7:10 - A stark picture of the choice we have to make when it comes to grief. Grief is a part of life. When there is loss we experience grief. When life change comes about we experience grief. We grieve terrible things that happen to ourselves and others. We have a choice to make when it comes to grief - godly grief or worldly grief? Grief that turns us towards God and making steps towards healing and repentance, or a grief that grinds and festers inside until it rots us to the core. Godly grief brings life even through the pain...worldly grief brings only death...the death to joy...the death to feeling. We will all experience pain and suffering in this world and I hope we all have the wisdom to grieve in the arms of God and let Him bring us healing and life.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
2 Corinthians Chapter 7 - July 8, 2008
7:7 - We got to actually live this out in Thailand! We saw the power and joy of visiting your Christians brothers and sisters all over the world. When Paul talks about the mourning and longing and zeal that the Christians had for each other...I saw that first hand. The people of Siam church were feeling lost and alone in a vast wasteland of Buddhism and we were able to share God's love with them. We were able to help build them up and they inspired us with their joy an strength and determination. There is power when Christians really long to help each other and care for each other. Do we really chase after that in our home church - is that why we get together on Sunday mornings...for a family reunion of power and motivation, or are we just making sure our fire insurance is paid up?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
Msg – vs last part of 9-10 - You let the distress bring you to God, not drive you from him. The result was all gain, no loss. Distress that drives us to God does that. It turns us around. It gets us back in the way of salvation. We never regret that kind of pain. But those who let distress drive them away from God are full of regrets, end up on a deathbed of regrets.
Karen had a good friend, one she called “little bro”, die last week. David (DJ) went through 2 years of leukemia, went into remission in March, had to go back to the hospital in May or June for chemo toxin poisoning and because of doctor error, had to have both his legs (mid-thigh) and hands (just above the wrists) cut off before he died on July 3.
Through all this, DJ always said – why not me. He let his pain draw him near to God rather than drive him away. As for us, in going from the joy of his recovery to the distress of his death, we are looking to DJ’s example and trying to say, why not me.
Pain is never easy, but do not ever let it drive you away from God. Since July 3rd, I have felt joy and anger at God simultaneously. DJ left his wife of 9 years and a 3 ½ year old son. And yet all I can do, even in my anger, is declare Christ the Lord of my life and re-affirm my vow to follow Him knowing that God is in charge, even when I do not understand – even when it hurts.
All gain – no loss. This is faith in and following Jesus – no matter what we go through here – in the end – all gain, no loss.
Peace,
j
Post a Comment