Today’s Devotional |
Today's Devotional
- Memory Verse
- Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise (Proverbs 6:6).
“If you have a task to be done, find a busy person to do it.” This bit of wisdom has endured through the years. And it must be the plan God follows in choosing His servants.
- Moses was busy with his flocks when God called him to serve.
- Gideon was busy threshing wheat by the wine press.
- Elisha was busy plowing with twelve yoke of oxen.
- David was busy caring for his father’s sheep.
- Peter and Andrew were busy casting a net into the sea.
- James and John were busy mending their nets.
- Matthew was busy collecting customs.
It is a mistake to wait around for God to open some special door of service. Some people fail to recognize opportunity because it so often comes to them in overalls and looks like work. God intends that we get busy where we are. When we are faithful in the place He has assigned us, He can open doors to greater service.
Phillips Brooks wrote: “Oh, do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be strong men and women. Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers. Pray for powers equal to your tasks. Then the doing of your work will be no miracle; but you shall be a miracle. Every day you shall wonder at yourself, at the richness of life which has come to you by the grace of God.”
Finally, do all your work to the glory of God: “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ” (Colossians 3:23-24).
Daily Devotionals
“As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God…”
Psalm 42:1, 2
“Soul Food” is a daily devotional written by Dr. Jack Van Impe that brings God’s Word to life.
“The Tender Touch” is a weekly devotional from the heart of Dr. Rexella Van Impe.
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- Soul Food
- Tender Touch
- Memory Verse
- For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust (Psalm 103:14).
An old song says:
“God understands your heartache,
He sees the falling tear;
And whispers I am with thee,
Then falter not nor fear.”
The psalmist agrees and points out that God never forgets our human limitations. He remembers that we are made of dust.
We are not iron people and therefore burdens and responsibilities can get too heavy for us. Our emotional cords are sometimes strained to the breaking point. We become weary in the race. Panic, on occasion, grips our hearts. Even when we know better.
Never mind. God understands.
God knows our physical limitations. Sickness may drain our normal vitality, making it hard to do even the routine work of the day. Lack of sleep may rob us of our usual alertness and we may become depressed because we haven’t had time to rest. Financial needs may be so pressing that our work hours are lengthened to keep food on the table. The pressure may seem unbearable. Still, God knows the limit of our endurance and offers to compensate for our weakness.
God knows about broken hearts. “Where was God when my son died?” demanded an angry father of his pastor. “The same place He was when His own Son died,” said the wise man of God. Our Lord knows about grief and tears. He made the human body with the ability to release tension through weeping and designed our emotions to cooperate.
The old song ends: “Then let Him bear your burden; He understands and cares.” What good news for needy people! (I Peter 5:7)
- Memory Verse
- The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe (Proverbs 29:25).
“I wanted to respond to the invitation,” said a young man, “but I just couldn’t do it with my friends there watching.” The fear of man had kept him from the most important decision in life.
“Your friends may laugh you into hell,” said a concerned mother to her son, “but they can never laugh you out of it.” She was trying to help him see the folly of fearing men when considering his relationship to God.
Public opinion is a powerful force. It is another name for the fear of man.
- What do you leave out of your conversations with others because of the fear of man?
- What Christian convictions do you compromise because of the fear of man?
- What would you change about your life if it were not for the fear of what others will say... the power of public opinion?
To whatever degree you are held back in your Christian walk by fear of others, you are the loser. God will be the final judge. His verdict about rewards and blessings will be the one that will matter. Why should you allow others to keep you from God’s best?
By placing full faith in Him to care for you if you give Him your all, you have His promise of safety: “...whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.”
So, dare to dedicate your life to Him. Cut loose from fear of criticism. Find His will for your life without fear of the reaction of friends or associates. Stop being ruled by public opinion.
Escape the snare!
- Memory Verse
- For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief (Proverbs 24:16).
Becoming a Christian does not end all trouble. Some are surprised at this discovery. They thought:
“When I walk that aisle
I’m through with trial.”
But Christians endure tribulations.
However, the Christian’s trials are different. He does not face them alone. His Lord accompanies him in every difficulty: “When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee” (Isaiah 43:2).
The Christian’s trials develop his faith: “Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ” (I Peter 1:6-7).
The Christian’s trials do not destroy him: “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair: Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed” (II Corinthians 4:8-9).
A ninety-year-old man was cautioned by his daughter not to fall down, after a heavy snow storm. “If I fall down, I’ll just get up again,” he replied.
Christians don’t stay down. Their Lord lifts them up again!
- Memory Verse
- Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright (Proverbs 23:31).
Many Christians seem to be “rethinking” the booze question. Social drinking is becoming accepted among numbers of believers. What should we do about it?
Solomon’s instruction is clear: have nothing to do with fermented beverages! Why?
Booze is a killer. It brings more grief than any other single cause in the world. Alcohol is America’s most serious drug problem.
