Welcome!
Monday, January 03, 2011
Today: A friend like no other
Reading Passages: 2 Cor 4, Psalm 91
7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.(2 Cor 4: 7-9, NIV)
Yesterday, I was attending the wake/viewing of a sister who departed from her earthly life last Wednesday
The family, with a daughter in her final year of high school and the son going to college, was much strengthened by their faith and hope in God, even though they had the sadness and sorrow of the departure
This morning, as I went out, I was looking at the bright, morning star in the sky
It was like a promise- the presence of God will be with us even as our closest are not with us and cannot be with us all the time
It was customary during the time of Paul, to keep treasures in jars of clay so that strangers will not easily find out the treasures
Paul speaks of his human body as a jar of clay or an earthen vessel which carries the powerful spirit of God
Paul looks at the Spirit of God as a treasure, and his body, as an earthen vessel, much less significant than the Spirit of God
That’s the truth; our body has its significance, and we are to treat it as God’s temple; but God, who is the Spirit, is more important than the body/temple
If we have worries/concerns about anything, it is always possible to cast our burdens on God and rest
Carrying the burden with us will not solve any problem; on the other hand, it can make things worse as well as make us sick
Whether it is problems at work, home, finance or anything else, just hand it over to the Lord
“What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer”
Even as we miss people or things in life, we cannot miss God
As long as you don’t miss God, everything will be fine
But don’t walk in the assumption that God is with you; make sure
If you are weak in your prayer and devotion of God’s word, then you are not very much with God
God may still help us and sustain us, but it’s not safe to keep a safe distance from God; be close to Him as much as you can
When God is first in your life, He will make you the best
Have a blessed week and a blessed year!
BG
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for your promise, presence, provision and protection, as you promise in Psalm 91. Help me to abide under your wings and in your shadow. Amen