Tag: Jesus

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Glory

The Lord said to Moses, “I will also do this thing of which you have spoken; for you have found favor in My sight and I have known you by name.” Then Moses said, “I pray You, show me Your glory!” And He said, “I Myself will make all My goodness pass before you, and will proclaim the name of the Lord before you; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show compassion on whom I will show compassion.” But He said, “You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live!” Then the Lord said, “Behold, there is a place by Me, and you shall stand there on the rock; and it will come about, while My glory is passing by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by. Then I will take My hand away and you shall see My back, but My face shall not be seen.”  (Exodus 33:17-23, NASB)

The Bible passage above is Moses’ account of his encounter with the Glory of God in the wilderness by Mount Horeb (Sinai).  The setting:  Moses had been up on Mount Sinai for forty days and nights, neither eating nor drinking, meeting with God.  Among their agenda was God writing the Ten Commandments with His finger on stone tablets.  The Israelites wondered where Moses was, and if he was alive or dead, and rebelled by having Aaron fashion a golden calf for them to worship.  God saw what was going on, got angry, and sent Moses down from the mountain to deal with the rebellious people.  Moses became angry with the people, and smashed the stone tablets.  (Exodus 32)

God then tells Moses to lead the people to the Promised Land, but He would not accompany them.  Moses went to meet with God outside the Israelite camp at the tent of meeting.  Moses interceded for the people, pleading with God to travel with His people.  The text above picks up from there.  (Exodus 33:1-16)

Moses wants to know God better, and to lead the people to their final destination.  God tells Moses He will do so, as “you have found favor in My sight and I have known you by name.”  Wow!  Oh, to have the Creator of the Universe say that I have found favor in His sight, and He knows me by name.  Actually, since Jesus is in me, it’s true! 

Exodus 33:22 The Glory Of God (devotional)07:14 (brown)
Exodus 33:22 image.  Found at Knowing Jesus, https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/Exodus/33/22

Moses then asks his Friend, “Show me Your glory.”  God tells Moses that He will do so, but He can’t show Moses His face, “for no man can see Me and live!”  God tells Moses to stand “there on the rock; and it will come about, while My glory is passing by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by. Then I will take My hand away and you shall see My back, but My face shall not be seen.”

We can find favor in God’s sight, and have Him know us by name.  How?  By believing in His Son, Jesus.  Once we’ve come to faith in Him, He becomes our Advocate with the Father.  Instead of our faces, God looks at us and sees Jesus.  We can also see God’s glory.  I see it whenever I look out my window at His glorious creation!  Blue sky,  trees, plants and flowers.  I also see it whenever someone walks into my room.  Each person is an image-bearer of God.  Created in His image!  God, please show me Your glory! 

Worship:  “Show Me Your Glory,” by Jesus Culture, ft. Kim Walker-Smith
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Blessing

Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to Aaron and to his sons, saying, ‘Thus you shall bless the sons of Israel. You shall say to them: The Lord bless you, and keep you; The Lord make His face shine on you, And be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance on you, And give you peace.’ So they shall invoke My name on the sons of Israel, and I then will bless them.”  (Numbers 6:22-27, NASB)

The text above contains “The Aaronic Blessing,” or “Aaron’s Benediction.”  Aaron, the brother of Moses, was chosen along with his sons by God to be high priests to Israel as they wandered through the wilderness on their way to the Promised Land.  This portion is just one of many instructions (613 commandments) given by God to Moses, and recorded in the first five books of the Old Testament, the Book of Moses. 

You’ve no doubt heard these words before.  Many clergy use these verses as benedictions.  The words contained herein are some of the nicest things one human being can say to a fellow image-bearer of God!  “The Lord bless you, and keep you.”  I don’t think there’s anything better than to wish God’s blessings on someone.  If God makes one happy, that’s the ultimate, especially if it’s God that is the source of joy.  If God is keeping you, that means He is Protector.  There is no better source of joy and protection than my God! 

The Lord Bless You and Keep You
Numbers 6:24 image.  Found at Godtube, https://www.godtube.com/popular-hymns/the-lord-bless-you-and-keep-you

“The Lord make His face shine on you, and be gracious to you.”  Wishing God to smile at you is a fine compliment.  How is God gracious to us?  He sent Jesus, His Son, so that if we believe in Him, we will have everlasting life in fellowship with Him!  Jesus took the punishment we all deserve for our sins.  That’s the ultimate in grace! 

“The Lord lift up His countenance on you, and give you peace.”  Wishing God’s good graces on you, and His Shalom!  What could be better?  God’s Shalom is perfect peace, not the “peace” we humans consider.  It denotes a sense of well-being, of perfect calm.  In a word, it’s “Indescribable!”

