Freedom, Contentment, Presence Part 4

Freedom, Contentment, Presence  Part 4
Presence

Hebrews 13:5-6 ESV
Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." [6] So we can confidently say, "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?"

So we can confidently say, "The Lord is my helper;...."

I find this part of the passage very convicting.  It's easy to pray for God to just change us - and he can - but it is all together a different thing to ask Him to be our helper.

The whole idea here is that I initiate the actions and efforts and God provides what I lack - He makes up the difference.  Be it great or small there is a gap in my ability to attain to what I want and God is the only one who can bridge that gap.  I must have His help!

And the writer says we can confidently say that the Lord is our helper!  This is ony possible becaue of who our Lord is.

Philippians 4:13 ESV
I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Oh how often we use this verse and that without conviction.  It has become a by-phrase, a quick yet empty statement not because it isn't true but because we too often are found to be doing nothing.  We quote this verse as though it were some kind of magical incantation that would make things different without any effort on our part.

To move from covetousness to contentment is a great battle taking great effort on our part and demanding that He help us.  We can not - WILL not do it without His help.  To move from covetousness to contentment is too hard, to radical, too much for us to ever think we could do it without the help of God.

But - we must be the initiators - the actors - He the helper.  Why?  That is not a productive question and too often and excuse for inaction.  We must be active, energized for the fight.

First we must WANT to move from coveousness to contentment.
Second we must ACT to move from covetouness to contentment.
Third we must seek His POWER to move from covetousness to contentment.

We're very prone to do the third without the first two and they are critical to success.

The "want" needs to come from a firm conviciton of the sin of covetousness and a need for contentment.  Contentment is an oblgation, a duty of our faith.  He and He alone is to be sufficient for us.  If we are in Him and His Spirit is in us we are to be content.  This is not some super-spiritual option but a fundamental duty of every believer.  If we do not have a desire for contentment we are sinning - plain and simple.  A lack of contentment tells God that his provision is not enough - not good enough.  It is the mirror sin of ingratitude and murmuring.

Can you see how in the matter of covetousness and contentment the Lord's help is critical?  Can you see how we must submit to and depend upon Him as we take the appropriate actions to rid ourselves of covertousness and idolarty?  Are you grateful that he is indeed our helper in all things?

Uses of Affliction 01 031214

Uses for Afflictions  01  031214

We all at one time or anthor (at least) find ourelves suffering some sort of affliction.  It may be transitory, it may be permanent; it may be small, it may be great, but we all will indeed suffer in this world.

So what's the point?  Why does God allow us to suffer?  Is there a good use of afflictions in which we can find comfort and encouragement and strength.

Thomas Boston in his work, A Crook in the Lot, give us a list of seven ways in which we and God can use afflcitions for good.  Submitting to God, trusting in Christ and depending upon the Holy Spirit afflictions can bring blessings.

Below you will find a paraphrased list of the uses Boston suggests.  I hope to address each of them in a practicle and personal manner in this new series of blogs.

Uses of Afflictions

1. The trial of one's state, whether one is in the state of grace of not.
2. Excitation to duty, weaning one from this world, and prompting him to look after the happiness of the other world.
3. Conviction of sin.
4. Correction and punishment for sin.
5. Preventing sin.
6. Discovery of latenet corruption whether in saints of sinners.
7. The exercise of grace in the chidren of God

I will attempt to expand and illustrate these points in the coming weeks.  They are not easy points and certainly they are not comfortable but I believe that we need to work hard at understanding the uses of affliction in order to be betterr able not only to endure but to encourage.

1 Corinthians 10:13 NASB
No temptation ((trial)) has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted ((tried)) beyond what you are able, but with the temptation ((trial)) will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.

May God bless my efforts and yours as we look at the uses of afflictions to the glory of God.

Please don;t hesitate to email me questions or comments:
sheepdog.ms@gmail.com