Rampant crime is closely associated with the use of booze. Forty-three percent of all crimes committed by prisoners in state institutions in America were carried out when they had been drinking. In cases of homicide, the influence of alcohol is even greater. Nearly two-thirds of all murders are alcohol related.
Some quote Paul’s instruction to Timothy to use a little wine for his stomach’s sake. But that advice is strictly for medicinal purposes and has nothing to do with social drinking for pleasure or sensation.
True, Jesus turned water into grape juice at the marriage at Cana, but this juice had a sobering effect on those who drank it and evidently acted the opposite of the intoxicating beverage with which we are familiar. It was a miracle product — not available today.
It will never be popular to avoid booze. The world is on a binge and doesn’t like to face the facts of its destruction. God’s Word stands: “Look not thou upon the wine when it is red...”
- Memory Verse
- The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD (Proverbs 21:31).
These are perilous times. Dwelling on all the possibilities for death and destruction could make one unable to function.
Fear could keep us from traveling because of the danger of auto accidents. The likelihood of robbery could forbid leaving our homes. The possibility of nuclear war might send us fleeing to some out of the way place to live. The tornado season could drive us to our basements at the first sign of clouds.
But here is a truth worth remembering: SAFETY IS OF THE LORD.
This does not mean that we should never take precautions. God has given us good sense to use. Having carried out sensible safety acts, however, let us relax in the fact that SAFETY IS OF THE LORD.
David faced Goliath in confidence because SAFETY IS OF THE LORD.
Daniel survived the lion’s den because SAFETY IS OF THE LORD.
Three Hebrew young men were not burned in Nebuchadnezzar’s furnace because SAFETY IS OF THE LORD.
Gideon’s three hundred were victorious because SAFETY IS OF THE LORD.
The disciples saw the stormy Galilee become peaceful and calm because SAFETY IS OF THE LORD.
When we get to heaven and learn about the protection God gave during our sojourn on earth, we’ll be amazed at how many times He delivered us from injury or death without our knowing it and then we’ll also know beyond all doubt that SAFETY WAS OF THE LORD.
Doesn’t that make you feel secure?
- Memory Verse
- It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling (Proverbs 20:3).
Many churches are filled with strife. How strange a report about groups of people who claim to be saved as a result of the love of God. No wonder the world remains unreached and millions mock the church.
Strife is serious. See what the Bible has to say about it: “Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying” (Romans 13:13): “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies” (Galatians 5:19-20): “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves” (Philippians 2:3); “But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work” (James 3:14-16).
Strife keeps some bad company.
What is it doing in the fellowship of the saints?
Never mind. It is there. What can one do about it?
He can cease from strife. And in so doing, he does an honorable thing in the sight of God.
If you’re trying to separate the fools from the honorable men, you can tell them without a scorecard — just notice who refuses to take part in strife!
- Memory Verse
- And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses (Mark 11:25).
Those who have been forgiven have a right to pray with confidence — providing they forgive others.
Bitterness, malice and hatred are all hindrances to prayer. Answers long denied may be forthcoming when prayer finally comes from a forgiving heart. We deprive ourselves of God’s bounty when we refuse to forgive.
Jesus stressed the importance of forgiving others by linking it to prayer. For a Christian, prayer is as normal as breathing. It is his opportunity to communicate with his Heavenly Father. In the experience of prayer, he unburdens his heart and taps the power of God for daily living. But — every time he prays he must forgive all who have wronged him: “And when ye stand praying, forgive.”
One is uncomfortable in prayer when he harbors ill feeling toward another. Though he may be eloquent in expressing his needs to God, there is something empty about his praying. When the unforgiving person finishes his prayer he is uneasy. It is as if the one who is still unforgiven has been listening in on his conversation with God. He has prayed, but not well. In his praying, he has been disobedient. When he began to pray he should have forgiven his adversary. He has gone through a religious exercise to no avail. The un- forgiven one stands as a roadblock — obstructing the answer to his prayer.
Do you want to get things from God through prayer? Do you long to pray effectively. If so, you must first learn to forgive!
We're hearing so much in this day about
the New Age Movement and how we should
be in contact with our "other self" through
our "spirit guide." These concepts are being
taught in our public schools, even at the
lower grade levels. Misguided, deceived
individuals are teaching our innocent children
about transcendental meditation, yoga, and
the spirit world.
Numerous celebrities, such as Shirley
MacLaine, Linda Evans, and John Denver,
have publicized their involvement with such
fearsome ancient spirit guides as Ramtha,
Spectra, and Lazirus, who supposedly
possess supernatural knowledge and can assist
them in making important decisions and
choices.
The truth is that most of the spirits out
there are not holy. It is vitally important to
recognize this fact. Sadly, too many people
do not realize that when they participate in
activities like "channeling," trances, seances,
etc., they are opening themselves up to all
kinds of demonic spirits. Often, people
actually give themselves over to evil spirits,
with tragic results.
