When He was alone…the twelve
asked Him about the parable. —Mark 4:10
{CHAMBERS} “When God gets us alone through suffering, heartbreak,
temptation, disappointment, sickness, or by thwarted desires, a broken
friendship, or a new friendship— when He gets us absolutely alone, and we are
totally speechless, unable to ask even one question, then He begins to teach
us. Notice Jesus Christ’s training of the Twelve. It was the disciples, not the
crowd outside, who were confused. His disciples constantly asked Him questions,
and He constantly explained things to them, but they didn’t understand until
after they received the Holy Spirit (see John 14:26).[…] We think we understand
another person’s struggle until God reveals the same shortcomings in our lives.
There are vast areas of stubbornness and ignorance the Holy Spirit has to
reveal in each of us, but it can only be done when Jesus gets us alone.”
{ELGIN} (James 1:2-4) “Count
it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know
that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that
you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” Pastor Rick Warren said it
this way, “God never wastes a hurt”. We
are saved for eternity, but we continue to live out this life in a fallen – sin-sick
world. What we experience in this life,
both good and bad, God uses to shape us into the image of His Son. We gladly accept the fact that Jesus suffered
and died for us, but we often have a problem with accepting pain and suffering
in our own lives. Like God is supposed
to prevent that from happening. Job said
(Job 13:15) “Though he slay me, yet
will I hope in him; I will surely defend
my ways to his face.” The first half of
that verse is quoted often .. the second half … not so much. There is nothing wrong with asking God for
understanding … but don’t lose hope in the asking. Don’t doubt God .. even though what you are
experiencing is difficult to endure. (2 Corinthians 1:3-5) “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 receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the
sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.” Do you believe
that? Well, you may doubt it in the midst of your trouble, but it is no less
true. If you seek God and put your hope
in Him, you will find comfort. If you
blame God and turn away in your heart, you will not.
Jesus said (John 16:33) “I have told you these
things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble.
But take heart! I have overcome the world.” Paul wrote (Romans 8:38-39) “For I am convinced that neither death nor life,
neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither
height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate
us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” And that my friend is the Truth!
As I was thinking up a title for this post .. it's post number 1599, and that is a lot of titles! A song by Simon and Garfunkel came to my mind. Bridge Over Troubled Waters. "When you're down and out. When you're on the street. When evening falls so hard I will comfort you. I'll take your part, oh, when darkness comes. And pain is all, is all around. Just like a bridge over troubled water, I will lay me down. Just like a bridge over troubled water I will lay me down" That's what God is like!
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