Faith in Affliction Weak or Strong 032414

Faith in Affliction  Weak or Strong

"If it never proves great, yet weak faith shall save; for it interests us in Christ, and makes Him and all His benefits ours.  For it is not the strength of our faith that saves, but the truth of our faith, nor weakness of our faith that condemns, but the want of faith; for the least faith lays hold on Christ and so will save us.  Nor are we saved by the worth or quantity of our faith but by Christ - who is laid hold on bu a weak faith as well as a strong - just as a weak hand that puts meat into the mouth shall feed and nourish the body as if it were a strong hand, but by the goodness of the meat."  John Rogers, The Doctrine of Faith

In Affliction we are confronted with the strength or weakness of our faith.  Indeed I think it is more often the latter than the former.  But as Rogers writes even our mustard-seed faith is sufficient to lay hold of all that Christ provides and promises.  The difference, perhaps, is more in our sense of faith than its sufficiency.  

How often do we, in afflictions, find ourselves confronted with the laziness of our faith and consider it a sign of no or weak faith.  This is not to be done.  The exercise of our faith will indeed be commensurate with its strength or weakness but yet whether one or the other it is sufficient.

If our faith is weak, afflictions are great torments and trials and yet Christ is not stingy in His providence regardless.  It is the object of our faith that is of the greatest import and what we often confuse with a weak faith is actually a misplaced faith.

We tend to trust God to provide according to our own reason and insight and when we do not see that happening we , in our distress, consider our faith to be too weak to have its effect.  But brother and sister, by God's own Word, this cannot be.  His promises are to those who believe whether small or large.

"Lord I believe, help Thou my unbelief," should be a fundamental prayer we pray in affliction.  For we all have areas where our faith struggles to settle upon its true object and grow upon that object.

And, we must remember that our faith is a gift and gifts are given according to the desire of the giver and the need of the gifted.  That one has what they consider a "small faith" is simply an invitation to stand amazed as God grows that faith in time and space.  Indeed, once we are with Him there will be no weak of strong faith for our trust in Him will be complete.

In affliction we will find that we question the strength and veracity of our faith - or at least we seem to.  However I find among believers that it is rarely a question of whether or not God will provide but rather how and when.  This shows that we have faith in Him even if we struggle in the details.
But some believers do struggle with whether or not God will provide.  Wondrously and happily this doubt is usually based upon their view of their own worthiness to even get God's attention much less His provision.  This is "works" thinking and we all do it.  There is nothing like an affliction to kick us into the old, "I'm not worthy," or to bring to our remembrance every jot and tittle of our sins.

Well, we are not worthy -  period.  But in and through Christ we are - but only through Him.  Yes, God may indeed, through some affliction, chastise us for sin.  But this is a mercy for first it falls far far short of what any sin deserves and second it is meant to cleanse, to refine the dross out of our hearts and lives.  Yet we often fail to see the blessedness of God's heavy hand upon us and we miss praising Him for that mercy.

Trusting God in affliction is simple but it is not easy.  The world mocks, the flesh wrestles with shame and the devil accuses and taunts.  That's a tough trio to contend with.  But knowing the source should drive us to look to God more intensly and humbly and - sometimes - desperately.

But, isn't the bottom line our redemption?  Isn't that the aim of our faith as Christ who provides it is the object?  Do we want heaven of relief more?  Do we want the comfort of our salvation or the comfort of things?  Do we want the praise of men or the "well done" of Christ?

Faith in affliction looks to its object and the priorities held by that object.  Which means that our priority should be the glory of God and our ultimate home with Him.  Everything else is NOT unimportant but it is secondary if not tertiary.

Therefore let us turn to Christ in our affliction and to His Word and seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit in getting our priorities back in line.  Let us allow the anxiety of trials to wash over us and away from us as we call out to God in supplication and thanksgiving.

"Though I am not pleased with God's chastisement, I will be pleased with its effect.  Though I struggle to thank Him for this testing I praise Him for loving me enough to test me.  Though I am assailed with fear let me be filled with His comfort.  May I accept this affliction as a mercy and blessing from my God who is determined to transform me into the likeness of my loving Savior."  ms

Trusting God 021214

Trusting God  021214

"What are your cares, but the turmoiling of your thoughts?  Richard Baxter, A Christian Directory

Baxter offers that we may and should control our thoughts when we are in distress, even despair and he wisely and kindly adds that we should,

"Cast away the thoughts, and cares are gone.  You may do this if you will, though it be difficult."

Our thoughts begin in our hearts.  This is the source of all good and evil that we think, feel, say or do.  It is in the heart that despair begins and it begins with our lack of trust in God.  Yes, we all have a lack of trust in God.  We may only see it when we are under some affliction but it is always there.