Our Guide
As Christians, our Spirit Guide lives
within us. Your body is the temple of the
Holy Ghost which is in you (1 Corinthians
6:19). Therefore, if our Spirit Guide is within
us, we have no need to go outside ourselves
for guidance as others suggest. He is all we
need.
Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is
come, he will guide you into all truth: for he
shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever
he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he
willshow you things to come (John 16:13).
Imagine, you have access to the greatest
Spirit of all -- the precious Holy Spirit. You
can possess, and be possessed by, the most
powerful force in all the universe, the
omniscient, omnipresent Spirit of the eternal God.
Shirley MacLaine and others talk about their
spirit guides being so special because they
are ancient. But our Spirit Guide -- the Holy
Spirit -- helped create the world, even man.
Genesis 1:1,2 says, In the beginning God
created the heaven and the earth. And the
earth was without form, and void; and
darkness was upon the face of the deep.
And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of
the waters. So the Holy Spirit was there at
the dawn of creation -- as a part of the
Trinity. He is from the beginning and predates
all other spirit guides.
We can have contact with this Holy Spirit
and be guided by Him, but first we must
possess Him. The only way that can happen
is by the illumination of His Word. He must
convince us of the truth. John 16:8 says,
And when he is come, he will reprove
[convince] the world of sin, and of righteousness,
and of judgment. He convinces us that we
need Him and guides us to the born-again
experience.
Thank God, the Spirit does strive with
us and illuminates the truth to us.
Our Intercessor
Not only does the Spirit convince us of
our need of Christ, He also creates
intercessory thoughts in us. There are times
when we don't even know what we need --
what is good for us. So many times we may
not even know how we should pray or what
we should ask for. So we have to join our
spirit with the Holy Spirit to seek out God's
best plan for our lives. Romans 8:26 says,
Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities:
for we know not what we should pray
for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh
intercession for us with groanings which
cannot be uttered.
There are times when we come to God,
praying only for what we want -- asking for
His approval -- instead of seeking His will
for our lives. I'm convinced that on those
occasions when we come to God, asking
selfishly, the Holy Spirit is saying, "No,
Father, no." When we do not ask within the
will of God, then the Holy Spirit, in His
mercy, intercedes for what is best.
As a young bride, I had an experience
like this. I wanted a baby so much that I
begged God to let me have one. I refused to
consider how much a child would have
hampered and burdened my calling and
ministry, which at that time required me to
live "on the road" for months at a time. I
avoided thinking about how cruel and unfair
my work load and life-style would be to a
helpless, wholly-dependent little one.
Even after I knew that motherhood was
not God's will for me, I asked anyway. But
the Holy Spirit, in His goodness, interceded
for me -- for my own good. And now, when I
can see things clearly and in perspective,
that knowledge brings me great comfort.
There may also be times when we
experience a yearning for something that is
undefined and inexpressible. It's a hunger or
yearning we simply can't understand. At
times like these, we can join our spirits
with the Holy Spirit and let Him create
intercessory thoughts within us. Then we
can have peace that what is being sought in
our behalf is for our good...and will be done.
And this is the confidence that we have in
him, that, if we ask any thing according to
his will, he heareth us: and if we know that
he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know
that we have the petitions that we desired of
him (1 John 5:14,15).
Allowing the Holy Spirit to create
intercessory thoughts and prayers brings such
satisfaction and fulfillment. It goes beyond
our understanding or ability to put it into
words. It is so beautiful and powerful.
Our Comforter
Then, the Holy Spirit comforts us. I will
not leave you comfortless: I will come to you
(John 14:18).
I love the story about a very sad
unbeliever who was seated next to a Christian
man on a train. During the trip, the unsaved
man began to cry and weep. The believer
said to him, "I see you are troubled and
sad. Is there some way I can help you?"
The sorrowful man replied, "I've just lost
my wife. Our home seems so empty. All I
have left to keep me company is her
parakeet."
The believer replied, "Well, as a Christian
I have the Paraclete -- the Holy Spirit. He
never leaves me. And He will meet your
need if you'll allow Him to."
Paraclete, in the Greek, means
"comforter" and is the name given for the Holy
Spirit. As Christians, we have the constant,
unfailing presence of the Holy Spirit to guide
and comfort us.
Our Spiritual Gift-giver
The Holy Spirit also controls the spiritual
gifts bestowed upon the body of Christ,
the Church. The manifestation of the Spirit
is given to every man to profit withal For to
one is given by the Spirit the word of
wisdom; to another the word of knowledge...to
another faith...to another the gifts of healing...
to another the working of miracles; to another
prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to
another divers kinds of tongues; to another
the interpretation of tongues: but all these
worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit,
dividing to every man severally as he will
(1 Corinthians 12:7-11).
God gives these gifts to each believer, as
He wills. Each of us has been given a very
special gift -- and the Holy Spirit will guide
us into a place of service using the particular
gift He has chosen for us. He will also
give us power when using that gift.
