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To the Ends of the Earth. Mark C. McCann
Читать онлайн.Название To the Ends of the Earth
Год выпуска 0
isbn 9781681923895
Автор произведения Mark C. McCann
Жанр Словари
Издательство Ingram
take me out of the net which is hidden for me,
for you are my refuge.
Into your hand I commit my spirit;
you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God.
Psalm 31:1–5
Trials and earthshaking tribulations do not shake the Lord, who is our rock of refuge. Though this world is full of sin and falsehood, acts of evil and human misery, God remains our deliverer and our stronghold. He cannot be moved by the forces that work to undermine the Church and our freedom in Christ. Yet his heart is moved by compassion and mercy to rescue his people from the persecution of enemies and the worship of worthless idols. God knows our distress and lifts us up, guiding us into the kingdom of his Son.
We know all too well that our lives can be shaken by the smallest difficulties. When we feel oppressed and distressed, we can be confident that we have refuge in the One who always remains the same. Our confidence is an integral part of what it means to be men who leave a lasting legacy. How we rest on the rock-solid promises of Christ leaves a powerful example for those around us, particularly our children and our family of faith. It stands as a testimony of the strength and faithfulness of our good God.
Questions for reflection
What are some of the trials you face (or see) that trouble you the most?
When have you experienced God’s strength and guidance in the midst of trials?
How can you share the strength of Jesus Christ with another who is struggling today?
Praying with Scripture
“For who is God, but the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God?” (2 Sm 22:32).
Tuesday
God’s Presence Remains Rock-steady
And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night; the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people.
Exodus 13:21–22
God remains ever-present in the midst of chaos and disaster. Our all-powerful Savior goes before the Church, guiding her in strength toward the promised land. He is our beacon of hope, our powerful protector, by day and night. He will never fail nor forsake his people.
No matter what we face in our individual lives or as members of the Body of Christ, we know that God is with us. He will see us through this journey of salvation until the day we share our lives with him forever in heaven. His strength, his Spirit, his light, and his love become ours as we carry on the legacy of other faithful followers who have shown forth the presence of God through their lives. Let us remember that God will keep us from falling and lift us to heights of joy. He will remain our rock of refuge forever!
Questions for reflection
Where do you experience God’s guiding presence in your life and in the life of the Church?
How does the knowledge that God will neither leave nor forsake you give you strength and hope?
How can you respond to someone who feels God has abandoned them or the Church?
Praying with Scripture
“For he has said, ‘I will never fail you nor forsake you’” (Heb 13:5).
Wednesday
God Brings Stillness to Our Troubled Times
Open the gates,
that the righteous nation which keeps faith
may enter in.
You keep him in perfect peace,
whose mind is stayed on you,
because he trusts in you.
Trust in the Lord for ever,
for the Lord God
is an everlasting rock.
Isaiah 26:2–4
All of us at some point in our lives will face personal struggles, whether they be physical, emotional, financial, or relational. It’s not something we can avoid. In fact, Jesus warned us that we would face such trials; but he also promised that we could rest cheerfully because he has overcome the world (cf. Jn 16:33). Such promises help to sustain us when we face the tough times and fear we will falter under the pressure. God opens the door to his powerful presence and brings us to a place of peace.
God may not remove our troubles right away (or at all), but we can believe that he loves us and is working out our salvation through each and every circumstance. As we weather the storms of life and strive to seek the face of God when life throws its worst at us, we become caught up in the peace of Christ. We can then focus our minds on the place where those who trust in God come to dwell. We become part of the ongoing story of recovery, righteousness, and rest, a story that shines upon the world and lights the way for all those who will come after us.
Questions for reflection
When have you experienced the perfect peace of God in the midst of a difficult struggle?
Why is it important to keep our faith strong and focus our minds on the peace of God when we are facing trials and tribulations?
How can you bring the precious presence of Christ into the life of a brother who is struggling today?
Praying with Scripture
“And he awoke and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, ‘Peace! Be still!’ And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm” (Mk 4:39).
Thursday
With a Word, God Can Bring the Fury of Our Fight to an End
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
John 14:27
May the Lord give strength to his people!
May the Lord bless his people with peace!
Psalm 29:11
When we struggle with conflict in our lives, it can lead to a spirit of anger, resentment, fear, or despair. These things can overwhelm us and shut down the good we are called to do. We need to remember that Jesus longs to speak peace into our hearts. When God speaks a word to us, it has the power to come alive. When he tells us to “Be not afraid,” we can truly lay aside all fear. When he says, “Peace be with you,” peace enters our hearts. He wants to lift us up from our struggles and conflicts and bring us to a heavenly place where we see these conflicts for what they are. From heaven’s heights our earthly struggles seem small indeed.
We who have experienced the perfect peace of Christ know that we have the strength to overcome the obstacles of life and turn the journeys through our struggles into a living sign of the power of God to bring peace to our souls. Like the mighty saints of old, our faith stories become a testament of wisdom that we can pass on to those who will go through similar struggles in their lives.
Questions for reflection
When has God caused you to stop struggling or to give up your conflicts in favor of his lasting peace?
When you face trials, do you seek the Word that will bring the fury of your fight to an end?
What word can you speak to someone dealing with conflict in his life?
Praying