Last, there is God’s promise when Aaron and his sons deliver this blessing on the people of Israel:  “So they shall invoke My name on the sons of Israel, and I then will bless them.”  Perhaps this was God’s way of making sure Israel remembered Him.  He had been warning them of the consequences of forgetting Him, and following worthless idols.  Invoking His name on the congregation by the priests would serve as a reminder that they were to love the Lord their God with all their heart, soul, and might, and to love Him only.  In turn, He would bless them! 

The Aaronic Blessing might be the ultimate expression of God’s love for us.  He said that when the priests of Israel delivered it, He would bless them.  The Blessing translates to us today.  It wishes God to bless us; to protect us; to give us grace; and finally, to give us peace!  What more could we ask from the Creator of the universe, Who loves us so? 

Worship:  “The Blessing,” by Kari Jobe, ft. Cody Carnes
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Good

As He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to Him and knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do so that I may inherit eternal life?” But Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone.”  (Mark 10:17-18, NASB)

The text above from the book of Mark, is account of the Parable of the Rich Young Ruler (or the Rich Young Man).  The main point of the story is the young man approaches Jesus and wants to know how to obtain eternal life.  Jesus lists several of the Commandments to keep to which the young man says that he has always kept them.  Then Jesus replies that there is one thing that the young man lacks:  “‘Go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.’ But at these words he was saddened, and he went away grieving, for he was one who owned much property.”  (Mark 10:21-22)  Jesus then tells His disciples how difficult it is for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.  They wonder, “Then who can be saved?”  Jesus replies that it’s impossible with men, but “all things are possible with God.”  (Mark 10:23-27)

There’s another aspect to this story that interests me, and that’s Jesus telling the young man that “no one is good except God alone.”  Every time I hear someone tell another person how good they are (I do the same thing) I think of the story. In today’s society we tend to exaggerate the goodness of people.  No one is good except God alone.  A word which is way overused is “awesome.”  No one is awesome except God alone. 

richyoungman
Depiction of the Parable of the Rich Young Ruler.  Found at https://www.faithbrowser.com/no-one-is-good-except-god/

The young man starts by calling Jesus “Good Teacher.”  Jesus replies, “Why do you call Me good?”  Of course He’s good, He’s God!  His point is that God is the only One good, and the young man doesn’t understand Jesus’ deity. 

No one is good except God alone.  Many people think they can get to heaven because they’re a good person.  But the Bible says different:  Our righteousness is like filthy rags.  There is no one who does good.  The good news is that Jesus, the Good Teacher, came to the earth to die on the cross, and take the punishment we deserve for our sins.  Would you place your faith and trust in Him today?  We can’t get to heaven by being good.  No one is good except God alone. 

Worship:  “My God Is Awesome,” by Charles Jenkins
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Endurance

For this reason I endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen, so that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory. It is a trustworthy statement: For if we died with Him, we will also live with Him; If we endure, we will also reign with Him; If we deny Him, He also will deny us; If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.  (2 Timothy 2:10-13)

The Apostle Paul’s second letter to Timothy, like the first, was written give instructions so Timothy could provide corrections to the church at Ephesus.  As his mentor, Paul recognized there were some things going on that were against what Jesus had taught.  In the passage above, Paul encourages Timothy to stay the course, to endure all hardships he encounters so he will reign with the Lord one day! 

Paul begins with a “for this reason.”  He explains in the previous sentence that even though he’s in a Roman prison as a criminal, “the word of God is not imprisoned.”  Since the word of God is free from chains, Paul says he will “endure all things” so that more people will hear the word, and be saved!  He wants to selflessly do everything in his power to make certain that “they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory.”  Eternal glory is far better than the alternative! 

2 Timothy 2:10 Salvation Is In Christ Jesus
2 Timothy 2:10 image.  Found at Knowing Jesus, https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/2-Timothy/2/10

Paul goes on to list the benefits of perseverance:  “For if we died with Him, we will also live with Him.”  We DO NOT want to die without Jesus.  To do so would mean an eternity separated from God.  If, on the other hand, we die believing in the Son of God, we’ll live forever with Him in heaven, the New Jerusalem.  

Next:  “If we endure, we will also reign with Him; If we deny Him, He also will deny us.”  If we persevere through all hardships (Paul is the model), we will serve God in heaven, and be rewarded for our efforts, including “reign[ing] with Him.”  However, if during our sojourn here on this earth, we deny knowing Jesus, He will deny knowing us. 