Peter had the gift of communication --
the ability to preach. But after he was filled
with the Holy Spirit (see Acts 1:8; 2:4), he
not only had the gift but also the fruit...
boldness (see Acts 4:13). So the Holy Spirit
not only gives us spiritual gifts, He also
gives us the ability (fruit) and strength to
use them.
Spiritual gifts are not given to hoard for
our own benefit or enjoyment. They are
given to enable us to minister to others.
And the Spirit will provide the opportunity --
He will definitely show us our place of service.
I believe there are times, depending on
the circumstances, when more than one
gift of the Spirit may be exercised through
you. A situation may arise where there is
no one else to depend on and the Holy
Spirit manifests (or works) a particular gift
through you to meet a particular need at a
particular time. It may be a gift that has
never operated in your life before, but when
the Spirit puts you in a situation, He will
illuminate your mind to meet the need. You
will discover that where God guides, He
provides.
The Holy Spirit is our Keeper
Not only is our Spirit Guide with us in
life, but He remains with us even after death.
Dr. J. Wilbur Chapman relates a beautiful
story about how he personally discovered
this thrilling truth. He was sitting in his
home, reading an address delivered by Dr.
Moorhead at a Bible Conference. Dr.
Moorhead declared that when one becomes
a child of God, the Spirit of God comes in to
dwell in that person and will continue in
that body until the Resurrection. Even after
the human spirit has departed to be with
the Lord, the third member of the godhead
remains with that body until the Resurrection.
Dr. Chapman said that as he thought
about this, he started to cry. He said, "We
hitched the horse to the carriage, and my
wife and I rode out to a little graveyard
where we had buried our firstborn son. As
we stood there beside that little grave, we
said, ëThank You, Lord, for keeping watch.'
Immediately the peace of God flooded our
souls." He went on, "Later, when I stood by
the grave of my mother, again I said, 'Thank
You, Holy Spirit, for staying with Your temple
and keeping watch.'"
What a comfort! On the day of
Resurrection the Spirit will touch the body with
new life, reunite it with the soul, and sweep
our triuned body, soul, and spirit to be with
God. How amazing and beautiful!
I encourage you today to get in contact
with your Spirit Guide. But don't be fooled
by the false teachers of the so-called New
Age Movement. Satan always has a
counterfeit for the real and profitable things in
life. He would like to deceive you into
listening to his emissaries of evil and guide
you into darkness. But he is no match for
the real "Spirit Guide" -- the Holy Spirit, who
will always guide you into all truth.
Remember, Greater is he that is in you, than
he that is in the world (1 John 4:4).
There is no easy road to satisfaction. One reason for
this is that no one has ever lived a life free from
difficulties. Everyone faces trials, and all of us know
suffering in one way or another. I've noticed that
wherever I am, in every culture and every
geographical region, when I mention the subject of
suffering, there is an instant rapport, a bond of mutual
understanding.
Suffering: A Door to Finding Satisfaction
We can take comfort in the knowledge that Scripture
teaches that God's perfect plan for each of us
includes suffering, trials, and pain. The wonderful
truth is that our most frustrating trials can be a source
of great joy. James wrote:
My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into
divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of
your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her
perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire,
wanting nothing (James 1:2-4). Trials will make us
either bitter or better.
I know what it is like to be broken -- literally. In
my book The Tender Touch, I told of the terrible
automobile accident my husband and I experienced
in Brussels in 1979. We were in Europe for our
twenty-seventh wedding anniversary and planned to
celebrate the joyous occasion with members of Jack's
family.
That particular afternoon, we had traveled to Brussels
to shop for anniversary gifts. We leisurely
walked and talked, truly enjoying our visit to this
fascinating city. We even stopped for afternoon tea
and shared a sandwich. (A cousin was preparing a
feast for our anniversary dinner that night and we
didn't want to ruin our appetites!)
The afternoon ended all too quickly, and we soon
found ourselves driving back to the home of the
cousin with whom we were staying. Suddenly, seemingly
out of nowhere, a bus traveling 50 miles an hour
struck our vehicle with such impact that my side of the
car was ripped away and the rest of the automobile
completely demolished. I remember saying,
"Jack, there's a bus!" He attempted to swerve, but it
was too late. My last thoughts as I fell out onto the
busy street was, This is what it's like to die.
Everything went black. I felt no pain until my
husband's warm tears falling on my face revived me.
His voice was choked with emotion as he wept and
prayed over me. "Lord, must it end this way? Don't
let it happen. Please work a miracle!"
I felt that I was slipping away from him, and I
wanted him to know how much I loved him. "Honey,
I think I am dying," I whispered. "I don't want to
leave you."
"Oh no," Jack cried. "Oh, God, please help us,
Somehow spare her life."
