This first wound was dealt to me when I was 17. It wasn't the first wound I ever received, but it was one of the most defining ones I had up to that point, and it had a huge impact on my life.
I was an athlete for most of my life. I started playing baseball in first grade, like all young kids I dreamed of playing in the big leagues but I didn't have the talent. When I was in seventh grade, my middle school started seventh grade sports, up until that time it was only eighth grade. They had this trophy case and in it there was a three sports award for students who played three sports with the school, I was young and figured it would impress girls, so I wanted my name on that plaque. (For two years I played three sports and my name still isn't on that plaque for some reason). I always wanted to play football, so I played that, the only spring sport the school offered was Track, so I ran distance, the two winter options were basketball and wrestling. Since I was never any good at basketball I went out for wrestling, and I fell in love with the sport.
I loved the hard work, it is still to this day the most physically demanding thing I have ever done. I loved the competition, being out there on the mat, grappling with an opponent, writing about it makes me want to lace up my shoes and go three rounds. I loved the individual side of things, it was just me out there, no teammate to pick up the slack if I messed up. I loved everything about the sport. I had some pretty crazy goals, the big one was that I wanted to be a four time Ohio State Champion, starting in 7th grade in the middle weights meant this was impossible, but I had good coaches who didn't squash my unrealistic dreams (I later had another great coach who did let me know the reality, but did it in a way that challenged me to work harder, thanks Deke).
Poured myself into this sport, training year round, running, lifting, wrestling anywhere my dad could find open mats to take me, sometimes as much as 6 hours a day. I even worked out with state champions, state placers, even an Olympian, all in the pursuit of my goal, which had become the more realistic ambition of winning a single State Title. My hard work paid off, I got better and better, beating guys who had been wrestling longer that I had, and my junior year of high school it looked like I would be heading to Columbus for a shot of my goal.
I still had some work to do, but I could taste it, fully believing that at the very least I'd make it to State and place. I had a good coach who had invested in me throughout the year, even sending me to the Naval Academy over the summer to take part in a 9 day SEAL wrestling camp, and arranging for me to work out with former champions at his house. I was in the best physical shape of my life. I was strong, fast, could go all out for six minutes; I could score points and take a beating, and I was at the point where I didn't deal with being nervous before a match and went out and just had fun. I knew that it wasn't going to be easy, getting to that point hadn't been, but I had seen the results of my work, and knew that I had what it takes to be one of 16 guys on the bracket in Columbus.
And that's when the wound came...
Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
Monday, July 30, 2018
Friday, July 27, 2018
The Pursuit of Healing
Wounds are a reality of life; it's just part of living in a fallen world. They come in many forms and from many sources, and each of us is going to be wounded numerous times. The good news is that wounds can heal, forming beautiful scars that tell amazing stories. Unfortunately, too many of us never seek healing from our wounds. We hide them out of fear or shame, out of a longing to protect ourselves from further hurt, or a desire to seem independent and self-sufficient. I say all of this from personal experience.
I've been wounded.
My wounds have come from people, experiences, and setbacks. Some of them were a result of my own immaturity and pride, others were inflicted by others, but each one was left to fester. I hid my wounds for a lot of reasons. People would come to me for advice, and I felt that I had to have it all together for them. I felt that I couldn't need people because they always needed me. I never acknowledged where I was hurting or when. I hid my wounds out of pride. I wanted to appear strong, mature, and on top of things, so I wouldn't let myself appear weak. I hid my wounds out of shame, not wanting to acknowledge the fact that I had been hurt, not wanting to allow emotions to have a part of who I was.
I was wounded, but I didn't want anyone to know because I didn't want to need anyone's help, I didn't want to look weak or inadequate, and I didn't want to deal with any of the pain of the past experience. I took my wounds and covered them with "band-aids" hoping they would heal on their own, but deep cuts like these don't heal without medial attention. They festered, the tissue died, and left untreated it spread and began to infect healthy parts of the body. I was bitter and angry, maybe even hateful in some cases, and the longer I left everything unacknowledged, the worse it all got. The wounds were infected and it was spreading.
When I finally realized the damage that was occurring in my life, I began to allow God to work. He removed the band-aids I had applied to cover the wounds, cut out the dead tissue, and began the slow process of stitching up the many wounds I had. It has been a long process, and we aren't done yet, but God has been at work in my life, and I'm healthier now than I have been years. I have scars that tell stories, not wounds that cause me constant agony.
The band-aid was removed when I acknowledged that I was wounded and needed God's healing to take place.
The dead tissue was cut away as I began to accept the experience for what it was, acknowledging the pain and impact on my life, and letting myself grieve.
The stitching took place by facing the source of the wound. For this step I made several trips, revisiting places and allowing God to bring restoration.
In the next several posts I'm going to share stories of wounds and healing. Right now there are five that I'm thinking of, four of these I will for sure share, and we'll see what else God brings to mind.
We all have wounds, and all of us can have scars. God's desire is not for you be the walking wounded, living in agony because of the past hurts you've experienced, He wants to bring healing, but He's a good doctor, and He will not force treatment upon you. Healing is available, and though the process will be a little painful, the end result is totally worth it. A few moments of pain lead to life of freedom and restoration.
Let me share with you the story of my scars, and may my tale of healing lead you to experience God's restoration in your own life.
Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
I've been wounded.
My wounds have come from people, experiences, and setbacks. Some of them were a result of my own immaturity and pride, others were inflicted by others, but each one was left to fester. I hid my wounds for a lot of reasons. People would come to me for advice, and I felt that I had to have it all together for them. I felt that I couldn't need people because they always needed me. I never acknowledged where I was hurting or when. I hid my wounds out of pride. I wanted to appear strong, mature, and on top of things, so I wouldn't let myself appear weak. I hid my wounds out of shame, not wanting to acknowledge the fact that I had been hurt, not wanting to allow emotions to have a part of who I was.