Many, when things are going well may think or even boast that they are trusting God and I am sure that so some extent they do.  But take away those things that give them comfort and security and the flaw is exposed.  Doubt is a part of our suffereing here and we must accept that there are places where we doubt.

But we need not wait until we are under His correcting hand to begin to address this lack of trust.  We may, through a sincere and diligent examination of our hearts discover this vein of distrust and appreciate the power of it to cause us to stumble.

If you are under some affliction and struggling with your trust in God the only solution is - well - to trust God for your lack of trust.  As the man cried our to Jesus, "Help my unbelief!" we too must be bold about our trust struggle and go to the only source of strength we have.

Scripture abounds with admonitions, promises and prayers for trust in God.  It abounds with demonstrations of His faithfulness and lovingkindness.  Even your life in HIm, if you will but sit and reflect, holds testimony to His faithfulness.

But those pesky fearful thoughts persist.  Not only that, but Satan and the world will encourage and heighten them until they scream so loud they almost drown out everything else.  But we are able to control our thoughts and by the Holy Spirit we are able to strengthen and heal our weak hearts.

Isaiah 26:3 ESV
You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.

Notice something very important in this verse.  It is not "I" who keep me in peace but God who does it.  But I must fix my mind upon Him.  I must do two thing I think.  First I must really pray.  I use the word "really" becasue in matters of trust we can't be hedging or playing.  We must come honestly and openly to Him with our distrust confessing it and crying our for a greater trust in Him.  Where we do not trust Him, we sin and as with any other sin it must be confessed and repented of - wholy and truthfully.

Second - I must fill my mind and hence my heart with those Words of God that call me and encourage me to trust in Him.  I must take the plain truth of His lovingkindness to heart and hold it there tightly.  I know of no better way than to search out those sciptures that speak to the issue of trust and to read them (in not memorizing them) over and over until they permiate my mind and touch my heart.

Trust, even trust in our God does not come easy but it comes.

Finger Thinking 021113

Today - something different.

We've looked at the struggles and the battles - the anxiety and fear.  But in all of this - regardless of how heavy it gets we also need to hold on to the hope we have in Him.

Bottom line?  We have the assurance of our home with Him.  That's the big thing - and we can not allow our present trial and tribulations to take that hope from our hearts.

Jesus' teachings were pretty tough when you really read them - as are the teachings in the writings of the Apostles.  Our redemption is the main and plain thing.  That we have to keep our grip on.  All we experience here is, I think, to make us long to be with Him, for His Kingdom to come, for His will to be done in all the creation.

I know - when you're broke or sick or undergoing any other trial it is hard to keep your eyes on heaven.  It is very hard and I would not minimize your distress in any way.

But dearest one - we all have to fight that fight in one way or another.  I am learning, especially from the Puritan writers, that rich or poor, well or infirm we all struggle to keep a grasp on our hope.  It is good to know that His grasp on us is unrelenting.

As I discover the needs of others I am embarrassed by my focus on my circumstances.  No, it's not a matter of, "others are worse off so quit whining."  Rather I am beginning to feel a part of their struggles, their pain, their fear and anxiety.  I am beginning to see more clearly the truth of His Word and the battle we are in.  I am finding that I turn more to Him the more I see the needs of others.

We are not alone in our distress.  We have others who struggle with us and for us.  We are in the company of saints who have been called to demonstrate that He is worthy to be trusted.  We can only do that when we trust Him - and sometimes He has to bring into our lives those conditions that take away everything we have trusted that is not Him.

But whether we are in distress or plenty our need to hope in Him - in our redemption - is never diminished.  Job stated that even if God saw fit to kill him, he, Job, would trust/hope in Him.  Great words but they bring us to the bare facts of the faith.  We have been saved for Him and by Him to be His forever.  We sometimes need to be brought to 
the place where we are confronted by that truth to see whether it is enough for us or not.

Jesus told us to not fear those who can kill the body - I would expand it to include the "its" as well.  He told us to fear that which can condemn our souls.  Well, in Him we do not have to fear the condemnation of our souls and so, though it is a battle, we need fear nothing and no-one.

I know - bold words - but they are not spoken easily for their truth and power leave me with only Him - as though there was ever more anyway.

Father, I pray that we will be comforted by the hope we have in You.  I pray that we will dare to look at the bottom-line of our hope and be willing to accept it.  Father we need to learn to be content with our redemption and not just our worldly conditions.  Father we need to be content with Your grace whatever we are living through.

Lord, I pray for my brothers and sisters who are in need and I call out to You to give us all the knowledge that the impact of any need is relative to the strength and maturity of the individual believer.  Knowing that, make us either seek the strong and mature believer for guidance and comfort or make us seek the weak and struggling believer to give guidance and comfort.

Father bring us to that one-ness Jesus prayed for - that one-ness He died for.  Let us understand that if one part of the Body is injured and the rest of the Body ignores it or is unable to discern it - there is something very very wrong.