Last:  “If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.”  If, during moments of weakness, we have doubts (I think it happens to us all), God remains faithful to us.  God keeps His promises, unlike us weak humans.  And He knows we’re weak.  

Paul is the example to follow of enduring through hardships and doing everything possible to see that as many people as possible heard the Gospel.  His legacy continues today:  Most of the New Testament is from his pen, despite all he suffered.  Look at all he accomplished by the grace of God. 

God, please give me the strength to endure and finish well.  I want to live and die with You in my heart.  Please help me to persevere no matter what, and to never deny You.  Please help my faith.  I praise You and thank You that no matter what, You are faithful.  In Jesus’ precious name. 

Worship:  “I Will Follow,” by Chris Tomlin 
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Mercy

I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service, even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief; and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus. It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life.  (1 Timothy 1:12-16, NASB)

In the Apostle Paul’s first letter to his protege Timothy, he addresses some problems in the church at Ephesus that he wants Timothy to try to correct.  It seems the Ephesians had strayed from certain fundamental precepts of the Church, and Paul wants Timothy to apply correction with “love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.”  (1 Timothy 1:5)  But Paul also gives us a glimpse of his own salvation, of God’s mercy and grace in his own life, in the passage above. 

He begins by thanking “Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service, even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor.”  Paul, then known as Saul, had been present at the stoning of Stephen (the first martyr after Jesus), and was on his way to Damascus to deliver more Christians to prison, torture and death, when he met the Lord Jesus, and was converted.  Paul seems to be saying that if someone with his track record can be saved, anyone can.  

1 Timothy 1:15 image.  Found at Biblia, https://biblia.com/bible/hcsb/1-timothy/1/15-16

Moreover, Paul says he was shown mercy because he “acted ignorantly in unbelief.”  Saul had been a Pharisee, with great zeal for God, yet like most others, he missed the physical visitation of God Himself on earth due to ignorance.  Today, many people share a similar ignorance; many have not even heard of Jesus!  But in Saul’s case, “the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus.”

Further, Paul says that “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all.”  He says that for this reason he was given mercy, so that “Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life.”  So Paul was such a notorious character that God used him as an example:  If he can receive grace and mercy, and be saved, then so can I! 

Paul had one thing wrong.  He might have been the foremost sinner of his time, but now it’s me.  And I say to you now, if God can show His favor, mercy, and grace on me, He can do so for all people.  The Bible says that God desires all of us to be saved.  That’s why He sent His Son, Jesus.  Jesus took the punishment we deserve for our sins.  All we’re required to do is acknowledge His death on the cross, believe in Him, and ask for forgiveness of our sins.  If God can forgive Paul and me, He can forgive you! 

Worship:  “Holding on to Me,” by Jeremy Horn 
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Work

Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.  (Colossians 3:23-24, NASB)

Have you ever had a really bad boss?  Yeah, me too!  But it’s not him/her we ultimately work for.  The Apostle Paul reminds us Who our real Boss is in his letter to the church at Colossae, excerpted above.  

Having a terrible boss or supervisor can certainly be devotional.  But Paul says we’re to ignore this.  Instead, we’re to “work heartily, as to the Lord rather than for men.”  This applies for “whatever [we] do.”  Followers of Jesus should pursue excellence in all they do.  Why?  Because this is more attractive than the opposite.  People will wonder, “What’s up with her/him?” 

It’s possible they’ll want what we have!  Besides, says Paul, “From the Lord you will receive the inheritance” as adopted daughters and sons of God. 

Colossians 3:23-24
Colossians 3:23-24 image.  Found at DailyVerses.net, https://dailyverses.net/colossians/3/23-24

This is important, because as we work to populate Heaven, we should do our part to take along as many people as possible.  In Heaven, we’ll do much the same as we’re doing on earth:  Serving God and others.  This life serves as a dress rehearsal for the real thing.  So we should practice doing our work as unto the Lord, and being the best we can be.  Paul reminds us, “It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.”

Jesus followers should work then as unto the Lord.  We should strive for excellence in all our pursuits.  An old bumper sticker read, “My Boss is a Jewish Carpenter.”  This is the attitude we should display as we proceed in the dress rehearsal for eternity in the New Jerusalem.  Everything we do should be for God’s glory. 

Worship:  “Sing Your Praise to the Lord,” by Amy Grant 
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Heart

For I will take you from the nations, gather you from all the lands and bring you into your own land. Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances. You will live in the land that I gave to your forefathers; so you will be My people, and I will be your God.  (Ezekiel 36:24-28, NASB)

The Prophet Ezekiel predicts Israel’s future in the text above.  Israel had committed idolatry, and thus had been unfaithful to the LORD their God.  The Northern Kingdom of Israel had already been exiled for its unfaithfulness, and the Southern Kingdom, Judah, was about to suffer from the same.  Ezekiel’s prophecy is yet to occur, and will happen when followers of Jesus and Israel live together in the New Jerusalem! 

