Tuesday, October 13, 2020

Pastor's Ponderings, October 13, 2020

Our Setbacks Are Just A Set Up

Donnie Mcclurkin in 1996 wrote a powerful song that is very applicable to our times in 2020.  Some of the lyrics are, “What do you do when you've done all you can, and it seems like it's never enough? And what do you say when your friends turn away and you're all alone, alone? Tell me, what do you give when you've given your all and it seems like you can't make it through?”  He concludes that we should stand. “Well, you just stand when there's nothing left to do, you just stand, watch the Lord see you through. Yes, after you've done all you can you just stand.”

 

When the bills are due, the jobs are scarce and we see that there is no way out for us, we should just stand still and see God work (Exodus 14:13).  When true friends are few and enemies are many, we should just stand for what God says we should do.  We should still be kind, compassionate, and forgiving (Ephesians 4:32).  It can be difficult facing the day when all that you see is lack, pain, and suffering.  But we know who holds our days and sees our end from our beginning (Psalm 139:16).

 

Nevertheless, we must have faith to believe that God will accomplish His will in us during our lives (Psalm 138:8).  We can look to Jesus who has begun and will bring our faith in Him to maturity (Hebrews 12:2).  He began His work in us and will bring us to His expected goal (Jeremiah 29:11).  We can be confident that we will see His goodness for us while we live (Psalm 27:13).

 

Exodus 14:13
New International Version

13 Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again.

 

Ephesians 4:32

New International Version

32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

 

Psalm 139:16

New International Version

16 Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

 

Psalm 138:8

Amplified Bible

8 The Lord will accomplish that which concerns me; Your [unwavering] lovingkindness, O Lord, endures forever—Do not abandon the works of Your own hands.

 

Hebrews 12:2

Amplified Bible

2 [looking away from all that will distract us and] focusing our eyes on Jesus, who is the Author and Perfecter of faith [the first incentive for our belief and the One who brings our faith to maturity], who for the joy [of accomplishing the goal] set before Him endured the cross, disregarding the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God [revealing His deity, His authority, and the completion of His work].

 

Jeremiah 29:11

New International Version

11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Psalm 27:13

New International Version

13 I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.


 

 

 

 

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