DON'T GIVE UP!
Stamina or reliance?
Are you guilty of taking God's gracious care for granted? He provides for us in so many ways that we seem to get used to His blessings and fail to praise Him. I have in mind one of His consoling promises found in Isaiah 43:2, where He says, 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. What a marvelous promise this is for those who really know the Lord.
When I was a young pastor, I didn't know much about physical suffering or mental anxiety. When calling on some of God's choice saints who had been bedridden for years, I would wonder how they could stand it. Some of them suffered excruciating pain, day after day. And yet, they never seemed to complain. This would always perplex me. I would say to myself, "My, what stamina!" But, over the years, I learned that it was something else. It wasn't stamina at all. It was reliance. What do I mean reliance? It is reliance upon God who never fails His promises.
God sustains.
I have tested some of these promises down through the years and discovered that God never fails His own. As we pass through the waters and rivers of trial and hardship, our heads will be kept above the distressing waters. As we are called upon to go through the fires of life, God always sustains us. He has not promised to keep us from the waters or the fire, but He has promised to keep us and sustain us in the midst of them.
The Scripture gives hope.
A young man whose wife was taken to be with the Lord, leaving him on the mission field in Africa with his three daughters, the youngest not yet six, wrote, "As I write this truly hard letter to you, my heart is wondrously warmed toward Him who has taken my wife to be with Himself for all eternity. The promises and hopes of the Scriptures have taken on new meaning during these past three weeks. My wife went into our hospital for major surgery. She came through the operation, but about an hour later went into unresponsive shock. The doctors can only assume that at some time she suffered a slight heart attack which caused her death the following day. I should say 'release,' because the look of joy and sweet peace on her face when I first looked was very real."
God's plan is best.
The writer of this letter went on to tell some of the other details of his wife's home going, and then he wrote, "Needless to say, I have rededicated my life to God, and already hearts have been touched by the Holy Spirit."
This letter portrays much better than words can tell what I have been trying to relate in this message. There is no rebellion or resistance on the part of this young missionary, relative to God's plan. Here is a wonderful example of reliance on God; knowing that whatever comes into our lives, the Lord's perfect plan is best.
Jesus said, in John 14:27, Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. He doesn't always do things the way you and I would like them done; but regardless of the circumstances, there is no limit to the peace He gives to sustain us in the midst of our difficult days.
God's grace is sufficient.
It is like one dear saint said, "God gave me a great fortune. He placed thousands and millions to my credit. He gave me a checkbook, along with one condition; you can never draw more than you need at one time."
God says in 2 Corinthians 12:9, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. How consoling it is to know that whatever the need, God will provide!
Trials are meaningful.
In the hour of need, we can draw on our heavenly resources, and God never fails. We sometimes wonder why we must face many of these things that come into our lives. None of us would choose some of these things. We would be quick to seek a more comfortable way. But realize that nothing but our trials and afflictions would ever have led some of us to know Jesus Christ as we do, to trust Him as we have, and to draw from Him the measure of grace which our very extremities made indispensable.
This is one of the things that impressed me about the young missionary's letter. His last statement was, "Needless to say, I have rededicated my life to God." You see, trials are meaningful, aren't they? So often, at such times we become aware of how busy we have been caring for the mundane and how little time we have spent in the presence of the Lord. Thus, God allows us to see afresh the value and need of putting first things first.
Are you in big trouble?
Maybe at this very moment you are in a severe trial. You are perplexed, confused and disturbed. For you, the future may appear hopeless. This need not be the case.
Let me offer some advice. I suggest that you get alone with God as soon as possible. Take His word and read the first verse of the 23rd Psalm. The LORD is my Shepherd; I shall not want. Think on every word of those six verses to fully understand the message. Then, go to your knees and, if you know the Lord, thank Him that He is your Shepherd, and keep praising Him. You will see what a difference it will make. Then say, "God, I will believe you for the answer to my need." His answer may not be just as you want it, but it will be the right answer. Do that, will you please? And then, really believe Him. Every moment you are tempted to doubt, just cry out to God, "Lord, I believe you. I will trust you!" And He will see you through. You will emerge from your trial with the joy of the Lord, so that you can be a testimony to His power and grace.
J. Allen Blair
Glad Tidings' daily message by Dr. Blair is now available on I-Tunes and you may listen at gladradio.net.
Looking Forward to the New Year
(From Dr. Blair's files)
The basic unit of society is the family. A family is a man and a woman with or without children. So, as we begin this New Year, let's focus on ways to enhance the family.
First, recognize that marriage is of divine origin. And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, and said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder (Matthew 19:4,5).
Second, remember that marriage is monogamous. God made Eve for Adam. Therefore each of us should seek the mate that would please God.
Third, married folks should put each other above all others, including their parents.
Fourth, the couple should cleave to each other and forsake anyone who would hinder the marriage relationship.
Fifth, marriage is for keeps. Read the verses again and note the period at the end.
Sixth, those who seek to marry should have like faith in Jesus Christ. Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers (2 Corinthians 6:14).
Now, that's the foundation. Build on that with a time around God's Word with the entire family. Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God (Ephesians 5:21).