Where Are Your Eyes This Morning?

“In everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (I Thessalonians 5:18).

Hey Gang:  Bottom line!  We are to be in a constant attitude of giving thanks for everything.  Why?    Because, according to Paul, “This is the will of God for you”.  Paul also emphasized this point when he wrote, “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful” (Col. 3:15).

He also encouraged his listeners to “Rejoice in the Lord always, again I will say, rejoice!  Let your gentle spirit be known to all men, The Lord is near.  Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:4-7).

I believe most folks would agree that Paul was a chosen vessel of the Father.  He looked down one day and saw Saul, the persecutor of His people, heading for Damascus to do his worst - but God looked down and said, “I’ll take that one”.  Yes, I believe Paul was a chosen vessel, but did that place a hedge of protection shielding him that he would not following the footsteps of Job? – In no way.

In Corinthians 4:17 Paul wrote, “For momentary, light afflictions is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison”.    In 2 Corinthians 11:23-28 he puts some meat on that statement; “…in prison; beaten times without number, often in danger of death, five times I received 39 lashes. stoned, shipwrecked three times, to name a few.”

When Paul was being taken to Rome as a prisoner, he endured a frightening voyage.  The boat was caught in a hurricane and shipwrecked.  Paul had to swim ashore where he was bitten by a poisonous snake, but lived and declared a god.  Once the ship was repaired, Paul and the crew spent months tossed at sea. 

When Paul arrived at his destination notice that his first response was to thank God for the blessings and was encouraged.   (Acts 28:15).  No speeches of the woes he endured, the horrible nights of terror, the days when it did not seem they would survive, or seeming endless trials.  He lived his testimony by declaring “In all things, I give thanks”.

In my 82 year sojourn I have heard many speakers tell of the woes of their lives and then, in the last five minutes give honor and glory to God for seeing them through the valleys and shadows of their sojourn.  We all have gone through peaks and valleys in our lives and wondered if we heard the voice of God correctly.

When we answered God’s call to come to Michigan and build a home for trouble kids, the trip across country certainly planted some doubt in our minds, as to whether or not we heard God correctly.  Flat tires, frozen heater lines, into the ditch, ice storm in Wyoming…. to name a few of the woes.   

I believe God was teaching us a lesson that would carry us through the tough times that would be ever- present in our lives thereafter.  We learned three very important lessons on that trip cross country: first, there would be adversities but God always provided an answer to those adversities. 

Second, we learned what Deuteronomy 31:6 really meant: “Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the Lord your God is the one who goes with you, He will not fail you or forsake you.”  We also learned “The Lord tests the righteous and the wicked”  (Psa. 11:5).

Third, there is no immunity against hard times, folks.  As I look back over the peaks and valleys, the one thing that sticks out the most profoundly is “He was always there to bail us out”.  Perhaps not the way we thought it should be or the way we would have liked, perhaps not even in or timing,  but His ways always turned out to be the prefect way.

I close this epistle with a deep concern I have for many of our young people that have been protected by parents who do not allow their children to experience clinkers in their lives.  James Chapter 1 tells us that alligators are good teachers and train us to handle future adversities.   I believe one of the greatest failures in many homes is the failure to learn the joys of anticipation.  We want to give- when they want to receive – not a long lasting lessons of God’s best.  Seeds planted today are not harvested tomorrow.

Blessings,

Gramps