I wish that in some way I could convey the peace
that I experienced from God during this time. Even
Christians sometimes wonder about and perhaps are
somewhat afraid of the unknown -- that valley of the
shadow of death through which we must one day
pass. I would love to stand on a mountaintop and call
to every believer everywhere, "Don't be afraid!" At
the moment of departure, He is there to give us peace
and sustain our hearts. What a comfort to know that
we are the Lord's most prized possessions and that
He will never allow us to go through the transition
from this world to the next in fear. I rejoice over this
experience today because I can say with David, I will
fear no evil; for thou art with me (Psalm 23:4).
Suspended in God's sweet peace, I was almost in
the presence of the Lord. Then suddenly, I was pulled
back from going over. A hand grasped my wrist and a
man stood beside me. He tenderly placed a blanket
over my body and in perfect English said, "Don't
move her. She will be all right." Immediately, my
mind began to clear and I knew that I would live.
As quickly as he had appeared, he was gone. The
Lord had sent a man or an angel (only He knows) to
provide perfect comfort and to minister to us in a
special way Hebrews 1:14 says: Are they [angels]
not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for
them who shall be heirs of salvation?
An ambulance rushed us to the hospital. I looked at
Jack and was reassured to know that he was all right. I
knew that somehow God was doing something special
in our lives -- something that would ultimately
glorify Him if we would not faint (see II Corinthians
4:16).
I had sustained a severe head injury. X rays revealed
that I had a broken collarbone and two broken
ribs. I had also sustained numerous cuts and bruises,
and fragments of glass were embedded in parts of my
body. In fact, the doctor spent four hours removing
glass from my legs, head, and ears. God had divinely
and miraculously spared my face and eyes, for which
I shall forever be grateful.
Because of my head injury, I was unable to receive
any pain medication for 18 hours. In addition, I was
told that if the bleeding from my head wound did not
stop during the night, doctors would be forced to
shave my head in order to suture the extreme abrasion.
Jack remained by my side every minute of that
entire night, praying with me, comforting me, and
talking with me. We asked God for a miracle, and He
gave us one. By morning, the bleeding had stopped.
Neither of us slept during that long, unforgettable
night. As we talked about why it happened, I felt a
kinship with Job. God had allowed Satan to test us
but not destroy us or our ministry together. He
allowed the test to go so far, and no further. I knew
that my Father was in control and that my Saviour was
not leaving me alone. Indeed, I knew that He was
feeling my infirmity with even greater intensity than I.
Jack spent the next 48 hours trying to get the
doctors to release me for our return to America.
British Airways agreed to fly us and graciously
provided wheelchair and ambulance service all the
way to Detroit. Still, the hours in flight were painfully
long, Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me,
and strengthened me (II Timothy 4:17).
During the next three months, I received extensive
medical treatment and stringent therapy. Adhesions
formed as the damaged muscles and tendons in my
crushed shoulder healed. Doctors said that without
corrective surgery I would never use my arm again.
Instead, I underwent months of excruciating
rehabilitative exercises to correct the situation. Still, I
would not want to look back upon this experience
with anything but rejoicing and praise -- rejoicing in
the Lord's protection and love in bringing me through
this trial and praise that He counted me worthy to be
put to the test.
Resistance to Suffering is Counterproductive
It would have been easy, I suppose, to resist in my
heart and be bitter against the Lord for allowing such
a thing to happen. Yet it never occurred to me to
question what God was doing. Years earlier Jack and
I had committed ourselves to pursuing the Lord's will
whatever the cost -- and when we made that commitment,
we knew it could involve suffering. It has,
but the rewards have been rich. God has filled our
lives with blessings that exceed anything we could
ask or think.
Unfortunately, instead of counting problems and
trials as joy and allowing them to work patience and
maturity, many people tend to follow their natural
inclination, and the difficulties produce bitterness
and resentmeat. That, in turn,only amplifies
dissatisfaction, until finally they are caught in a
never-ending cycle of devastatingly negative feelings.
The only effect resistance has on our trials is to
make them more dificult to bear. When we rebel
against God and turn from Him, we shut out the One
who can enable us to carry whatever burden He gives
us. How tragic it is to see someone who has gone
through grief and pain who then turns sorrow into
bitterness against God! That is not what God wants.
He wants to make the burden light and the yoke easy
to bear (see Matthew 11:30).
I know that it is normal to want to resist problems,
and, of course, it is right and even necessary to resist
some things. For example, we should not give in to
immoral acts, so we must resist temptation. Scripture
tells us to resist Satan (see James 4:7; I Peter 5:9).
Nevertheless, when we are confronted with trials that
are beyond our control, we need to see ourselves as
Paul did -- like clay in the hands of the Potter,
submissive to His will for our lives. We must realize
that through these trials He is molding us. shaping us.
and perfecting us -- until we become vessels that He
can use.
Have you ever watched a potter work on a pottery
wheel? He squeezes and pinches and applies
pressure, and from what was an ugly lump of clay comes
forth a beautiful, useful piece of pottery. The potter
knows just where to poke and just where to rub -- it is
a fascinating process to watch. Occasionally, the
potter will decide a radical change is in order, and he
will smash a nearly molded pot and begin again from
the beginning.