I was wounded, but I didn't want anyone to know because I didn't want to need anyone's help, I didn't want to look weak or inadequate, and I didn't want to deal with any of the pain of the past experience. I took my wounds and covered them with "band-aids" hoping they would heal on their own, but deep cuts like these don't heal without medial attention. They festered, the tissue died, and left untreated it spread and began to infect healthy parts of the body. I was bitter and angry, maybe even hateful in some cases, and the longer I left everything unacknowledged, the worse it all got. The wounds were infected and it was spreading.
When I finally realized the damage that was occurring in my life, I began to allow God to work. He removed the band-aids I had applied to cover the wounds, cut out the dead tissue, and began the slow process of stitching up the many wounds I had. It has been a long process, and we aren't done yet, but God has been at work in my life, and I'm healthier now than I have been years. I have scars that tell stories, not wounds that cause me constant agony.
The band-aid was removed when I acknowledged that I was wounded and needed God's healing to take place.
The dead tissue was cut away as I began to accept the experience for what it was, acknowledging the pain and impact on my life, and letting myself grieve.
The stitching took place by facing the source of the wound. For this step I made several trips, revisiting places and allowing God to bring restoration.
In the next several posts I'm going to share stories of wounds and healing. Right now there are five that I'm thinking of, four of these I will for sure share, and we'll see what else God brings to mind.
We all have wounds, and all of us can have scars. God's desire is not for you be the walking wounded, living in agony because of the past hurts you've experienced, He wants to bring healing, but He's a good doctor, and He will not force treatment upon you. Healing is available, and though the process will be a little painful, the end result is totally worth it. A few moments of pain lead to life of freedom and restoration.
Let me share with you the story of my scars, and may my tale of healing lead you to experience God's restoration in your own life.
Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
Wednesday, July 25, 2018
Identity
1 Peter 5.1-11 has been the main passage of Scripture I have studied this year. For me, it is a verse that focuses on the identity God has given me. Identity is essential because it defines who we are, and reveals what we are here for. For a long time, identity was something I was searching for.
One of my top three favorite movies is Gladiator, and one of the scenes that always hits me is where Maximus tells the emperor his name.
"My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius, commander of the Armies of the North, General of the Felix Legions and loyal servant to the true emperor, Marcus Aurelius. Father to a murdered son. Husband to a murdered wife. And I will have my vengeance, in this life or the next."
This is a man who knows who he is. He boldly gives his name, and the poser emperor trembles at the site of him. I've wanted a name like that for years. I've wanted to know who I am, being able to confidently state my name. I played around with a few variations following the above model, but none of them carried any weight because none of them really came from experience. There was no trial or testing behind any of it, there was nothing that I overcame, and there was no real initiation.
For years I went through life without any real idea of who I was. Everything I did was about trying to keep up an appearance, hoping that I would be seen as what I wanted to be, but all the time knowing I wasn't that, and hoping that no one would see the insecure little boy behind the front. Things wouldn't work out, and I'd be devastated because there was no foundation behind me.
When everything came crashing down almost three years ago, I began to really seek God for my identity. In that time I've learned a few things, and for the first time in my life I know who I am, and I think I have an idea of why I'm here. If you ask me for my name, I have an answer, and this time it is full of truth.
God has taken trials and adversity and shaped me into a man with an identity and mission. He has spoken to me in significant ways that capture my heart, and showed me who I am meant to be. We've gone to places of wounding and He has brought healing. He's taken ares of insecurity and showed me what I'm made of. He's taken uncertainty and given me confidence.
In my own journey I've identified two central questions in the search for identity:
Who do people say you are?
Who does God say you are?
People talk, people judge, people mold, and as a result we hear things, think things, and come to believe things about ourselves. Some of these are good and reaffirm strengths, but a lot of the time these things serve to make us loose focus and keep us from really living. They focus on what is safe, what others think is best for us. As a result, we act a certain way, come to see ourselves a certain way, and begin to live a certain way.
Before we can embrace who God created us to be, we have to begin by looking at what we've been told, and what we now believe as a result. As part of my journey and search for identity I had to go back to key places and moments in my life, I had to acknowledge things that had been said, people who had hurt me, and bitterness I was holding on to. Through this process God brought healing and freedom, and in the next several posts I'm going to be sharing about these experiences.
I answered the first question, and in doing so, God brought about healing that allowed me to embrace who He created me to be. He wants to do the same for you.
Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
One of my top three favorite movies is Gladiator, and one of the scenes that always hits me is where Maximus tells the emperor his name.
"My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius, commander of the Armies of the North, General of the Felix Legions and loyal servant to the true emperor, Marcus Aurelius. Father to a murdered son. Husband to a murdered wife. And I will have my vengeance, in this life or the next."
This is a man who knows who he is. He boldly gives his name, and the poser emperor trembles at the site of him. I've wanted a name like that for years. I've wanted to know who I am, being able to confidently state my name. I played around with a few variations following the above model, but none of them carried any weight because none of them really came from experience. There was no trial or testing behind any of it, there was nothing that I overcame, and there was no real initiation.
For years I went through life without any real idea of who I was. Everything I did was about trying to keep up an appearance, hoping that I would be seen as what I wanted to be, but all the time knowing I wasn't that, and hoping that no one would see the insecure little boy behind the front. Things wouldn't work out, and I'd be devastated because there was no foundation behind me.
When everything came crashing down almost three years ago, I began to really seek God for my identity. In that time I've learned a few things, and for the first time in my life I know who I am, and I think I have an idea of why I'm here. If you ask me for my name, I have an answer, and this time it is full of truth.
