out and drained. But honestly I have to also say that I am blessed. My dad was able to come down and help me with my vehicle. I hate working on cars more than about anything else in the world. And after seeing the trouble my dad, who can fix anything, had with it, I have no idea what I would have done.
We have a dog now and she didn't cost us anything up front. The last two days she's been sitting by the door wagging her tail when I've gotten home. She follows me around the house and will just sit by me and look at me. My wife is happy to have her "Princess Rosie", and loves to cuddle with her. I was able to be a blessing to my wife with the dog.
Yesterday we were surrounded by people who encouraged us, and offered to help us. Our Co District Superintendents, the assistant Superintendent, and a pastor friend. We are blessed with great people.
My friend whose son has cancer has been an example to me in the last few years. He is a model of Christlikeness and Christ's love lived out. Through reading his blog posts about what his family is going through with cancer, you constantly see him point back to God, have his faith and trust strengthened, and model excellent fatherhood.
I said in a previous post that God wants to work on my trust in Him, and it seems like I'm being hit from every angle right now. But yesterday as I sat in the hallway outside our church district office I told God, "I trust you." I read in Forgotten God yesterday a verse that I'm feeling right now.
"But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh." (2 Corinthians 4.7-11)
I talked with my mentor last night, about the events of yesterday, and he again reminded me of something that he's told me many times during the last few months. "This didn't catch God by surprise. He knew that this was going to happen. Everything is God's, God doesn't have resource problems. Everything you have is God's. You belong to God, and so you don't have resource issues, they are God's." My mentor is a man of great faith, and I believe God is working on me now to build my faith in Him.
I am afflicted in every way, but I am not crushed. I am so perplexed, but I will not despair. I am persecuted, but not forsaken, and though I have been struck down I have not been destroyed. The Bible never promises anyone an easy life, not even pastors. It says in Philippians 1.29, "For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake," and here in 2 Corinthians 4, that we carry in our bodies the dying of Jesus. But it says that we die so that the life of Jesus can be manifested. It says our treasure is in earthen vessels so that God's power will be seen, not ours.
God never promised life would be easy, but He did say, "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go" (Joshua 1.9) Paul said in Philippians 4.11-13 (sitting in prison waiting to die), "Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." Paul knew that no matter what happened, no matter what he went through, no matter what he gained or lost, he always had Christ. God has said, "I will be with you wherever you go."
God always promises His presence with those who are faithful to Him. My study of the Bible is currently in the book of Numbers. Last night I read chapters 19-21, in them I saw that God needs to be the priority, that when we don't make God our priority and trust Him we miss out on the great blessings He has in store for us, and that God always provides salvation for His people. God can be trusted, because God always provides salvation. When we make God our priority, we will constantly be blessed with His presence. There is nothing we will ever go through that He is not aware of and beside us on. Nothing catches Him off guard, by surprise, or unprepared.
God, I trust You. You have promised to be with me wherever I go. You have promised never to leave me or forsake me. You have promised to exalt Yourself. My life has been given to me by You, so that I can have the privilege of glorifying You. Right now You know everything I'm going through, You know everything that I will go through in the future. I ask that these trials will be times when I just draw closer to You and learn to trust You more. Father, Doug reminded me yesterday that this is just preparation for something You want to do, mold me and prepare me. Pass me through the fires of trial because it will only make me stronger in You. Help me to know that You will never leave me, and that no matter what I go through, You are carrying me through it.
To God alone be the glory!
Peace be with you
Monday I got in my vehicle to go to work and it wouldn't start. I called my dad and let him listen over the phone and he said it sounded like the starter was bad. He came down that afternoon and was helping me with it, it took two hours just to get the starter out. Currently my vehicle doesn't have a starter, battery, or alternator in it. My wife and I are living with one vehicle, and I've been biking to work. We'd talked about going to one car, and this is a forced trial run to see if we can do it. It takes a lot of coordination, and I don't know if our life will let us do it right now.
Yesterday we found out that my wife's insurance had been canceled in February. We hadn't gotten any notification, and the last two payments we sent in for it had cleared. After spending a while on the phone with the insurance company they said there was nothing they could do about it, but that they were going to be issuing us a refund for the last two payments we had sent in.
