The Recognized Ban Of Relationship

“We are made as the filth of the world.” — 1 Corinthians 4:9-13

These words are not an exaggeration. The reason they are not true of us who call ourselves ministers of the gospel is not that Paul forgot the exact truth in using them, but that we have too many discreet affinities to allow ourselves to be made refuse. “Filling up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ” is not an evidence of sanctification, but of being “separated unto the gospel.”

“Think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you,” says Peter. If we do think it strange concerning the things we meet with, it is because we are craven-hearted. We have discreet affinities that keep us out of the mire – I won’t stoop, I won’t bend. You do not need to, you can be saved by the skin of your teeth if you like; you can refuse to let God count you as one separated unto the gospel. Or you may say – “I do not care if I am treated as the offscouring of the earth as long as the Gospel is proclaimed.” A servant of Jesus Christ is one who is willing to go to martyrdom for the reality of the gospel of God. When a merely moral man or woman comes in contact with baseness and immorality and treachery, the recoil is so desperately offensive to human goodness that the heart shuts up in despair. The marvel of the Redemptive Reality of God is that the worst and the vilest can never get to the bottom of His love. Paul did not say that God separated him to show what a wonderful man He could make of him, but “to reveal His Son in me.”

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Max Lucado – Wired for Disaster

“If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. Luke 9:23”

We often do to our day what I did to a recent bike ride.

My friend and I were on a hill-country trek.  Within a half hour my thighs ached and my lungs heaved like a beached whale.  I could hardly pump the pedals.

That’s when my riding partner discovered the problem.  Both rear brakes were rubbing my back tire.  It was a ride destined to be a tough one!

Don’t we do the same?  Guilt presses on one side.  Dread drags the other.

And we sabotage our day, wiring it for disaster!  Downloading tomorrow’s struggles.

How about a day changer?  Here’s my proposal:  consult Jesus.  He has something to say about our days.

Give us day by day our daily bread.  Take up your cross each day and follow Me!

Give the day a chance.  Fill it with God.

Choose to make it a great day—every day!

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Get Up With God

It is Well

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.
(2 Corinthians 1:3-5)

Everything seemed to be going well for Horatio Spafford. He was a successful lawyer and businessman and had a young family of seven.

But then everything changed.

In 1870, Horatio, Jr., his only son, died of scarlet fever at the age of four. Then, in 1871, the Great Chicago Fire swept through the city and destroyed virtually everything Spafford owned.

In the Fall of 1873, the family decided to take a trip to England for a vacation. Horatio placed his wife, Anna, and their four young daughters aboard a steamship sailing from New York City to France. In the early morning hours of November 22, the ship was struck by another vessel. 276 people lost their lives, including all four of the Spaffords’ children.

When Mrs. Spafford arrived in England, she sent her husband a telegram. It said: “Saved alone.”

After spending a night in deep anguish, in the morning Horatio turned to a friend and said, “I am glad to trust the Lord when it will cost me something.” He then journeyed across the Atlantic to meet his wife. As the captain announced that they were passing over the place where the ship and his children had been lost, Spafford sat down in his cabin and penned the words to a song that would give comfort to many, It Is Well With My Soul:

When peace, like a river,
attendeth my way,
When sorrows
like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot,
thou hast taught me to say,
It is well,
it is well with my soul.

(Refrain)
It is well (it is well)
With my soul (with my soul)
It is well,
it is well with my soul

Though Satan would buffet,
though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded
my helpless estate,
And hath shed his own blood
for my soul.

(Refrain)

My sin,
oh the bliss
of this glorious thought!
My sin,
not in part, but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross,
and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord,
Praise the Lord, oh my soul!

(Refrain)

And Lord, haste the day,
when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll,
The trump shall resound,
and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.

(Refrain)

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
(Romans 15:13)

TRUST GOD