God has taken trials and adversity and shaped me into a man with an identity and mission. He has spoken to me in significant ways that capture my heart, and showed me who I am meant to be. We've gone to places of wounding and He has brought healing. He's taken ares of insecurity and showed me what I'm made of. He's taken uncertainty and given me confidence.
In my own journey I've identified two central questions in the search for identity:
Who do people say you are?
Who does God say you are?
People talk, people judge, people mold, and as a result we hear things, think things, and come to believe things about ourselves. Some of these are good and reaffirm strengths, but a lot of the time these things serve to make us loose focus and keep us from really living. They focus on what is safe, what others think is best for us. As a result, we act a certain way, come to see ourselves a certain way, and begin to live a certain way.
Before we can embrace who God created us to be, we have to begin by looking at what we've been told, and what we now believe as a result. As part of my journey and search for identity I had to go back to key places and moments in my life, I had to acknowledge things that had been said, people who had hurt me, and bitterness I was holding on to. Through this process God brought healing and freedom, and in the next several posts I'm going to be sharing about these experiences.
I answered the first question, and in doing so, God brought about healing that allowed me to embrace who He created me to be. He wants to do the same for you.
Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
Monday, July 23, 2018
1 Peter 5.1-11, What it Means to Me
I have spent most of this year only focused on this passage of Scripture. In my own personal journey, this has become a foundational passage that I now see as a life verse. The identity and passion I have felt God leading me into are rooted in these verses, and I see the themes that I have identified in this passage as the elements I am working to develop in my own life. A college professor told me to "strengthen my strengths", and with this in mind, my life is going to be focused on what I have learned in studying these verses.
God has called and gifted me with the ability to lead. I want to spend my life investing in others, bettering their lives, and setting them up for success. I want to pour into people and equip them to impact the world.
God has challenged me to be a disciple making disciple, who lives with total trust in Him. This past weekend I had my first meeting with one of four men I have asked to intentionally invest in me over the next year, working on the themes I have identified in these verses. At the same time, I am seeking to invest in my brothers, my girls, and I am currently trying to step out in faith and seeking an opportunity to invest in the lives of college age young adults.
God has given me a desire to fight the enemy. I have a warriors heart, and I have seen the destruction of the enemy first hand. I hate him, I hate what he does, and I want to spend the rest of my life taking ground back from him and working to rescue those who have have been ensnared.
God has brought me through trials, and because of that I have faith to endure future suffering. I have seen the reality of hope and healing after loss. I believe that my greatest influence will come out of my deepest pain.
I want my life to be spent point others to God, making myself less and less so that He may become more and more. I want nothing I do to ever be about advancing myself, but always about making much of Him.
To me, these verses serve as a guide to life. The have been the foundation of my God given identity and the basis of the personal pledge I wrote and took before my brothers at our annual retreat this summer. I want to lead well, live humbly, fight the enemy, endure suffering, and glorify God.
I will honor Him as a faithful leader.
I will obey Him as a humble servant.
I will follow Him as a diligent warrior.
I will submit to Him as a teachable learner.
I will always point others to God, never advancing myself, and always seeking to worship Him.
Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11
To God alone be the Glory!
God has called and gifted me with the ability to lead. I want to spend my life investing in others, bettering their lives, and setting them up for success. I want to pour into people and equip them to impact the world.
God has challenged me to be a disciple making disciple, who lives with total trust in Him. This past weekend I had my first meeting with one of four men I have asked to intentionally invest in me over the next year, working on the themes I have identified in these verses. At the same time, I am seeking to invest in my brothers, my girls, and I am currently trying to step out in faith and seeking an opportunity to invest in the lives of college age young adults.
God has given me a desire to fight the enemy. I have a warriors heart, and I have seen the destruction of the enemy first hand. I hate him, I hate what he does, and I want to spend the rest of my life taking ground back from him and working to rescue those who have have been ensnared.
God has brought me through trials, and because of that I have faith to endure future suffering. I have seen the reality of hope and healing after loss. I believe that my greatest influence will come out of my deepest pain.
I want my life to be spent point others to God, making myself less and less so that He may become more and more. I want nothing I do to ever be about advancing myself, but always about making much of Him.
To me, these verses serve as a guide to life. The have been the foundation of my God given identity and the basis of the personal pledge I wrote and took before my brothers at our annual retreat this summer. I want to lead well, live humbly, fight the enemy, endure suffering, and glorify God.
I will honor Him as a faithful leader.
I will obey Him as a humble servant.
I will follow Him as a diligent warrior.
I will submit to Him as a teachable learner.
I will always point others to God, never advancing myself, and always seeking to worship Him.
Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11
To God alone be the Glory!
Friday, July 20, 2018
Glorify God
The final theme of 1 Peter 5.1-11 focus on the meaning of life. We are here on this earth to glorify God (and now everyone can stop wondering and debating about that question and focus on something else, maybe tackle world hunger because around 16,000 children die every day due to hunger, that's down 13,000 from 10 years ago, but still way too many)
Each of the other themes of 1 Peter 5.1-11 points to this final theme. When we lead well, serving others and seeking to better the lives of those we lead/serve, we glorify God. When we live humbly, seeking to be disciple making disciples who are dependent upon God, we glorify God. When we fight the enemy, secure in Christ, watchful and ready, courageously doing battle, we glorify God. When we endure suffering, trusting God, holding fast through affliction, living with hope during hardships, we glorify God.
In all things, every aspect of life, we are to give glory to God. Life is about Him, life is from Him, life is for Him. Let us never make the mistake of making life about us. Let us never seek our comfort or pleasure, taking glory for ourselves, and may we always give the glory to God.
Aaron Shust wrote this song a few years ago, it's one of the songs I want played at my funeral. This is the central message I want my life to proclaim.