He speaks of the regathering of Israel from all over the world to their Homeland.  God will cleanse them from their sins, to include the idolatry, which caused them to be scattered throughout the world in the first place.  God promises to give them “a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.”  This is not the first time Ezekiel has received this word from God (see the graphic below from Ezekiel 11). 

Ezekiel 11:19 image.  Found at https://pghnaz.org/2020/09/district-monthly-prayer-september/

Further, God promises to send to them the Holy Spirit, and “cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.”  Last, God will restore Israel “to the land that I gave to your forefathers; so you will be My people, and I will be your God.”  Ezekiel reflects God’s promises throughout this book. 

God’s promise to “remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh” is similar to what the Christian experiences when he/she comes to faith.  The people in this world have a heart condition.  God has to give us a new heart.  Only when that happens do we call on the name of the Lord to be saved.  My prayer for my unsaved friends (and Vladimir Putin) is for God to change their hearts.  

The Bible speaks of the first three kings of Israel and their hearts.  King Saul had no heart for God.  King David (despite all of his sins) was whole-hearted for God.  And King Solomon was half-hearted.  I pray for myself to be whole-hearted, and to have an undivided heart for God! 

Worship:  “Undivided Heart,” by Twila Paris
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Pentecost

“. . . you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”  (Acts 1:8, NASB)

When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.  (Acts 2:1-4, NASB)

Today, 5 June 2022, is Pentecost Sunday.  The timing for Pentecost is the 50th day past Resurrection Sunday, and ten days after Ascension Day (Jesus promised His disciples that the Holy Spirit would come to them not many days after He departed from them).  The passages above are from Dr. Luke’s account as found in the book of Acts.  

In the first verse above, Jesus tells the disciples that they would “receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you.”  Followers of Jesus have the same Holy Spirit and the same power within them that He promised to the disciples!  If you’re like me, the Holy Spirit is what I call “the Forgotten Man” of the Trinity.  I haven’t taken advantage of the fact that He resides with me and in my heart.  I’m working to fix that with His help, and to include Him in my prayer life. 

In addition, Jesus repeats His instructions in the Great Commission, telling them that they would witness “in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”  Jesus’ instructions still apply today, and the Spirit remains at work, and will keep working until Jesus comes back for His people.  

Pentecost Sunday around the world in 2022
Pentecost image.  Found at There is a Date for That!, https://www.thereisadayforthat.com/holidays/various/pentecost-sunday

In the next verses above, Luke describes how the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples.  “Tongues as of fire . . . rested on each one of them.  And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.”  The results?  Luke goes on in the rest of chapter two.  A crowd gathered, to include people of many nationalities, speaking many languages.  They were amazed that these Galileans were speaking, yet each understood them in their own language (I think that’s the way it will be in the New Jerusalem!).  Peter then delivered a sermon, and proclaimed Jesus to the crowd.  Three thousand people were saved that day, all as a result of the power of the Holy Spirit.  Luke reports that Jesus’ church continued to grow from that day on. 

The message of Pentecost is that the power of the Holy Spirit is resident in all followers of Jesus Christ.  Peter had denied knowing Jesus just 50 days before.  Yet when the Spirit came upon him, he was emboldened to proclaim Jesus to the crowd.  That’s a good example of the power the Holy Spirit brings to us!

The Holy Spirit is known as Helper and Teacher.  I’m determined to include Him in my daily activities and my prayers.  Just as important, I don’t want to get in His way.  The power is available to everyone who has called upon the name of the Lord! 

Worship:  “Holy Spirit, Come,” by Jesus Culture 

My daughter/publisher, Laura Stallings, informed me that this is my 100th post.  I began last August.  It took me a few days to get into a rhythm, but I figured out I could publish every three days.  I try to post a new essay on dates of the month that are multiples of three (3rd, 6th, 9th, etc.).  I enjoy teaching the Bible, and that translates very well to writing these essays.  I’ll keep writing as long as my eyeballs and eyelids work.  God is so good, and He is in control! 

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Justified

We are Jews by nature and not sinners from among the Gentiles; nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified.  (Galatians 2:15-16, NASB)

In the excerpt from the Apostle Paul’s letter to the church at Galatia above, Paul has a discussion about justification.  According to Christianity.com, “Justification is the declaring of a person to be just or righteous. It is a legal term signifying acquittal.”  Contextually, justification is how we become just or righteous before God.