Father, give us big hope, big hearts and even bigger prayers so that we struggle alongside our faith family either in their presence or in prayer.  

Help us Father, to know the joy of Your salvation even in the distress of being here waiting for You.

Psalm 6:6

I am weary with my sighing; Every night I make my bed swim, I dissolve my couch with my tears. (Psa 6:6)

Everyone who knows what this is like, stand up!

Now the Psalm goes on to express great confidence in God and His mercy and justice so we're not going to have a pity party.

But - this sighing and tears should not be uncommon in the life of the believer.  We should be sighing and shedding teasr not only for our sins and our needs but for all those who do not have the comfort of knowing God and being His.

Oh, the verse struck me because of our hard times right now but God was gracious enough to not allow me to get stuck on me.  I not only thought of all the redeemed who are suffering affliction and need but of the countless millions who live (or lived) in the utter darkness and hopelessness of being godless and rebellious.

Our problems seem as nothing compared to the problems the un-redeemed live with and will face.  Imagine being in whatever situation you find yourself in and NOT having a loving and caring Father.  Imagine believing that you're here and you die with no purpose or reason.  Worse still (for me at least) imagine living believing that you were at the mercy - the utter mercy of fate (or whatever capricious entity you want).

Oh, I still weep for us and our affliction and need but I weep for others now as well.  Why?  Well - Jesus did.  the shortest verse in the Bible reads:


Jesus wept.   (Joh 11:35)

He wept even though He knewHhe was about to resurrect Lazarus. Why did He weep?  Well, we'll probably have to ask Him later.  But, He loved and He loved not just as the Son of God, the Redeemer but He loved as Jesus the teacher from Galilee - the guy.

Perhaps the thing I am learning the most recently is about the humanity of my Lord.  The more I see it the more amazed and humbled and comforted I am.  His Lordship and Savior-hood are indeed amazing - but to think that He was like you and I and He would weep for a friend - and for many many others - makes it OK for me to weep.

But, as I said - I have had to broaden the subject of my tears in His honor, for His glory and because He did.

Father let me weep but let me not simply weep for myself and my loved ones!  Let me weep for the brothers and sisters who struggle with every thing from the common difficulties here to the catastrophic difficulties here.  When I weep for me, open the arms of my heart to take in Your body and the lost as well.  Let my heart break yet make my soul sing in Your grace for Your creation.
Amen

What's "more than?" 012413

"Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?   (Mat 6:25)

Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?

"Life," here is the Greek word for "breath."  It carries for us the meaning we see in Genesis where God "breathed" life into Adam.  Call it what you are comfortable with but the intent is for us to consider now so much our "living" but our "life" itself.

The Westminster Cataclysm asks what man's "end" his sole "end it.  The response it to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.  This, in brief is what "life" is for.  It is the main and plain purpose for us - for all men - but especially for believers

"Body," is the word "soma" meaning the body as a "sound whole."  It directs us to the fact that we are not a this and a that and another thing but rather we are a "whole" creature.  

Jesus is taking us to a place that most of us find, well, kind of weird.  He is talking about (I think) more God's desire for us as living creatures than He is about just the physical, mental and spiritual "parts" we find is so convenient to discuss in isolation from one another.  We are a whole being whose existence is utterly dependent upon the "breath" that gives us life.

It is not only what we are (and are intended for) but that God given "breath" that allowed us to become living souls.

So what's the point?

Perhaps it is that we worry too much about what sustains and adorns the "body" and what our "life" achieves instead of our fundamental purpose.  Which is, as we've said, to glorify God and enjoy Him forever - even here.

Well, you'll not find yourself "enjoying" God here without the requisite "glorifying" of God here.  The enjoyment can only be experienced in the glorification.  

John 9 is my favorite chapter in all the Word.  Jesus is asked if a certain man was born blind because of his sin or his parent's sin.  Jesus replies:

 "It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.   (Joh 9:3)

God is glorified in the miracle of this man receiving his sight.  But as wonderful as this is we must accept that the man was afflicted with blindness from birth.  This was not a condition in that day that has the options available in ours.

Consider:

The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 

(Rom 8:16-18)

Many of you are "suffering" now and I am sure, like us, you want a reason.  Paul gives it here.  Keep in mind that Paul did not just suffer persecution, he suffered from all the everyday, garden varieties of difficulties and affliction we suffer.  

When we read of suffering in the Word we need to be very aware that if there were no sin there would not even be a "common" cold or allergies or infections.  Living in a fallen world, for the redeemed, must be understood as a time of suffering - either ordinary suffering or extra-ordinary suffering.

BUT - regardless of which type of suffering we are experiencing it is for His glory so that His works made be seen.  His glory will be seen in His magnificent deliverance and/or in our faithful trusting and standing for Him.  