Can you take me by the hand
Can you use me as I am
Break me into who you want me to be
When the time is finally right
You will open up my eyes
Show me everything you want me to see
This life is not my own
To God alone be the glory
To God alone be the praise
Everything I say and do
Let it be all for you
The glory is yours alone
Yours alone
Take the offering
I bring You want more than what I sing
Can I give you every part of me
Turn these pennies into gold
Take this life I call my own
Until I'm running after your heart
I'm needing to let go
To God alone be the glory
To God alone be the praise
Everything I say and do
Let it be all for you
The glory is yours alone
Yours alone
We will rise and we will fall
But you remain after all
You're glorious and beautiful You're beautiful
To God alone be the glory
To God alone be the praise
Everything I say and do
Let it be all for you
The glory is yours alone
The glory is yours alone
Yours alone
Yours alone
Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
Each of the other themes of 1 Peter 5.1-11 points to this final theme. When we lead well, serving others and seeking to better the lives of those we lead/serve, we glorify God. When we live humbly, seeking to be disciple making disciples who are dependent upon God, we glorify God. When we fight the enemy, secure in Christ, watchful and ready, courageously doing battle, we glorify God. When we endure suffering, trusting God, holding fast through affliction, living with hope during hardships, we glorify God.
In all things, every aspect of life, we are to give glory to God. Life is about Him, life is from Him, life is for Him. Let us never make the mistake of making life about us. Let us never seek our comfort or pleasure, taking glory for ourselves, and may we always give the glory to God.
Aaron Shust wrote this song a few years ago, it's one of the songs I want played at my funeral. This is the central message I want my life to proclaim.
Can you take me by the hand
Can you use me as I am
Break me into who you want me to be
When the time is finally right
You will open up my eyes
Show me everything you want me to see
This life is not my own
To God alone be the glory
To God alone be the praise
Everything I say and do
Let it be all for you
The glory is yours alone
Yours alone
Take the offering
I bring You want more than what I sing
Can I give you every part of me
Turn these pennies into gold
Take this life I call my own
Until I'm running after your heart
I'm needing to let go
To God alone be the glory
To God alone be the praise
Everything I say and do
Let it be all for you
The glory is yours alone
Yours alone
We will rise and we will fall
But you remain after all
You're glorious and beautiful You're beautiful
To God alone be the glory
To God alone be the praise
Everything I say and do
Let it be all for you
The glory is yours alone
The glory is yours alone
Yours alone
Yours alone
Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
Wednesday, July 18, 2018
Action
"To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen." -1 Peter 5.11
The final word of 1 Peter 5.1-11 carries weight that impacts the entire passage. The word Amen is typically something that we include at the end of a prayer, simply as a closing, but the word actually means something.
"at the end - so it is, so be it, may it be fulfilled. It was a custom, which passed over from the synagogues to the Christian assemblies, that when he who had read or discoursed, had offered up solemn prayer to God, the others responded Amen, and thus made the substance of what was uttered their own."
The word amen is a call to action; when it occurs at the end of the word it means to let it be done. This final word says that we are to get to work living out the previous instructions. We take what has been said beyond simple words and thoughts, and begin putting it into practice. In terms of leadership, we are to begin leading. With humility, we begin to live as discipling disciplers. When it comes to the enemies, we begin to fight, and with suffering we endure.
The teachings of Scripture are not meant to be simple teachings for positive feelings, but life changing actions. Jesus came to transform the way we live, giving us an example through His own life, and then willingly sacrificing His life to empower us to follow His example. The word Amen is not a simply conclusion to a prayer, but a commitment seeking to carry out what was instructed. As the custom stated, by saying amen, you are claiming what was said as your own. When I read 1 Peter 5.1-11, concluding with Amen, I am saying I will lead well, live humbly, fight the enemy, endure suffering, and glorify God.
Let us begin living as lion fighters. Amen.
Fight the lion 1 Peter 5.1-11
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
The final word of 1 Peter 5.1-11 carries weight that impacts the entire passage. The word Amen is typically something that we include at the end of a prayer, simply as a closing, but the word actually means something.
"at the end - so it is, so be it, may it be fulfilled. It was a custom, which passed over from the synagogues to the Christian assemblies, that when he who had read or discoursed, had offered up solemn prayer to God, the others responded Amen, and thus made the substance of what was uttered their own."
The word amen is a call to action; when it occurs at the end of the word it means to let it be done. This final word says that we are to get to work living out the previous instructions. We take what has been said beyond simple words and thoughts, and begin putting it into practice. In terms of leadership, we are to begin leading. With humility, we begin to live as discipling disciplers. When it comes to the enemies, we begin to fight, and with suffering we endure.
The teachings of Scripture are not meant to be simple teachings for positive feelings, but life changing actions. Jesus came to transform the way we live, giving us an example through His own life, and then willingly sacrificing His life to empower us to follow His example. The word Amen is not a simply conclusion to a prayer, but a commitment seeking to carry out what was instructed. As the custom stated, by saying amen, you are claiming what was said as your own. When I read 1 Peter 5.1-11, concluding with Amen, I am saying I will lead well, live humbly, fight the enemy, endure suffering, and glorify God.
Let us begin living as lion fighters. Amen.
Fight the lion 1 Peter 5.1-11
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
Monday, July 16, 2018
Who is God?
"To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen." -1 Peter 5.11
Throughout these verses and themes one thing has been consistent, God. The flock we are called to lead belongs to God, and it is His will for us to lead. We are given grace from God when we live in humility, and as we submit to His might we are exalted by Him. It is God who empowers us to fight the enemy, and God who gives us grace to overcome hardships. Through every aspect of leading, living, fighting, and enduring, God is at the center.
