Through the Trial
Does God still love us when the world says there is no justice? In times of the confusion all around us, according to AB Bruce in the book, “The Training of the Twelve,” Jesus answered them and said, you seek me not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and fishes. Do not work for the food that perishes but for the food that leads to eternal life. Jesus continued, Moses did not give you bread from heaven. For It is only God who gives the true bread…. I myself am the bread of life that God sent down from heaven. For whosoever eats of this bread will inherit eternal life. Jesus said, He who believes has eternal life…. I am the bread of life so that one may eat and not die. If anyone eats of this bread he shall live forever. Whosoever eats of my flesh and drinks my blood, he shall have eternal life.. he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood shall never die.
After these sayings many who had followed Jesus left and no longer walked with him. Jesus said to the twelve disciples, will you also leave? He knew that Judas would eventually betray him.
Jesus’ sermon separated the true disciples from the hangers-on who wanted to see his miracles…. He culled the crowd and gave them an ultimatum. Choose ye this day…. Are you living for bread to fill your bellies or are you living for the bread of spiritual life?
Rich Christiano’s upcoming movie, The Mind Reader is about Jesus’ ultimate purpose. The Jews thought that Jesus would appear as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords to run the Roman rulers out of Judea…. But this was not Jesus’ mission.
We often ponder, What does God have in store for America? How could God have blessed America as the greatest nation on earth but now Christians in America are in danger of prosecution and persecution for so-called “hate crimes” and “hate speech.” The devil continues to sow seeds of confusion…. Of division, strife, and contention. His purpose is to steal, to kill, and to destroy…. His ultimate purpose is to separate our hearts from God’s heart.
Oswald Chamber’s essay about spiritual confusion asks the question…. How can the affairs of this world work together for good to those who love God, who work according to his purpose?
The ways of the Lord are contrary to the world’s definition of success. In retrospect we often come to the conclusion, Thank God for unanswered prayer.
Pete recalls the time he made the headlines in the local newspaper’s sports page. The headline said, Six misfires and then, Bang! In the ninth inning Pete had three strikeouts after three at-bats. He also had three fielding errors. Then in the bottom of the ninth, Pete came up to bat with the game on the line. The score was tied with two outs and and one man on base in scoring position. Pete had prayed before his at-bat, Lord please have the manager send in a pinch hitter to bat in my place. I don’t want to lose the game by striking out again. When God didn’t answer this prayer, Pete stepped up to the plate and prayed, please don’t let me strike out and lose the game. The left handed pitcher threw two pitches that Pete fouled away. Then with two strikes, he threw a curve that broke inside. Pete swung and contacted the ball about 12 inches from where he was holding the bat. The bat vibrated violently in his hand and the bloop fly ball just cleared the first baseman’s head. The ball had so much spin that it bounced wildly and the first baseman had trouble picking it up. As Pete tagged first base, The winning run scored from second base. After six misfires, “Bang!” Pete was the hero of the game for his hit that scored the winning run.
Pete says that his claim to fame was that he got many opposing pitchers to the big leagues. He usually struck out against pitchers who were called up to the Major league.
One night Pete faced Pedro Bourbon who became the star pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds when the “Big Red Machine’ won two World Series. Needless to say, Bourbon struck him out. That night in dejection, Pete read a verse in Hebrews from his New Living Bible. He read that a father disciplines his son, not because he wants to hurt him, but because he loves him. God’s still small voice said, some things you will learn by being an all star. However, the most important lessons, I will train you and teach you on the bench. This is where you will learn meekness and humility. This is where you will learn to cheer for the guy who took your place in the starting lineup. For he that is chief among you must be servant of all. On the bench is where others will witness My true character within you…. Through the trial and the ordeal of tribulation, you will learn endurance which over time will reveal to yourself and others My character in you. Then others will witness the hope of my son’s return and the love of God shed abroad in your heart by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Luke 18:8 says, when the son of man returns will the son of man find a faithful man… proven in the things that are unseen… the things of the character of Christ in you? In the meantime, you will not understand in the midst of trial what God is preparing you for…. He is proving his character within you through the crucible of the melting pot and the refining and purifying of the fiery furnace.
Despite the confusion of the world around us and the chaos, panic, pandemonium and pandemic all around us, our prayer is not Lord deliver me from the storm. Instead our prayer is deliver us through the storm. The storms of this life will prove his strength…. This is the lesson that God will reveal through the storm: My strength is made perfect in thy weakness…. My grace is sufficient for thee..
…That we may live to the praise of the glory of His grace!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael
