Issue 1448 – Thorns – May 15, 2024
The preacher stood there and told people that inviting Christ into their lives would fix all their problems. Anxious to be problem-free, many in the crowd “asked Jesus into their lives.”
Often, the problems didn’t magically disappear, leading many to discouragement and frustration. Doubts crept in, and some began to drift away. They questioned, couldn’t God, in His infinite power, solve their problems? If He could, why didn’t He?
Of course, God is capable of solving all of our problems.
So what happened?
It is an issue of miscommunication. Using the phrase “ask Jesus into your life” isn’t wrong, but when we talk to people about inviting Jesus in, we can make it all about us. God isn’t about being asked into our lives; He wants to invite us into life.
That might seem like a slight semantic difference, a splitting of hairs, but the result is huge. Our relationship with God is about bringing Him glory as we trust, obey, and become conformed to Christ’s image. As we do that, we are blessed, problems or not.
Some problems will go away, but others are left for a season (even our entire lives) because they require us to rely on God.
The Apostle Paul understood that truth.
So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations,[a] a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:7-10
Sometimes, on the journey, we realize that the problem isn’t the problem; it is our attitude. We encounter difficulties because we are focused on things other than Christ, entitled, or ungrateful.
Jesus embraced suffering, even to the point of death because of what his death would bring.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2
Let’s be honest: Becoming a follower of Christ is not a panacea for all our ills and issues. God will remove some of them and allow others to continue as He sees fit from a perfect, holy, and loving perspective.
Seeking and serving the King brings its own rewards. Those rewards will last forever, and any problems we have in this life will fade into the mist of time.
In all things, trust Him. He is at work in your life even when times are hard, and He will bring you out the other side conformed to the image of Christ.
Be blessed
Hallelu Yah / Praise God
Kevin
Gleanings From The Word
Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life.
Soli Deo Gloria (For the glory of God alone)
Never let the enemy tell you that you are worthless or insignificant. Your value in God’s eyes is so great that it was worth dying for. You are a blessing to the world. You are so precious to God that his plan for heaven will not be complete without you.
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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the English Standard Version (ESV)