To Him, God who is at the center of everything, to Him be dominion. The word is kratos, it carries the idea of might, strength, power, and literally dominion. Because of this I had to go my English dictionary, where dominion is defined, "supreme authority". To God be supreme authority for eternity and eternity; from an unbroken age to an unbroken age. To God alone be power and might forever.
No matter who we are, the youngest newborn to the ruler of the Free World, God has authority over each of us. He is the creator of everything, Genesis 1 tells us He spoke the universe into existence. He is the owner of everything, Psalm 50.10 says, "For every beast of the forest is Mine, The cattle on a thousand hills.", and again 1 Peter 5 tells us that people are His. God created everything, therefore everything belongs to Him. He is the supreme authority.
As supreme authority God sets the standards. He is perfect in holiness and righteousness; His very nature defines them. God is incapable of sin, and flawless in love, which again, is part of His very nature (1 John 4.8). Who else is worthy of authority? Who else would you want in authority? That is who God is, and it is to Him that we ascribe, or rather acknowledge, absolute power.
Let us view God with the proper perspective. He is not "The Big Guy" or "The Man Upstairs", who are we to attribute such casual titles to Him? To begin to live as God has called us to live, we must begin by seeing God for who He is. God is God, the creator and redeemer of His fallen creation. He is love, He is the standard of perfection, and He desires to intimately know each one of us. God is loving daddy, protective warrior, righteous judge, patient teacher, and heroic rescuer (and those are only the adjectives and nouns that are coming to my mind right now, He is infinite and even if I could write constantly I couldn't capture Him fully).
God is above all, to it is to Him that we owe our worship, allegiance, service, and love.
Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
Throughout these verses and themes one thing has been consistent, God. The flock we are called to lead belongs to God, and it is His will for us to lead. We are given grace from God when we live in humility, and as we submit to His might we are exalted by Him. It is God who empowers us to fight the enemy, and God who gives us grace to overcome hardships. Through every aspect of leading, living, fighting, and enduring, God is at the center.
To Him, God who is at the center of everything, to Him be dominion. The word is kratos, it carries the idea of might, strength, power, and literally dominion. Because of this I had to go my English dictionary, where dominion is defined, "supreme authority". To God be supreme authority for eternity and eternity; from an unbroken age to an unbroken age. To God alone be power and might forever.
No matter who we are, the youngest newborn to the ruler of the Free World, God has authority over each of us. He is the creator of everything, Genesis 1 tells us He spoke the universe into existence. He is the owner of everything, Psalm 50.10 says, "For every beast of the forest is Mine, The cattle on a thousand hills.", and again 1 Peter 5 tells us that people are His. God created everything, therefore everything belongs to Him. He is the supreme authority.
As supreme authority God sets the standards. He is perfect in holiness and righteousness; His very nature defines them. God is incapable of sin, and flawless in love, which again, is part of His very nature (1 John 4.8). Who else is worthy of authority? Who else would you want in authority? That is who God is, and it is to Him that we ascribe, or rather acknowledge, absolute power.
Let us view God with the proper perspective. He is not "The Big Guy" or "The Man Upstairs", who are we to attribute such casual titles to Him? To begin to live as God has called us to live, we must begin by seeing God for who He is. God is God, the creator and redeemer of His fallen creation. He is love, He is the standard of perfection, and He desires to intimately know each one of us. God is loving daddy, protective warrior, righteous judge, patient teacher, and heroic rescuer (and those are only the adjectives and nouns that are coming to my mind right now, He is infinite and even if I could write constantly I couldn't capture Him fully).
God is above all, to it is to Him that we owe our worship, allegiance, service, and love.
Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
Friday, July 13, 2018
1 Peter 5.11 Overview
"To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen." -1 Peter 5.11
This closing verse of 1 Peter 5.1-11 gives the final theme of the passage, and in that provides a summary and final instruction for the rest of the rest of the passage. Everything has pointed to God up to this point, and here in the closing words God is emphasized one more time.
To Him be dominion forever and ever- It's about God, it always has been, and will be forever.
Amen- Let it be done.
These two phrases appear to be simple and straightforward, but the carry significant implications and instructions. The closing words remind us that this is all about God, no matter what the other aspects have been, God is the ultimate point. However, there is a role we play, and there comes a time when we must take the first step.
As we enter this final verse, let us focus on God, giving the glory to Him alone.
Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
This closing verse of 1 Peter 5.1-11 gives the final theme of the passage, and in that provides a summary and final instruction for the rest of the rest of the passage. Everything has pointed to God up to this point, and here in the closing words God is emphasized one more time.
To Him be dominion forever and ever- It's about God, it always has been, and will be forever.
Amen- Let it be done.
These two phrases appear to be simple and straightforward, but the carry significant implications and instructions. The closing words remind us that this is all about God, no matter what the other aspects have been, God is the ultimate point. However, there is a role we play, and there comes a time when we must take the first step.
As we enter this final verse, let us focus on God, giving the glory to Him alone.
Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
Wednesday, July 11, 2018
Endure Suffering
The fourth theme of 1 Peter 5.1-11 focuses on the reality of hardships, and the result of standing firm through the difficulties. 1 Peter 5.10 tells us to Endure Suffering.
Most of what follows I wrote as I was working on the first post for this verse. I was excited about what was flowing out of my finger tips, but as I wrote I realized that I was writing the final post to the this section. Having written the conclusion, some of the middle part seemed to be a bit difficult to write.
During the last three years I have been through one of the most difficult trials I can imagine. I spent nights on my face crying out to God, sometimes with literal tears, pleading for the restoration of my marriage. He didn't answer that prayer, but He took that time of unimaginable suffering and has used it to shape who I am and what I am doing. Suffering is part of life, but it is not the end.
Romans 8.18 states, "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us."