Jeremiah described the process:
I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he
wrought a work on the wheels. And the vessel that he
made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so
he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to
the potter to make it (Jeremiah 18:3-4).
Perhaps you feel like the Potter has smashed you
that way. I have good news for you. God is one Potter
who always rebuilds the vessels He allows to be
broken so that they are better than before. It may not
always be in the way we desire or think is best, but in
the process, it is nonproductive for us to resist and
become bitter. Instead we should try to see what is
happening from God's perspective, even though we
may not understand what He is doing, and yield to
His will for us. Paul wrote, Shall the thing formed say
to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?
Hath not the potter power over the clay? (Romans
9:20, 21).
Acceptance: A New Name for Satisfaction
How much better it is to accept our trials as from
the Lord who permits them! Job accepted his trials, as
hard as they were for him. This incredible man lost all
his earthly possessions and all his children in a series
of disasters that happened in just one day. Soon after
that, he lost his health as well. He was reduced to a
mass of sores, sitting in a pile of ashes, scraping
himself with a piece of broken pottery (how appropriate!).
He did not understand what God was doing.
but his response was, The Lord gave, and the Lord
hath taken away; blessed be the name of the
Lord... Shall we receive good at the hand of God,
and shall we not receive evil? (Job 1:21; 2:10).
Yes, Job bore all the pain -- in his case both
physical pain and mental anguish -- and did not sin
with his lips. He never accused God or spoke bitterly
against Him. Quite the contrary, Job accepted the
negative things as graciously as he had accepted the
good things. Though the task was not easy, out of
Job's afflictions came some wonderful fruit. The first
is the book of Job -- a good source of comfort in times
of despair and doubt. In addition, Job grew wiser and
closer to the Lord through his ordeal. Even his
so-called comforters learned from his sufferings.
What became of Job. The answer is recorded for
us in verses 12 and 13 and chapter 42: So the Lord
blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning.
After this lived Job an hundred and forty years...
The "secret" of Job's success and blessing is
rooted in the fact that he endured his suffering. He
never turned from God. Instead, he repented! Why
would a man who was perfect and upright, and one
that feared God, and eschewed evil (1:1) do such a
thing? Because Job, through his suffering, was
privileged to get a glimpse of God in His holiness. As a
result, he saw himself as completely unworthy so that
he said, I abhor myself(2:6). And in doing that, he
discovered yet a third way of responding to trials.
Rejoicing: A Perspective You May Have Overlooked
This third type of response is what James referred
to in the opening passage of this chapter -- rejoicing,
or glorying, in our trials. Admittedly, rejoicing in the
midst of tribulation is not an easy thing to do. A
woman wrote to us a short time ago:
I am having a very hard time adjusting my life. My husband died not too long ago at age 53, and I just can't seem to get my life together. I never worked in all the years we were married. I was a family person and never made many friends outside our home, I am lonely and frightened. Please pray for me. |
My heart goes out to this dear woman and many
others like her. In fact, one might well ask how she
could possibly rejoice in the midst of such a difficult
trial. She cannot rejoice that her husband has died.
How then can she find joy in the midst of her deep
loneliness, fear, and doubts?
The answer is found in the perspective we choose
to take. No one rejoices in the death of a loved one.
Job didn't, and even Jesus wept at the grave of His
friend Lazarus. Scripture acknowledges that sorrow
and grief are appropriate and normal responses to
death.
Bitterness comes when we focus on our sorrows or
trials themselves rather than on the Lord and what He
is attempting to accomplish through them. From this
perspective, we can easily become discouraged.
Unfortunately, this is exactly the place in which many
dissatisfied people find themselves. However, if we
look beyond the trials and understand that God is
working in the midst of them, if we focus our hearts
on Him, a miracle begins to occur. He brings peace in
the midst of pain, and joy in the midst of sorrow.
Truly, His grace is sufficient.
My Grandmother Shelton taught me firsthand the
meaning of glorying in tribulation. She knew trials all
her life. She was the mother of eight children and, as
a diabetic, had to take insulin shots every day of her
life. She was a tall, vibrant, robust lady who would
pick me up (literally) and shake me like a rag doll and
say, "I love you, Rexella." What a shock when she
lost first one leg, then the other, to amputation
because of complications from her disease. She would
never walk again; yet, I never heard her mention her
trials or complain. Her focus went far beyond them.
And as she looked to the Lord and leaned on Him, she
was actually able to glory in her infirmities! She was
always rejoicing. I remember her often taking out a
little harmonica and playing it. Just being around her
brought me great joy, and I seldom thought of her as
being in pain, although I'm certain she suffered
greatly.
There is something to be said for pain. Trials are
not pleasant, but they are valuable. A flower must be
crushed before it yields perfume. A grain of wheat
must fall to the ground and die before it can bear fruit
(see John 12:24). And we must suffer for the Lord if
we are to be glorified witb Him (see Romans 8:17).
