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Gleanings From The Word

Tag: gospel

  • Rebound Stronger – How trials build unshakeable faith

    girl on a trampoline high in the air - rebound stronger

    Our granddaughters have a trampoline in the backyard. They and their friends are quite adept at leaps, spins, rolls and general acrobatics. Sometimes, I have to look away because I envision one of them coming off and breaking a bone or two or going right through the fabric.

    I did some quick research on the physics of trampolines and came across this: “A trampoline works by temporarily storing energy. As you land, your downward force stretches the tightly woven mat and the springs around its edge. The deeper the mat bends, the more elastic potential energy is stored. When the springs recoil, that stored energy is released upward, pushing against you with a force that can exceed your body weight. In effect, the very force that pulls you downward becomes the source of your lift. The harder and more completely you press into the trampoline, the greater the potential for an upward rebound—provided your timing and balance allow that energy to be directed efficiently into the next jump.”

    The harder you apply downward pressure, the further upward you go. There is a bit of a spiritual principle here, although not exactly the same. God allows us to undergo trials and tribulations. It is in those dark places where our faith is tested that our faith grows the most.

    An untested faith is simply a hope. Faith that comes through again and again is strengthened. In essence, we bounce up higher and higher. We rebound from the trials strengthened and more Christ like.

    Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith brings about perseverance. And let perseverance have its perfect work, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.  James 1:2-4

    Dark times are a part of life in a sin-filled and fallen world. Even Christians have them. In fact Christians may face even harder times because the world hates our Lord. Once we get to glory, that won’t be an issue, but in the meantime we persevere.

    We take the pressure, strengthened by God and rebound to a stronger faith. Paul understood that truth.

    I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned, in whatever situation I am, to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.  I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:10-13

    We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 2 Corinthians 4:8-10

    So next time it feels too much, remember Jesus has your back. He goes ahead of you and walks beside. Hold fast and bounce back stronger.

    Hallelu Yah (Praise God)

    Be blessed,

    Kevin

    Seeing Jesus more clearly each day

    SUMMARY

    Watching my granddaughters flip and spin on that trampoline, I started thinking about how the harder they press down, the higher they fly. That same principle shows up in the Christian life: the trials that press us down are what God uses to build a faith that rebounds stronger than before.

    TAKEAWAY

    Trampolines store energy through downward pressure and release it as upward lift

    James 1:2-4 shows that tested faith produces perseverance, not just endurance

    Paul’s example in Philippians and 2 Corinthians proves we’re pressed but never crushed

    Tribulation Produces Perseverance

    Pressed but still standing

    Live in Abbotsford? There are many good churches. This is where I attend.

    Find a good church

    Some thoughts on finding a good church

  • Why the Old Testament Still Matters to Christians Today

    Two Christian friends were debating the value of the Old Testament to Christianity. One was spouting the heresy that the God of the Old Testament was different than the God of the New. Of course we know Scripture explicitly claims that isn’t so. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8

    He went on to say there is no need for the Old Testament, since we have grace in the New Testament and are not under the Law. When asked about what Jesus thought of the Old Testament, he stammered and changed the subject.

    Jesus knew the Old Testament perfectly both in wording and spirit. Depending on how you count, He explicitly quoted the Old Testament ~40 times and alluded to it is somewhere between 180-250 times in the gospels alone. 

    Many “new” things Jesus taught are straight out of the Old Testament. In Psalm 105, we read a recap of the Exodus story. Here’s an excerpt:

    Then He brought them out with silver and gold,
    And there was none among His tribes who stumbled.
    Egypt was glad when they went out,
    For the dread of them had fallen upon them.
    He spread a cloud for a covering,
    And fire to give light by night.
    They asked, and He brought quail,
    And He satisfied them with the bread of heaven.
    He opened the rock and water flowed out;
    It ran in the dry places like a river.
    For He remembered His holy word
    With Abraham His servant;
    And He brought His people out with joy,
    His chosen ones with a shout of joy.     Psalm 105:37-40

    Jesus takes His audience back to the Old Testament and shows Himself to be the chosen one, the long awaited Messiah.

    Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, Moses has not given you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” Then they said to Him, “Lord, always give us this bread. Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me will never hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst. John 6:31-34

    I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread which comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and also the bread which I will give for the life of the world is My flesh.” John 6:48-51

    Jesus shows from a historical passage that He is the one they have been waiting for. That doesn’t count the estimated 300 places that there is a prophetic mention of His coming.

    Without the Old Testament, we have no idea that there was even a Messiah who would come to rescue us. With it, we would have no basis to evaluate His claims.

    Augustine said, “Novum Testamentum in Vetere latet, Vetus Testamentum in Novo patet.” For most of us who don’t speak Latin, that is “The New is in the Old concealed; the Old is in the New revealed.” Or as it is sometimes translated, “The New Testament lies hidden in the Old, and the Old Testament is unveiled in the New.”

    While certainly there are passages in the Old Testament that don’t apply to us directly, like the ceremonial and dietary laws. There are passages that seem obscure and uninteresting, like the long genealogies. Still, the Old Testament is vital to our understanding of the New and to our understanding of God and our need for Him.

    Praise God we have both.

    Be blessed

    Kevin

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