This chapter goes on to state another promise for the one who suffers, a promise that I am seeing God fulfill in my own life.
"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." (Romans 8.28-30)
God causes all things to work together for the good of those who love Him, and are called according to the purpose of becoming like Christ. Everything that happens to us is a chance for us to become more like Jesus. Nothing is wasted if we are willing to continuously pursue God. I know this is hard, believe me, I've been through a long and brutal divorce. I prayed fervently with tears on multiple occasions for God to bring restoration. I fasted and poured into the Bible as I fought to save my marriage. Obviously, God did not answer my prayers, I dropped my daughters off with their mother Sunday evening, and drove home, but in spite of this, I will say that Romans 8 is completely true.
That experience sucked, in so many ways, but I am better off now than I ever was during the years of my marriage. I am closer to God now than I was at any point in the past, and I am more like Jesus now because of the experience I went through. God took a horrible situation, I believe the most detrimental to society, and through that process forged me. He gave me an identity, awakened my passion, and set me on the path to pursue my destiny.
Romans 8 concludes with these words, "But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8.37-39)
In all suffering, even divorce, we are not separated from the love of God. In all suffering, even the destruction of a marriage, God is at work to mold us into the image of Christ. All suffering, no matter how intense or enduring it may be, will come to an end, and if you will allow God to work in your life, you will emerge stronger and more fit to serve, honor, and glorify Him.
I could have given up during the past three years. I could have started drinking and given myself to alcohol, but I didn't. I would have walked away from God, refusing to serve Him because He didn't save my marriage, but I didn't. I would have engaged in so many other destructive lifestyle choices, each one pulling me further from God and sacrificing the future, but thankfully I didn't. I had people who cared for me, who stood by me, and who helped me stay focused on God. I was able to endure suffering, and because of that, I've learned to trust God more. I've learned to dream bigger (which is saying something), and I've learned to live more in faith. My prayers have become bolder, my heart more compassionate, and my spirit more dependent.
The suffering I went through, as horrible as it was, is nothing compared to what I have experience God do, what I believe He is at work doing.The suffering I went through brought me closer to God, in ways that nothing else could have, and it has made me more like Jesus.
Whatever you are going through, endure. You can handle this, God is with you, and even if you don't sense Him, He is there and actively working to make you more like Jesus. He did in my life, and He is in yours. Endure suffering.
Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
Most of what follows I wrote as I was working on the first post for this verse. I was excited about what was flowing out of my finger tips, but as I wrote I realized that I was writing the final post to the this section. Having written the conclusion, some of the middle part seemed to be a bit difficult to write.
During the last three years I have been through one of the most difficult trials I can imagine. I spent nights on my face crying out to God, sometimes with literal tears, pleading for the restoration of my marriage. He didn't answer that prayer, but He took that time of unimaginable suffering and has used it to shape who I am and what I am doing. Suffering is part of life, but it is not the end.
Romans 8.18 states, "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us."
This chapter goes on to state another promise for the one who suffers, a promise that I am seeing God fulfill in my own life.
"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." (Romans 8.28-30)
God causes all things to work together for the good of those who love Him, and are called according to the purpose of becoming like Christ. Everything that happens to us is a chance for us to become more like Jesus. Nothing is wasted if we are willing to continuously pursue God. I know this is hard, believe me, I've been through a long and brutal divorce. I prayed fervently with tears on multiple occasions for God to bring restoration. I fasted and poured into the Bible as I fought to save my marriage. Obviously, God did not answer my prayers, I dropped my daughters off with their mother Sunday evening, and drove home, but in spite of this, I will say that Romans 8 is completely true.
That experience sucked, in so many ways, but I am better off now than I ever was during the years of my marriage. I am closer to God now than I was at any point in the past, and I am more like Jesus now because of the experience I went through. God took a horrible situation, I believe the most detrimental to society, and through that process forged me. He gave me an identity, awakened my passion, and set me on the path to pursue my destiny.
Romans 8 concludes with these words, "But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8.37-39)
In all suffering, even divorce, we are not separated from the love of God. In all suffering, even the destruction of a marriage, God is at work to mold us into the image of Christ. All suffering, no matter how intense or enduring it may be, will come to an end, and if you will allow God to work in your life, you will emerge stronger and more fit to serve, honor, and glorify Him.
I could have given up during the past three years. I could have started drinking and given myself to alcohol, but I didn't. I would have walked away from God, refusing to serve Him because He didn't save my marriage, but I didn't. I would have engaged in so many other destructive lifestyle choices, each one pulling me further from God and sacrificing the future, but thankfully I didn't. I had people who cared for me, who stood by me, and who helped me stay focused on God. I was able to endure suffering, and because of that, I've learned to trust God more. I've learned to dream bigger (which is saying something), and I've learned to live more in faith. My prayers have become bolder, my heart more compassionate, and my spirit more dependent.
The suffering I went through, as horrible as it was, is nothing compared to what I have experience God do, what I believe He is at work doing.The suffering I went through brought me closer to God, in ways that nothing else could have, and it has made me more like Jesus.
Whatever you are going through, endure. You can handle this, God is with you, and even if you don't sense Him, He is there and actively working to make you more like Jesus. He did in my life, and He is in yours. Endure suffering.
Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
Monday, July 9, 2018
Nothing is Wasted
"After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you." -1 Peter 5.10
God is at work in and through the suffering we face. We will suffer, but it is temporary. God gives grace so that we can overcome the suffering we face, and He has given us hope because we are called to share in the glory of Christ for eternity. However, there is more to this, God Himself is at work.
God will perfect, confirm, strengthen, and establish us.
Perfect- katartizō, To mend what is broken and make it complet, equipping it for service and make us what we were intended to be.
Confirm- stērizō, To make stable and firm, rendering constant strength.