It is His faithfulness and our faithfulness that is more than food or clothing - or anything else.  

Consider:

Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.   (2Co 1:9)

For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.   (2Co 4:11)

. . . . as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. (Php 1:20)

But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ   (Php 3:7-8)

And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 

(1Pe 5:10)

I pray that you and I can grow in our knowledge and love of God that we might, like Paul and Peter (and soooo many others) come to understand that through His power and Spirit we can accept whatever He allows (or brings) into our lives and that He will be glorified in our faithfulness.

I know some of you are wondering why these blogs are so personal and intimate.  Well, if Paul finds it appropriate to "boast" in his weakness I will follow his example - praying that God will be glorified.  God is strong and gracious to deliver and he is strong and gracious to sustain.  As He works in our lives He is glorified as we rely upon Him for it.

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.   (2Co 12:9)

“This is faith: a renouncing of everything we are apt to call our own and relying wholly upon the blood, righteousness and intercession of Jesus.”   ― John Newton

Flee - run away! 012313

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.   (1Ti 6:10-11)

Two things really stood out for me in these verses.  "craving" and "wandered away from the faith."

On the subject of "cravings" or literally "stretching out."  I certainly understand the error of this and it's subtlety.  It is not hard for any of us to find ourselves so dissatisfied with both what we have and what we don't have that we go beyond God's provision or mis-handle God's provisions so that we are indeed "stretched out."

But don't make the mistake of thinking simply in terms of being financially stretched out.  More relationships - especially marriages - suffer greatly from financial "stretching."  but it really isn't the money (I am learning) that is the problem.  It is the fear and guilt of being on thin financial ice.  It is also the conviction of the Holy Spirit working in our hearts and minds and our resistance to it.

Our flesh not only indulges itself in all the recriminations and accusations the unbeliever experiences but it resists the promptings and conviction of the Holy Spirit.  For the young or weak believer all these "feelings" can get mixed together and seem to be one.  But they are not.  We need to take the biblical view that sin is sin and that God has blessed us with the Spirit that we might recognize it and repent.  

This can result in that "wandering away from the faith."  Huh?  Well, when we are in distress and we are sensing a need to be rescued from it our flesh wants us to turn to things of this world in order to solve the problem.  But the critical factor is that the flesh wants us to do this instead of turning to God and seeking His correction and solution.

"Wandering away from the faith," may refer more to wandering away from trusting God than in refers to some theological or doctrinal error (however - this is also very possible).

I have had to simply recognize that the provision I have mis-used came from God and that the provision I need must come from Him as well.  Certainly He can and will use secondary sources to bring that provision but we have to fight the fight of keeping our eyes on Him.

God does not scheme and His people need to avoid scheming as well.  If I had a nickle for every "scheme" I've come up with in our current situation - well, I think I'd be out of this situation.  But the cost of doing it according to the world, the flesh and the devil is much to high (trust me, I know).  I have to really "keep my eyes and ears on Him," sometimes by force.

I have a love/hate relationship with the Puritans.  I love their insight and sensitivity but I struggle with their faithful acceptance of the fact that "here" isn't any kind of priority.  What I mean is that they had such a wonderful hope of heaven that they really did count everything as "dung" compared to the riches of God's grace.  

I consistently read their admonitions to trivialize earthly needs (in relation to heavenly provision) and I am dumb-struck - and not a little ashamed of myself.  They lived in a cycle of earthly need.  They were no strangers to suddenly suffering the loss of their "livings" not to mention their incarcerations.  And yet they were satisfied that God's will was perfect regardless of the earthly consequences.

That's the part I "hate," because it reveals to me my lack of strength and maturity in the Way.  It shows me my weakness and self-centeredness.  It shows me my sin.  Though this is truly a blessing, it hurts deeply and my flesh hates it (another sign of the battle we must fight).

But Paul admonishes us to "flee" from all of this.  If we're not in it we must watch and pray that we might be warned and flee.  If we're in it we must trust and pray and flee from within it.

We are to, "Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness."  as well as:

Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 

(1Ti 6:12)

This is tough to do when the bill collectors are calling or unexpected needs arise.  This is difficult as we struggle to pretend to our brothers and sisters that all is well (not a good thing).  This is difficult when we live in a culture where we are told we have to "succeed" according to the standards and ways of the world, flesh and devil.

But we must pursue these things regardless of where they lead us here in this temporary residence.  We must flee from this evil but we must flee to Him.  Just running away from the problem does not sever the tie.  We must go to the only one who can free us from all the fleshly pain and sorrow even i it is through godly pain and sorrow.

I'm learning - quite late - a lesson I have not studied and absorbed.  It is hard and it is good.

We, Patti and i, are praying for all of you who are where we are and we pray that you will - as we are striving to - break away from the world, the flesh and the devil and flee to Him more faithfully and more whole-heartedly.