Marching Forth!

Grief and anger sometimes go together.  This connection is seen in the life of Jesus.  One of the only recorded times Jesus was angry it stemmed from grief in Mark 3:5 :  " And when He had looked around at them with anger, being grieved by the hardness of their hearts, He said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored as whole as the other ."  Jesus was grieved, but continued to love, heal, and do good.  Though Jesus was angry because of grief over the hardness of heart in His critical observers, He remained without sin.  Feelings of anger are not sinful in themselves, but as human beings in a body of flesh nearly every time our anger remains unchecked it leads to sin. Ephesians 4:26-27 says, "Be angry, and do not sin": do not let the sun go down on your wrath, 27 nor give place to the devil ."  If we are angry for selfish reasons or if we justify our continued anger, we give opportunity for additi...

" Understand, you senseless among the people; and you fools, when will you be wise? 9 He who planted the ear, shall He not hear? He who formed the eye, shall He not see? 10 He who instructs the nations, shall He not correct, He who teaches man knowledge? 11 The LORD knows the thoughts of man, that they are futile ." Psalm 94:8-11 When I read this scripture last night, it struck me how all things man can do are tiny glimpses of the infinite capacity and ability of God.  Man devises machines to do work he cannot do alone with pulleys, cables, engines, hydraulics, compressors, pipes, wires, and computers.  God does everything, and therefore has no need for any help.  When God created man in His own image, He created human beings which temporarily possess mere shadows of His own unique abilities.  My sense of hearing is average compared to other people, but God is able to hear all prayers with understanding at the same time.  It only takes a tiny bug, a...

" By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, 25 choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, 26 esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward ." Hebrews 11:24-27 Isn't the eternal perspective Moses maintained amazing?  He willingly chose suffering with the people of God rather than enjoying the passing pleasures of sin.  He saw reproach for God's sake - for Christ's sake - greater riches than the treasures of Egypt!  Moses had not received his heavenly reward in full when he obeyed God at great personal cost, yet faith in God enabled him to see beyond his own pains and to the goodness of God who called and empowered him. I must be honest:  my flesh never holds reproach for any reason in high esteem!  Who rejoices when others disagree and express their strong disapproval of them or ...

Faith is such an important part of our Christian life.  The scriptures tell us whatsoever is not of faith is sin ( Romans 14:23 ), and without faith it is impossible to please God ( Hebrews 11:6 ).  In the midst of trials our faith in God is tested, and it is this God-ordained tested process which brings us to spiritual maturity.  In the midst of suffering our lack of faith is often revealed to us, and we like the disciples can plead according to the will of God, " Increase our faith ."  All people will suffer in this life, but only those who choose to trust God despite pain will discover the joy of the LORD is their strength. Faith is also critical for us to receive the wisdom and benefits God provides through His Word.  Consider the passage in Hebrews 4:1-2 :  " Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. 2 For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the wo...