If you are going through a trial, don't resist it. And
don't just accept it or endure it. Learn to glory in it!
God is doing something through your trials. You may
not understand it fully, and He does not always give
us explanations. But He does give us promises -- and
He always keeps them.
Trials are medicines which our gracious and wise physician prescribes, because we need them; and he proportions the frequency and weight of them to what the case requires. Let us trust his skill and thank him for his prescription. --- Isaac Newton
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I came across something that helped me to further
understand these precious truths. In Job 41:25 are to
be found these few obscure words: By reason of
breakings they purify themselves. What can that
possibly mean?
Elsewhere the Bible teaches that the sacrifices God
accepts are broken and contrite hearts (see Psalm
51:17). This is illustrated throughout the Bible as one
observes God using for His glory those people and
things which are most perfectly broken. Here are
some examples:
- Jacob at Peniel, where his natural strength
was broken. - Moses and the rock at Horeb; when he
struck it, out gushed cool water for the thirsty
people. - Gideon and his band of 300 elect soldiers.
When they broke their pitchers -- a type of
breaking of themselves -- their hidden lights
shone forth to the consternation of their
adversaries. - The poor widow who broke the seal on the
little pot of oil, and it poured forth, whereby
God multiplied it to pay her debts and her
sons didn't have to be taken as bondmen. - Queen Esther risking her life, breaking
through the rigid etiquette of a heathen court,
thus obtaining favor to rescue her people from
death. - Jesus taking the five loaves of bread,
breaking them, and in the act of breaking,
there was sufficient to feed 5,000. - Mary breaking her alabaster box, rendering
it uselees, but this allowed the perfume to
fill the house. - Jesus allowing His body to be broken by
thorns, nails, and the spear, so that His life
was poured out for us to live.
God must have broken things -- throughout all
plant life, all history, all the great biographical
accounts, and in all spiritual life, this fact is
preeminent.
Why should we then shrink from those things,
which may break us at some point? If we will but
allow Him, the brokenness we experience can be
used for our purer good and for God's glory. Such
brokenness may come in the form of being broken in
wealth, half-will, ambitions, ideals, reputation.
affections, and even brokenness in health. Remember
the final tally of life is not seen in the here and now.
Can you, like James wrote, "Count it all joy?"
Footprints
One night a man had a dream. He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the LORD. Across the sky flashed scenes from his life. For each scene, he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand; one belonging to him and the other to the LORD. When the last scene of his life flashed before him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand. He noticed that many times along the path of his life there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times in his life. This really bothered him, and he questioned The LORD replied, "My precious, precious Author unknown
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That day is coming, dear one... The day
we shall see Christ as He is. At that final
moment of earthís history for us, will He find us
blazing bright with His message of love and
hope?
I think of the maple trees across the street
from our house. One autumn season, what a
glorious display of red, yellow, brown and
purple we were treated to when those leaves
began to turn! When the evening sun came
shining through the leaf-covered boughs, each
tree seemed to be on fire.
When I was home, I enjoyed looking over
at those glorious maples. I was a little sad
when the last leaves fell and only skeleton-like
arms were left silhouetted against the winter
sky.
I waited for spring and new leaves on those
trees, but the new buds never sprouted. I was
shocked to see my neighbor cutting down the
lifeless limbs and dead trunks.
How could trees that had been so beautiful
just last fall be dead in spring? Someone
explained to me what had happened: the trees
sense when they are in their last season, and
they pour all their remaining strength into one
last spectacular display --
They go out in a blaze of glory!
Like nature, the Bible is full of examples of
this final "blaze of glory." Think of Samson,
whose entire existence was reduced to turning
a grind stone for the Philistines, in his
eternally dark, blind state.
Yet when he was brought into the Philistine
coliseum to entertain them, the Bible says:
"And Samson took hold of the two middle
pillars upon which the house stood, and on which
it was borne up, of the one with his right hand,
and of the other with his left. And Samson said,
ëLet me die with the Philistines.í And he bowed
himself with all his might; and the house fell
upon the lords, and upon all the people that were
therein. So the dead which he slew at his death
were more than they which he slew in his life"
(Judges 16:29-30).
At the wedding in Cana of Galilee, Jesus
turned water into wine when the bridegroom
ran out of wine. And his guests declared: "Every
man at the beginning doth set forth good wine;
and when men have well drunk, then that which
is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until
now" (John 2:10).
Job had a full, rich life until tragedy struck
him. Then he went through some of the most
trying times ever endured by a human being,
but he stayed true to God, and it was said of
him, "So the Lord blessed the latter end of Job
more than his beginning" (Job 42:12).
There is a tremendous lesson for all of us in
this. Without a doubt, we are living in the last
season of this old world. All the prophetic
signs tell us time will soon wind down. In the
short time left to us, we as Christians should
be like the maple tree and prepare to end this
final season in a blaze of glory!
