“Do as I say, not as I do!” Yesterday’s Father’s Day celebration may have stirred up gratitude or bitterness, treasured or sour memories, contentment or regret. Jesus tells us to be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect (Matthew 5:48). But we know that our earthly parents are less than perfect, and we have managed to match them in our imperfections as parents. How then could we ever qualify as “heroes”?
Do you find yourself in a cycling battle with sin? Have you found that your efforts to amputate sin in your life are met with rapid regrowth and recurrence of that sin? Do you find yourself crying out, O wretched man that I am! Is victory over your sin apparently in reach, but practically elusive? “I do what I do because I want what I want.”
In God’s amazing, deep riches of wisdom and unfathomable ways, He uses the persecution of His people to promote the gospel rather than hinder it! It seems counterintuitive; yet, attempts to silence Jesus’ disciples with ridicule, hatred, and even violence has the effect of throwing fuel on a fire, instead igniting an unstoppable movement for the good news! The gospel prevails through persecution because the power lies in the evident value of the gospel to all who endure its cost. Thus, we see how a transformed life stirs up both persecution from the lost and influence over the lost.
Have you heard of the butterfly effect? In 1972, mathematician and meteorologist Edward Lorenz asked the question: “Does the flap of a butterfly’s wings in Brazil set off a tornado in Texas?” From this question arose the concept of the butterfly effect; that is, that a tiny change can have a massive impact somewhere else. Despite one’s conclusions about the relationship between tornadoes and flapping butterflies, the question is illustrative of a powerful truth: seemingly insignificant actions can carry great influence, though often unseen and unknown. Take that into account, as you consider for a moment how much of what you and I do can feel petty and unimportant at times. A little investment into others can make a great difference. An enduring faithfulness goes an extraordinary distance!
We have just completed our series on anxiety and depression at Grace Baptist Church! My hope and prayer has been that our time reflecting on and wrestling with these emotions together would help each of us to examine our circumstances and emotions, realize we are not alone, and begin to see the magnitude of help that God offers in His Word!
What’s the first thought, feeling, or reaction that comes to you when it comes to the possibility of confronting somebody with the gospel? I think many of us would quickly feel intimidated! If someone wants to ask how to have eternal life or the way to heaven, we might be eager to answer... but to approach someone to tell them of their need for salvation? It can be quite unsettling!
I have been moved to joyful gratitude over and over as it has continually impressed upon me what a precious gift God has given to me. This gift works quietly and behind the scenes to help me be a better person and pastor and to help me do better in life and ministry. I love this gift that God has given me, and I praise Him, the Giver of all good gifts. Thank You, Lord, for my wife, Diane!
On top of all the blues and overwhelmingly sad and empty feelings, one of the great struggles of depression can come when you can’t even identify its origin. Have you ever felt that way? “I’m sad, and I don’t even know why.” Or perhaps you recognize that much of life is going well, but you have no idea why you have a perpetual empty feeling within.
Betrayed. Nothing else could describe what our son was feeling as we brought him into the clinic and into the room where he would receive the dreadfully anticipated shot that we had tried to prepare him for since about a week prior. How could his parents do this to him? He had even been good that day, and we were handing him over for torture. Utterly betrayed.
We’ve all been there: lying awake at night, our minds swimming in our troubles, emotions aflare, desperate for hope and help, or just downright distressed! To sleep would be both a blessing and a defeated surrender, yielding to the hopelessness of our troubles and an inevitably terrible outcome. We might even feel guilty for allowing ourselves to sleep in times when troubles are great.