Something Much Better

Something Much Better

Hebrews 10: ³² Remember how it was with you in the past. In those days, after God's light had shone on you, you suffered many things, yet were not defeated by the struggle. ³³ You were at times publicly insulted and mistreated, and at other times you were ready to join those who were being treated in this way. ³⁴ You shared the sufferings of prisoners, and when all your belongings were seized, you endured your loss gladly, because you knew that you still possessed something much better, which would last forever. ³⁵ Do not lose your courage, then, because it brings with it a great reward.

 

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Many wars broke out at the company. Some were ego related, some power related, some were racially motivated and some were just plain greed related. Whatever the case, I was ready to fight! When I “lost” the battle, I questioned GOD.

 

• I wondered if GOD loved me.
• I questioned HIS motivation for taking me out of the struggle.
• I thought I was supposed to stay where I was, doing the same battles over and over again.

 

Paul, the assumed writer, addressed suffering. He spoke about it in two ways. First he spoke about past suffering. He suggested that GOD brought them through this difficult time and they were not defeated. He then spoke about other people’s struggles and how those who were not struggling at the time, empathized with those who were.

 

My Observations:

• GOD sees me when I am going through a struggle.
• GOD hears me when I cry out to HIM.
• GOD may move me out of a struggle that I wanted to hold onto.

 

Pain and struggles are something I can get used to even though I am not supposed to. I mean, when I am in a bad situation where there is abuse, slander and mistreatment, I think I should stay there and simply take it. I also think it is okay to receive no help when I ask for it and be insulted for trying to serve. I then wonder if GOD is there... HE is.

 

GOD shows up in marvelous ways during the insults, slander, abuse and manipulation. HE fills me up when nothing else in the world can do the same. HIS SPIRIT guides me and provides me with hope that can never be tarnished. All things I hold onto pale in comparison to what GOD has for me. I am glad HE has something much better than I can imagine!

 

Challenge

• What encouragement does the writer present?
• Have you ever suffered mistreatment and insults?
• Will you look beyond the current struggle and remember how GOD brought you through many of life’s battles and also know HE has great rewards for you because of your endurance today?

New Faith

 

New Faith

Acts 27: ²⁷ On the fourteenth night we were still being driven across the Adriatic Sea, when about midnight the sailors sensed they were approaching land. ²⁸ They took soundings and found that the water was a hundred and twenty feet deep. A short time later they took soundings again and found it was ninety feet deep. ²⁹ Fearing that we would be dashed against the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern and prayed for daylight. ³⁰ In an attempt to escape from the ship, the sailors let the lifeboat down into the sea, pretending they were going to lower some anchors from the bow. ³¹ Then Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay with the ship, you cannot be saved.” ³² So the soldiers cut the ropes that held the lifeboat and let it drift away.

 

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“Do you really know how to do this?” my boss asked. My first inclination was to lie. I mean, I was about to get in trouble for misrepresenting myself. Something inside me said “tell the truth this time.” While I disappointed the person, I felt good that I was no longer living a lie. I had finally started to grow up.

 

• There was a time when I started to have faith.
• There was a time when I wanted to use the old ways, but chose faith.
• There was a time when I got tired of life beating me up so I chose faith.

 

Paul had warned the professional sailors not to sail, and they did it anyway. Now the ship was id dire trouble. After fourteen nights of being tossed around, the sailors could sense they were coming close to land. A few of them wanted to use their old ways to save themselves by sneaking a lifeboat overboard. Paul warned the centurion and the soldiers cut the rope.

 

• GOD wants me to have faith like a child when HE tells me something.
• GOD wants me to believe HE can and will do anything.
• GOD wants me to have new faith in HIM every day.

 

Having new faith means I can let go of my old way of thinking and allow GOD to execute HIS plan without me needing to know if the plan is working or not. It takes faith to take the first step towards GOD’s ways. I mean, when things go wrong, it takes faith to remain calm in the middle of the storm.

 

It also take faith to admit wrong, or to be patient with “that” person or to pray lovingly for those who attack me. Each day my faith is tried. Some days I fail and some days I’m filled with the HOLY SPIRIT. I am grateful GOD’s faithfulness is everlasting.

 

• Do you have new faith?
• Are you tired of the old way of doing things?
• Will you quiet down and listen to GOD so HE will guide you and grow your faith in HIM today?

Grasping

Grasping

John 12: ²⁰ Now there were certain Greeks among those who came up to worship at the feast. ²¹ Then they came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.”

²² Philip came and told Andrew, and in turn Andrew and Philip told Jesus.

²³ But Jesus answered them, saying, “The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified. ²⁴ Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. ²⁵ He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. ²⁶ If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.

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Tickets were mounting as I let the car sit. It was no longer working, nor worth fixing. I don’t know why I held onto it, but I did. “Let it go” someone said to me. I heeded their advice and sold it to the junkyard. I got enough to pay for some of the parking tickets.

• I have held onto things that I should have let go of.
• I have had things in my grasp that I should have freed.
• I have grabbed on tight to things I should have released.

Notoriety of JESUS spread way outside of the Jews. Greeks came to see HIS marvelous works, so they approached HIS disciples. JESUS told Philip and Andrew something different than expected. HE gave a parable about a seed needing to die in order to produce.

• JESUS wants me to let go of my life and give it to HIM.
• JESUS wants me to open my hands and allow HIM to remove what I am holding onto so tightly.
• JESUS wants me to release my grasp of situations and watch HIS power take control.

Giving my life to JESUS was easy at one point. I mean when things were easy, it was easy to believe in HIM. But when the winds of life blew against me, I found myself, trying to execute “my” plan to fix things. JESUS wanted something better to put in my hands, but HE couldn’t while I was holding onto things HE did not want me to have.

GOD wants me to release my grasp and open my heart to whatever and wherever HE has for me. HE gives my life purpose and I seek to serve HIM by serving others.

• Are you holding onto your life?
• Is your life full of blame and disappointments?
• Will you let go of the things that keep you from having a solid relationship with HIM today by seeking those HE wants you to serve?