Think of it! We're in the last harvest of souls
this world will ever see before Jesus comes. Say
not ye, There are yet four months, and then
cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up
your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are
white already to harvest (John 4:35).
Knowing the season, we must expend every
resource and every bit of strength at our
disposal to light up the world with the
reflected glory of our Savior. Let us shine our
brightest today... Show our truest colors
now. There will not be another season.
Wife and mother, this may be the last
month or week... or day you will spend with
your family. Pour out your love on your
husband and children. Husband and father,
this may be your last opportunity to make
your home a glorious place to live, full of joy
and love and excitement. Do it now!
Dear friend, how can you go out with a
blaze of glory? There are simple acts of
kindness you can do: a heart-felt compliment,
a word of encouragement, a friendly phone
call to a lonely acquaintance. They may be
little things, but like each individual maple
leaf, they can fill your life-tree full!
Dr. Van Impe and I need your continued
prayer support as we try to make this season of
our ministry the most glorious of all and
proclaim to the world: Jesus is coming soon --
perhaps today! The Scripture says...
For the Lord himself shall descend from
heaven with a shout, with the voice of the
archangel, and with the trump of God: and the
dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are
alive and remain shall be caught up together
with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the
air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord ... For
yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord
so cometh as a thief in the night (1 Thessalonians. 4:16-5:2).
Remember to pray for us, even as we pray
for you. Ask God to give us so much strength,
energy, vision and anointing that, like Job, the
end of our lives will be greater than the
beginning. As the Scriptures tell and as the
signs of the times clearly show, the coming of
our Lord is at hand. Let's rise to meet Him in
joy and triumph, going up in a blaze of glory!
Did you ever realize that you are God's gift
to your world? He has planted you on this
earth like a precious flower to share the
beautiful scent of salvation with people in the
parched desert around you. He gave you as a
gift to these souls in need, and He expects you
not only to brighten their world, but to bear
fruit of new souls won to His kingdom. It's not
difficult to do when you allow the Holy Spirit
to work through you.
People all around you need hope. You can
tell, just reading the newspaper. I read several
periodicals every week, just to keep current on
world events... And I can't help but notice
that so many articles in the papers point to
despair.
Violent crime is on the rise. Unemployment
and poverty are rampant. Even suicide --
which used to be so rare -- is becoming
commonplace. It breaks my heart to read that
suicide is one of the leading causes of death
among teenagers. Now even children are
following this deadly trend, like the little girl
we read about in Florida. She threw herself in
front of a train because her mother was dying
with the AIDS virus.
Yet every time I read a newspaper item like
this, it just rings an alarm bell in my heart that
says: People need HOPE. They need the truth
of God's love. "We have this hope as an anchor
for the soul, firm and secure." We read about
the love of God in Hebrews 6:19. That hope is
our anchor, and God is calling each one of us
to share that hope with souls in danger around
us. Jesus has chosen you and me as His gift to
a lost and dying world, to share his eternal
love.
I know that you prize soul-winning above
every other calling in your life; you have
demonstrated that by your strong support of
this ministry, which is sharing God's love
continually with those in need. Yet I also
believe that God has called each one of His
children to share His precious salvation
message in our personal lives. How can we do
it? How can we find the words?
The Lord knows you inside and out; He
knows you better than you know yourself.
Through His intimate knowledge of your
special talents and your limitations, I believe
He will call you to win souls in the best, most
effective way possible for you ... What I mean
is, God does not expect you to become an
evangelist or a Gospel singer or a street-corner
preacher. He simply calls you to do what you
are able to do in presenting a Gospel witness.
For instance, there's a little shopping mall
near my home where I like to browse when I
can spare a few minutes. I don't go there with
my Bible under my arm, looking for someone
I could talk to ... I simply go shopping like any
other lady. But the Lord has given me
opportunities to witness to several of the
workers at that mall -- waitresses and sales
ladies.
Sometimes one of them will say, "Why are
you always so happy? There's something
different about you." They don't care whether
or not I've been to Bible school or what church
I attend. They just notice God's love at work
in me. Or sometimes if I ask one of them how
they're doing, they will say, "I'm having a
problem..." and they pour out their hearts to
me.
They sense my love and interest in their
lives, and they want to know what makes me
happy. Through these simple things, the Lord
has allowed me to lead several of these ladies to
the cross and pray with them to accept Jesus.
It's not difficult, and it doesn't require that you
know a lot of Scripture or have a powerful
testimony.
I would encourage you to use our video
teachings in your personal witnessing. Invite
your neighbors to a Bible study in your home,
and use Jack's video teaching as a guide -- or
give our videos as a gift. It's a loving and
effective way to warn your friends about the
coming end times and lead them to Jesus.
I know from my own personal experience
that there is something YOU can do for the
Lord. You can personally witness to others and
help lead them to Christ, in a specific way
which God has enabled you to share and
which no one else on earth could do like you.
You are God's gift to a lost world -- let Him
use you to reach your world with His good
news!