Is the Potter molding — or remolding — you, using . . . pressure or problems? stress or suffering? hurt or heartache? illness or injustice? Has He now placed you in the fire so that circumstances are heating up with intensity in your life? Then would you just trust the Potter to know exactly what He is doing?
For the child of God, suffering is not wasted. It’s not an end in itself. Scripture reminds us, “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”
The spiritual principle is that in some way God uses suffering to transform ordinary, dust-clay people into . . .
vessels that are strong in faith . . .
vessels that are fit for His use . . .
vessels that display His glory to the watching world.
So don’t waste your sorrow. Trust God!
He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses.
Then the priest shall command to take for him who is to be cleansed two living and clean birds, cedar wood, scarlet, and hyssop. And the priest shall command that one of the birds be killed in an earthen vessel over running water. As for the living bird, he shall take it, the cedar wood and the scarlet and the hyssop, and dip them and the living bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the running water. And he shall sprinkle it seven times on him who is to be cleansed from the leprosy, and shall pronounce him clean, and shall let the living bird loose in the open field.
Behold, a man who was full of leprosy saw Jesus; and he fell on his face and implored Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” § And Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.” As soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed.
Matt. 8:17; Lev. 14:4–7; Luke 5:12; Mark 1:41–42
He whom you bless is blessed.
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven. § Blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!
Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.
Num. 22:6; Matt. 5:3–12; Luke 11:28; Rev. 22:14
Do you know someone who maintains that a loving God would never send anyone to hell? That a loving God will let everyone into heaven? Ask Noah! He was there when God shut the door of the ark. And although technically God doesn’t send anyone to hell, you and I are condemned to go there if we refuse to enter through the “door” of the Cross into the safety of the “ark,” which is Christ.
God didn’t want anyone to perish. He wanted all to repent of their sins and rebellion and enter into the safety of the ark. But the people refused.
The God Who saved Noah from His judgment by providing an ark is the same God Who so loved the world that He sent His only Son as an Ark-a hiding place from the storm of God’s wrath. Whosoever believes in Jesus as God’s gracious provision for salvation will not perish or come under God’s judgment but will be saved and receive eternal life. But you have to believe or you will perish.
The Lord reigns.
Do you not fear Me?” says the Lord. “Will you not tremble at My presence, who have placed the sand as the bound of the sea, by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass beyond it? And though its waves toss to and fro, yet they cannot prevail; though they roar, yet they cannot pass over it.” § Exaltation comes neither from the east nor from the west nor from the south. But God is the Judge: He puts down one, and exalts another.
He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding. § You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled.
If God is for us, who can be against us? § Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. The very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.
Ps. 99:1; Jer. 5:22; Ps. 75:6–7; Dan. 2:21;
Matt. 24:6; Rom. 8:31; Matt. 10:29–31
Take heed to your spirit.
Master, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we for- bade him because he does not follow with us.” But Jesus said to him, “Do not forbid him, for he who is not against us is on our side.” … “Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?” But He … rebuked them, and said, “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of.”
“Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.” So Joshua the son of Nun … answered and said, “Moses my lord, forbid them!” Then Moses said to him, “Are you zealous for my sake? Oh, that all the Lord’s people were prophets and that the Lord would put His Spirit upon them!”
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control … And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
Mal. 2:15; Luke 9:49–50, 54–55; Num. 11:27–29; Gal. 5:22–26
Shortly before His crucifixion, Jesus was the honored guest at a feast held in one of His favorite homes, presumably to celebrate the new life of His friend Lazarus. While Jesus, along with Lazarus and other guests, was reclining at the dinner table, Lazarus’s sister, Mary, entered the room with an alabaster box. The box contained very expensive perfume – equal to a year’s wages – that would have been her dowry. Mary took the box of perfume that represented her future hopes and dreams, broke it, and poured it on the head of Jesus. When she was criticized by those in the room as being exceedingly wasteful, Jesus sharply rebuked them while gently praising her for a beautiful act of sacrificial worship.
How extravagant is your sacrifice to God? Do you give God as little as you think you can get by with? A little bit of energy and effort when you’re not too tired? A little bit of time you have no use for? A little bit of money you don’t really need yourself? A sacrifice is not a sacrifice until it’s a sacrifice!