Strengthen- sthenoō, To make one strong in their soul.
Establish- themelioō To lay a foundation and make stable.
This is what God is doing in times of suffering. God is working in suffering to bring healing and perfect His work. Think about the forging of a Katana (I won't get started on the process because I'll talk about it in full detail) it's a long and tedious task, but it results in the perfect blade.
God is working to confirm us. Suffering shows us what we are made of, what we can handle, and it builds our faith and trust in God. I'm thinking about Navy SEAL training, again, I won't go into the details from what I've learned, but they push you to the extreme so you learn to push through everything.
God is working to strengthen us. This is an inward strength, grit and resilience that refuses to give up. Think about the Spartans at Thermopylae, or the defenders of the Alamo. They faced overwhelmingly impossible odds, but they knew that they were fighting for something bigger than themselves and this inward strength gave them the courage to fight, even if it meant death.
God is working to lay establish us. He is laying a foundation through our suffering, and it is on this foundation that something amazing can be built on. Out of our deepest pain comes our greatest impact.
God is at work, even if He seems to be silent, He is not absent or inactive. God is at work, and it is in our suffering that He does the most. Nothing is wasted with God.
Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
God is at work in and through the suffering we face. We will suffer, but it is temporary. God gives grace so that we can overcome the suffering we face, and He has given us hope because we are called to share in the glory of Christ for eternity. However, there is more to this, God Himself is at work.
God will perfect, confirm, strengthen, and establish us.
Perfect- katartizō, To mend what is broken and make it complet, equipping it for service and make us what we were intended to be.
Confirm- stērizō, To make stable and firm, rendering constant strength.
Strengthen- sthenoō, To make one strong in their soul.
Establish- themelioō To lay a foundation and make stable.
This is what God is doing in times of suffering. God is working in suffering to bring healing and perfect His work. Think about the forging of a Katana (I won't get started on the process because I'll talk about it in full detail) it's a long and tedious task, but it results in the perfect blade.
God is working to confirm us. Suffering shows us what we are made of, what we can handle, and it builds our faith and trust in God. I'm thinking about Navy SEAL training, again, I won't go into the details from what I've learned, but they push you to the extreme so you learn to push through everything.
God is working to strengthen us. This is an inward strength, grit and resilience that refuses to give up. Think about the Spartans at Thermopylae, or the defenders of the Alamo. They faced overwhelmingly impossible odds, but they knew that they were fighting for something bigger than themselves and this inward strength gave them the courage to fight, even if it meant death.
God is working to lay establish us. He is laying a foundation through our suffering, and it is on this foundation that something amazing can be built on. Out of our deepest pain comes our greatest impact.
God is at work, even if He seems to be silent, He is not absent or inactive. God is at work, and it is in our suffering that He does the most. Nothing is wasted with God.
Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
Friday, July 6, 2018
The Point of Suffering
"After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you." 1 Peter 5.10
Suffering is an unavoidable part of life, but since God is the source of grace, HE uses suffering to bring about His plan for our lives. The point of suffering is to make us more like Jesus, allowing us to partake in the eternal glory of God.
Romans 8.14-17 says, "For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, 'Abba! Father!' The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him."
When we trust in God, we are adopted as His children and led by His Spirit. The Spirit leads us into Christlikeness, but in order to become like Christ we must face suffering.
When each of my girls was dedicated I shared a verse that I had selected for them, a verse that I want them to live by. The verse is the same for both of them. Proverbs 3.5-8 says, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your body
and refreshment to your bones."
Trusting in God is the only way to face suffering. The verse says that acknowledging Him in everything will result in straight paths. It doesn't say flat, it doesn't say sunny, it doesn't say smooth or easy, it says straight. The Spirit will lead us up mountains and into valleys, through sunny fields of wild flowers and into dark forests, but the path doesn't curve at all, it leads straight to the Christ. Trusting in God brings us to Christ, and it is in suffering that we learn to trust Him more.
The point of suffering is to teach us that God is faithful and trustworthy. He has called us to His eternal glory in Christ, and that can only be fully attained by enduring suffering. We are heirs with Christ; whatever Christ inherited we also will inherit. Christ suffered, and so as coheirs with Christ we will suffer. However, Christ's suffering resulted in His glorification.
"Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Philippians 2.8-11.
Christ suffered, and as a result Christ was glorified. As coheirs with Christ we will suffer, because Christ did, but like Christ, our suffering will result in sharing in the glory of Christ.
Suffering has a point, to make us more like Jesus.
Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
Suffering is an unavoidable part of life, but since God is the source of grace, HE uses suffering to bring about His plan for our lives. The point of suffering is to make us more like Jesus, allowing us to partake in the eternal glory of God.
Romans 8.14-17 says, "For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, 'Abba! Father!' The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him."
When we trust in God, we are adopted as His children and led by His Spirit. The Spirit leads us into Christlikeness, but in order to become like Christ we must face suffering.
When each of my girls was dedicated I shared a verse that I had selected for them, a verse that I want them to live by. The verse is the same for both of them. Proverbs 3.5-8 says, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your body
and refreshment to your bones."
Trusting in God is the only way to face suffering. The verse says that acknowledging Him in everything will result in straight paths. It doesn't say flat, it doesn't say sunny, it doesn't say smooth or easy, it says straight. The Spirit will lead us up mountains and into valleys, through sunny fields of wild flowers and into dark forests, but the path doesn't curve at all, it leads straight to the Christ. Trusting in God brings us to Christ, and it is in suffering that we learn to trust Him more.
The point of suffering is to teach us that God is faithful and trustworthy. He has called us to His eternal glory in Christ, and that can only be fully attained by enduring suffering. We are heirs with Christ; whatever Christ inherited we also will inherit. Christ suffered, and so as coheirs with Christ we will suffer. However, Christ's suffering resulted in His glorification.
"Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Philippians 2.8-11.
Christ suffered, and as a result Christ was glorified. As coheirs with Christ we will suffer, because Christ did, but like Christ, our suffering will result in sharing in the glory of Christ.
Suffering has a point, to make us more like Jesus.
Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
Wednesday, July 4, 2018
Reason for Hope
"After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you." -1 Peter 5.10
Suffering is part of life, but in suffering there is hope. God is the source of all grace. He is present with us in the trials; He is by our side as we face hardships. We do not suffer alone, because we are surrounded by the grace of God. In this we have hope.
God's grace does not remove suffering. Danger is not erased, and our problems are not eliminated because of God. However, we have the strength to endure because God is with us.Think back a few posts to where I shared about Samson and the lion, how did he manage to kill the lion? Because the Spirit of God came mightily upon him. David attributed his victory as he went after the stolen sheep to God's deliverance.
My mind goes to Joshua in the Old Testament, "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). I think of Paul in the New Testament, "But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead." (Philippians 3.7-11)
Joshua still had to lead a military campaign, and Paul was still in prison, but they saw past the suffering and moved forward because God was with them. The God of all grace was there.
I think of Psalm 46.8-11, "Come, behold the works of the Lord, He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariots with fire. 'Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.' The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our stronghold." God is over everything; He ends wars and destroys the tools of war. Let us cease striving and know that Almighty God is God. Let us know that He is with us, watching over us, and that in our suffering He gives us grace.
The word in Greek is charis (the ch is a flemmy sound like "Bach"). In this context it carries the connotation of God's kindness, influencing the souls of people to bring them closer to Christ, but more on this in the next few posts.
We have hope in suffering because God is the source of grace.
Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
Suffering is part of life, but in suffering there is hope. God is the source of all grace. He is present with us in the trials; He is by our side as we face hardships. We do not suffer alone, because we are surrounded by the grace of God. In this we have hope.
God's grace does not remove suffering. Danger is not erased, and our problems are not eliminated because of God. However, we have the strength to endure because God is with us.Think back a few posts to where I shared about Samson and the lion, how did he manage to kill the lion? Because the Spirit of God came mightily upon him. David attributed his victory as he went after the stolen sheep to God's deliverance.
My mind goes to Joshua in the Old Testament, "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). I think of Paul in the New Testament, "But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead." (Philippians 3.7-11)
Joshua still had to lead a military campaign, and Paul was still in prison, but they saw past the suffering and moved forward because God was with them. The God of all grace was there.
I think of Psalm 46.8-11, "Come, behold the works of the Lord, He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariots with fire. 'Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.' The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our stronghold." God is over everything; He ends wars and destroys the tools of war. Let us cease striving and know that Almighty God is God. Let us know that He is with us, watching over us, and that in our suffering He gives us grace.
The word in Greek is charis (the ch is a flemmy sound like "Bach"). In this context it carries the connotation of God's kindness, influencing the souls of people to bring them closer to Christ, but more on this in the next few posts.
We have hope in suffering because God is the source of grace.
Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
Monday, July 2, 2018
Unavoidable
"After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you." -1 Peter 5.10
1 Peter 5.10 begins with a reality check, suffering is unavoidable. The verse begins "After you have suffered". It doesn't say "If", but "After", stating that there is no escape of suffering. We will all face difficult times that cause pain, hardship, anxiety, stress, and fear. Suffering is part of living in a fallen world, however, suffering is not the end. The same verse that begins with a message of discouragement, ends with hope.
The closing words point out the suffering is not eternal, "for a little while". These four simple words present the reader with a message of hope. Suffering does not last forever. Suffering is only temporary for the believer, and that final word is key. For those who humbly live before God, the sufferings of this life, even if they last decades, are only temporary, and will one day end forever. That is part of the hope of the Gospel.
We are going to suffer, but suffering will not last forever. It will be intense, and it will feel like it will never end, but it does, and life goes on. Wounds heal into scars, broken bones are mended, and tears stop falling. Suffering has its day, but that day comes to an end.
There is a song by Mark Schultz that says:
The lame will walk
The blind will see
The prisoners will be set free
And hope will rise as shadows disappear
And all that’s lost
We’ll find again
Death will die and tears will end
And we will come alive and truly live
Death will die. Tears will end. We will come alive and truly life. Suffering is unavoidable, but suffering is temporary. In that we can have hope.
Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
1 Peter 5.10 begins with a reality check, suffering is unavoidable. The verse begins "After you have suffered". It doesn't say "If", but "After", stating that there is no escape of suffering. We will all face difficult times that cause pain, hardship, anxiety, stress, and fear. Suffering is part of living in a fallen world, however, suffering is not the end. The same verse that begins with a message of discouragement, ends with hope.
The closing words point out the suffering is not eternal, "for a little while". These four simple words present the reader with a message of hope. Suffering does not last forever. Suffering is only temporary for the believer, and that final word is key. For those who humbly live before God, the sufferings of this life, even if they last decades, are only temporary, and will one day end forever. That is part of the hope of the Gospel.
We are going to suffer, but suffering will not last forever. It will be intense, and it will feel like it will never end, but it does, and life goes on. Wounds heal into scars, broken bones are mended, and tears stop falling. Suffering has its day, but that day comes to an end.
There is a song by Mark Schultz that says:
The lame will walk
The blind will see
The prisoners will be set free
And hope will rise as shadows disappear
And all that’s lost
We’ll find again
Death will die and tears will end
And we will come alive and truly live
Death will die. Tears will end. We will come alive and truly life. Suffering is unavoidable, but suffering is temporary. In that we can have hope.
Fight the lion, 1 Peter 5.1-11
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
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