Nobody Likes Uncertainty

Have you ever endured a hospital waiting room while expecting weighty and potentially life-changing information? Those minutes dragging on can seem like an eternity. I’ve been in rooms where good news caused cries of thanks to God and celebration, but also in those in which all fell down to their knees and prayed as they wept. But those moments of doubt and insecurity leading up to the conclusion are some of the tensest and unsettling in life.

 

There is plenty in this life that is in flux. What will we do about our health? How will a job situation resolve itself? How will you take care of your loved ones properly? How do I know that I’m safe with God?

For many, that last one is a huge issue. But it needn’t be. Have you seen all the scriptures that point to the confidence we should have in Christ?

 

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.” Romans 8:1-2

“Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.” Romans 14:4

“But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” Titus 3:4-7

“These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.” 1 John 5:13

Are you in Christ? Then there is NO CONDEMNATION! You have been set free! God makes you stand by HIS strength. It is the mercy of God keeping us safe. That was what saved us at the beginning and what keeps us going. Why is it called Good News if we are not able to live courageously and without doubt? We are told that we can KNOW that we have eternal life. Do you?

 

Focus on the things that are weightiest. Focus on those things that are the most solid. When we dwell on these things, we will have the strength to make it through life’s traumas, difficulties and uncertainties.

                                                   

… John Fields 

Perfect Love is Our Standard

Our standard as God’s children is to be higher than the world’s.

I’m looking forward to meeting my little granddaughter for the first time next month. I think she will be the most beautiful grand-daughter in the history of grand-daughters (no offense). It will be easy to love her. We have a host of goodies ready to swarm her and her parents with. You know how Sheriff Brody said they were going to need a bigger boat when he finally saw the shark in “Jaws?” Well … they’re going to need a bigger house! It is easy to do nice things for people you love and who love you in return.

But we are to be our FATHER’S children. He gives rain and crops even to the Hitler and Saddam types. His will is that He wants to redeem even the worst of the worst for something far better than the choices that turned them into the evil people they eventually became. He has a time set for justice for them and us all. But until that day comes He still awaits them in love, hoping that they will be reached before it is too late for them.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Therefore, you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Matthew 5:43-48

God is perfect in love and requires us to set THIS standard as the love standard. If you think you are not able to do this well enough … you are right! That is why we clear out space and let a new occupant move in and live within us. His Name is the Holy Spirit and He knows how to unlock supernatural love within us. Make room for Him and, humanly speaking, you will obey God in impossible ways. But NOTHING will be impossible for Him!

                                                                             … John Fields