Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Through Times of Trial

By Charles Stanley

Through Times of Trial

Genesis 39: 19-23

When the problems of life seem overwhelming, we need someone to come alongside and help us to see our difficulties through the eyes of our sovereign God. Joseph is just such a person. Although he lived thousands of years ago, his story still speaks to us with great insights into the Lord's purposes.

Joseph experienced a wide variety of trials--hatred, rejection, and betrayal by his brothers; loss of home, family, and freedom; false accusation and imprisonment; and the loneliness and disappointment of being forgotten. His life was a series of difficult and unfair situations, yet Scripture never records any bitterness or revenge in Joseph's responses to all these circumstances.

Though outwardly it may have seemed as if God had abandoned the young man, inwardly He was doing some awesome work in Joseph's heart. The Lord had some big plans for him, and He knew that these trials would be the most effective tools for preparing His servant for the work that lay ahead.

As Joseph responded to each situation with faith in God and diligence in every task assigned to him, one fact became obvious to all who knew him: the Lord was with Joseph (Gen. 41:38-39).

We need to remember this when we are going through hard times. The Lord is with us even when our circumstances shout that He has deserted us. We may have little control over the difficulties we face, but we each have a choice of how to respond. Joseph calls to us from a time long past, urging us to trust God.

Friday, March 6, 2009

Letting God’s Light Shine

As Christians we cannot stop living just because we don’t like what we’re seeing around us. We must take an active part in life and be a light to the lost!

I’ve noticed an increasing number of Christians expressing a desire to “go home” these days. As evil seems to be escalating, many churches, Christian groups and organizations seem to be building little walls around themselves, as if to protect themselves from the coming doom. A lot of Christians will sit at home for hours and days, diligently studying their Bibles and keeping tabs on the news. I’m sure they feel they are being obedient “watchers of the signs,” because the Bible says to “watch” and be prepared.

This is all good, but Jesus never said we are to stop living or stop participating in life. We were all given one life and we’re expected to use it wisely. Not only should we be using it to serve God, but we should be constantly working towards bringing others to Him. How can we do that if we’re shut up in our houses or churches, only having contact with other Christians? What good are we doing the lost if we isolate ourselves from the world, waiting for it all to end? Far too many good Christians are hiding God’s light under bushels these days, and this deteriorating world needs that light now more than ever.

None of us has the ability to know God’s mind or His timing. It’s not up to us to decide when we’ve done enough or if it’s time to hunker down and wait to go home. But, that’s what seems to be happening more and more. Christians today seem to be convinced the end is right around the corner and it’s time to just wait for Jesus to come and get them. They don’t seem to think about all the lost people out there who don’t have that kind of hope. Who are we to give up on them?

Even if the world out there is getting scary, we cannot hide. Just because Jesus said we are in the world but not of the world, doesn’t mean we’re supposed to isolate ourselves. Jesus didn’t preach inside of a church or building where there were walls between Himself and the lost. We need to be out there among the people just like Jesus was. What good are we doing if we only allow God’s light to shine inside of a church or building, and only to fellow Christians, instead of to the lost? Let His light shine where it can be seen!



Sunday, March 1, 2009

The Way To Truth

The way to truth is through God's Word.

The way is narrow, and the path can be hard to find in the midst of the world-wide web, the many congregations, the many teachers, the many books people have written, the many everything.


There are not many paths. There's only one, and few there are that find it.

It's probably right there sitting on your desk or table, a forgotten, dusty book, the Holy Bible. It's all you need to keep you on that narrow path. It’s the only way to stay on the right path.

Don't take detours or short cuts by only reading what others have written about it or only listening to what other people say about it. Don’t go by other people’s understanding. Read it and study it yourself!

The following scripture describes what happened to the Israelites when they stopped leaning to God for understanding. They lusted for a “better” way and looked elsewhere to be fulfilled. He allowed them to follow that lust and they were left empty.

Psalm 106:
13 They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel:
14 But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert.
15 And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.

I once searched for truth in many different places. I went to many different churches, I watched many different pastors on TV and and listened to them on the radio. I read many books and listened to many tapes, and I wrote many notes and kept many, many notebooks.


All I felt was empty, and very very confused. I had "leanness in my soul."


I was "lusting exceedingly," searching for answers everywhere I could, and even though what I lusted for was the right thing, it wasn't God's way. I forgot His way. I stopped waiting for His counsel and sought answers from friends and teachers and books. Let's face it; I sought it from man.

I finally got weary of all the books and tapes and words, and so many other things. I felt I was getting nowhere, and all I seemed to see around me was people disagreeing and arguing over words and meanings, and people even calling each other names. It was only then that I shut it all out, and finally turned to just one book, the Bible.

As I sat all alone, reading God's word, with nothing else to distract me, His love and guidance just overwhelmed me. His Spirit showered me with peace and understanding.
Only then did I realize I had been taking detours and short cuts, and looking everywhere but to Him.

Now the more I read and study, the more His Spirit fills me and the more I understand. Don't get me wrong, understanding doesn't come right away. Sometimes it comes as I'm doing every day things and sometimes it comes as I lie in bed at night and the quiet surrounds me. Sometimes it comes weeks later, when maybe something I'm doing applies to something I've read in His Word. Suddenly, His words are "fitted in my lips" (brought to my remembrance) and I begin to understand things as I apply them to my own life. His words have become a part of me. He fills my heart and my soul as His Spirit dwells within me.

How blind I must have been.
There's only one path and it was right in front of me all along.


Searching For Truth

We search the world for truth,
We cull the good, the pure, the beautiful.
From graven stone and written scroll,
From the old flower-beds of the soul...
And weary seekers for the best,
We come back laden from our quest
To find what all the sages said
Is in the Book our mothers read.