It's been a hectic three days, that has come at the end of a hectic couple weeks. The church I'm serving has a leadership crisis where no one really wants to take leadership. On top of that there are some financial concerns. My wife is frustrated with work and how they have started scheduling by a computer now giving her even less continuity than before. And I found out that the eight year old son of a good friend of mine has been diagnosed with Lymphoma. It's been a hectic couple of weeks.
Today was a day I really didn't feel like getting out of bed. I had to to let my wife's new dog outside, but I really didn't want to get out of bed. I feel worn out and drained. But honestly I have to also say that I am blessed. My dad was able to come down and help me with my vehicle. I hate working on cars more than about anything else in the world. And after seeing the trouble my dad, who can fix anything, had with it, I have no idea what I would have done.
We have a dog now and she didn't cost us anything up front. The last two days she's been sitting by the door wagging her tail when I've gotten home. She follows me around the house and will just sit by me and look at me. My wife is happy to have her "Princess Rosie", and loves to cuddle with her. I was able to be a blessing to my wife with the dog.
Yesterday we were surrounded by people who encouraged us, and offered to help us. Our Co District Superintendents, the assistant Superintendent, and a pastor friend. We are blessed with great people.
My friend whose son has cancer has been an example to me in the last few years. He is a model of Christlikeness and Christ's love lived out. Through reading his blog posts about what his family is going through with cancer, you constantly see him point back to God, have his faith and trust strengthened, and model excellent fatherhood.
I said in a previous post that God wants to work on my trust in Him, and it seems like I'm being hit from every angle right now. But yesterday as I sat in the hallway outside our church district office I told God, "I trust you." I read in Forgotten God yesterday a verse that I'm feeling right now.
"But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh." (2 Corinthians 4.7-11)
I talked with my mentor last night, about the events of yesterday, and he again reminded me of something that he's told me many times during the last few months. "This didn't catch God by surprise. He knew that this was going to happen. Everything is God's, God doesn't have resource problems. Everything you have is God's. You belong to God, and so you don't have resource issues, they are God's." My mentor is a man of great faith, and I believe God is working on me now to build my faith in Him.
I am afflicted in every way, but I am not crushed. I am so perplexed, but I will not despair. I am persecuted, but not forsaken, and though I have been struck down I have not been destroyed. The Bible never promises anyone an easy life, not even pastors. It says in Philippians 1.29, "For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake," and here in 2 Corinthians 4, that we carry in our bodies the dying of Jesus. But it says that we die so that the life of Jesus can be manifested. It says our treasure is in earthen vessels so that God's power will be seen, not ours.
God never promised life would be easy, but He did say, "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go" (Joshua 1.9) Paul said in Philippians 4.11-13 (sitting in prison waiting to die), "Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." Paul knew that no matter what happened, no matter what he went through, no matter what he gained or lost, he always had Christ. God has said, "I will be with you wherever you go."
God always promises His presence with those who are faithful to Him. My study of the Bible is currently in the book of Numbers. Last night I read chapters 19-21, in them I saw that God needs to be the priority, that when we don't make God our priority and trust Him we miss out on the great blessings He has in store for us, and that God always provides salvation for His people. God can be trusted, because God always provides salvation. When we make God our priority, we will constantly be blessed with His presence. There is nothing we will ever go through that He is not aware of and beside us on. Nothing catches Him off guard, by surprise, or unprepared.
God, I trust You. You have promised to be with me wherever I go. You have promised never to leave me or forsake me. You have promised to exalt Yourself. My life has been given to me by You, so that I can have the privilege of glorifying You. Right now You know everything I'm going through, You know everything that I will go through in the future. I ask that these trials will be times when I just draw closer to You and learn to trust You more. Father, Doug reminded me yesterday that this is just preparation for something You want to do, mold me and prepare me. Pass me through the fires of trial because it will only make me stronger in You. Help me to know that You will never leave me, and that no matter what I go through, You are carrying me through it.
To God alone be the glory!
Peace be with you
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