Paul begins by saying, “We are Jews by nature and not sinners from among the Gentiles.”  His emphasis to a largely Gentile audience is to begin a discussion about justification by faith vs. justification by works.  Having a background as Jewish Pharisee who persecuted the church, which was well known, would have told the readers and hearers that his background was with the Law of Moses, a doctrine of justification by works. 

What Is Justification and What Does it Mean to Be Justified By Faith?
Image found at Christianity.com, https://www.christianity.com/theology/salvation/justifying-justification.html

Next, he tells them that even though a Jew, he understands that his justification comes not by following the Law (which is impossible to do), but by faith in Christ Jesus.  Translation:  It’s impossible to be justified to God by our deeds, by being “good,” but by faith in Jesus Christ.  God is so holy, He cannot bear to be in the presence of sin or sinners.  The Bible says that we’re all sinners, and that there is no amount of good we can do to compensate for our sins that is acceptable to the holy God.  We can’t “earn” our way to heaven; the only way to get there is by faith in Jesus. 

Paul finishes by reiterating that a person is justified by faith in Jesus Christ, and not by following the Law, “since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified.”  There is no amount of good we can do to get to heaven and have eternal fellowship with God.  It doesn’t matter if I am a “good person”–the Bible says there’s no such thing.  Only by faith in Christ will we get there.  Have you called upon the name of the Lord?

Worship:  “I Have Decided,” by Amy Grant 

On this Memorial Day I’d like to remember loved ones and friends who have served our Nation, and have passed on.   

My Father-in-Law, Bob Brower, who served in the European Theater during World War II.  He crewed in B-17s as a radio operator and waist gunner. 

Squadron/Classmates:  Kosta Asselanis, who flew C-141s; and Rod Williams, who was a B-52 navigator. 

Dads of USAFA Squadron/Classmates:  General Jack Catton, Sr., who flew bombers during World War II, and commanded Air Force Major Commands; and Colonel Cliff Birchman, who flew fighters in Vietnam. I got to meet both of these gentlemen when I was a Cadet.  They’re heroes of mine. 

Friends and squadron mates who were killed in training accidents:  Dave Mayer, USAFA classmate, A-7D accident in Turkey; Kyle Perdue, A-10A mishap in Kentucky; Joe Rayhill, A-10A accident in Arizona; Ross Mulhare, F-117A mishap in California; Mike Stewart, F-117A accident in Nevada;  Ralph Gardner, USAFA classmate, F-16C accident in Republic of Korea. 

Sunday School class:  Don Seymore, USMC, two Purple Hearts in Vietnam; Gene Cole, Army Special Operations (a Snake-Eater!), served in Vietnam.   

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Glory

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.  (Romans 8:18-25, NASB)

The Apostle Paul writes in the 8th chapter of Romans about our hopes to see the glory that awaits God’s children in heaven.  He speaks of the suffering that we endure here on planet earth, and says they “are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”  Every one of us has troubles in this life–some more than others, but everyone goes through trials and tribulations.  Paul speaks of the glory that awaits the followers of Jesus that far outweighs these problems! 

Ever since Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, men and women have had trouble with sin.  God had a plan of redemption, and that plan was to send His Son, Jesus Christ, to be a sacrifice, to take the punishment we deserve for our sins.  The sin problem is what Paul calls “futility,” but there is “hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.”  

Romans 8:18 image.  Found at Emmanuel Baptist Church, https://ebcky.com/2020/08/18/todays-verse-romans-818-kjv/

Paul goes on to talk about the expectant groaning of creation, and “even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.”  Even though the Holy Spirit indwells us, Paul says we can’t wait for the day when we complete the transaction, when God takes us home in glorified bodies, and welcomes His adopted daughters and sons. He concludes by talking about hope.  Hope is about things unseen, which causes us to wait expectantly:  “But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.”

I don’t consider myself to be “suffering.”  I don’t have chronic pain, and God has blessed me far beyond what I deserve, and far beyond measure.  I would prefer not to have ALS, but I don’t think I suffer.  As I write this, it’s two days past the horrific elementary school shootings in Uvalde, Texas.  I can’t imagine the suffering and pain the parents and families of those slain children and their teachers are going through.  And yet, no matter the extent of the suffering they and we go through, God has promised us that seeing His glory will far outweigh all of that pain.  As for me, I have hope for the things unseen!  Because I have Jesus, “with perseverance, [I] wait eagerly for it!”

Worship:  “Show Me Your Glory/Majesty,” by Jesus Culture, ft. Kim Walker-Smith