God tests us–and He does it for a purpose

God tests us–and He does it for a purpose--and He tells us what some of those purposes are

"For you, O God, have tested us;" Psalm 66:10 ESV

         And then by "parallel structure" explains what that means. "Parallel structure" is a major characteristic of Hebrew poetry in which a truth is restated and in the process the second part helps to explain the first. In this case "you have tried us as silver is tried" enlarges and explains what kind of testing God does. God’s "testing" was to burn out the dross the way silver is "tried" or "tested" by melting it in a fervent heat.

          And what kind of "testing" did God send? Many kinds–
1) You brought us into the net [you did it, God!]
2) You laid a crushing burden on our backs; [you did it, God!]
3) You let men ride over our heads;
4) we went through fire and through water. 66:11-12

           Have you had difficulties that could be characterized by any of those? How do you deal with it? Keep in mind the purpose and the end result–look to the future for what God is accomplishing and producing in your life. Here it is: "yet you have brought us out to a place of abundance."

         The end result. The arrival at your destination. The accomplishment of God’s purposes–some known, some hidden. Your usefulness to God and your ministry to other people is being developed and enhanced. Your "patient endurance" is being developed. That’s why the New Testament tells us to "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." James 1:2-4 ESV

      The Psalmist goes on to tell us what he did while he was being tested: he went into the presence of God and he reminded himself of how God ministered to his soul and spirit and sustained him in the midst of the painful trial. "I cried to Him with my mouth, and high praise was on my tongue." 66:17
He knew he would eventually be "brought out to a place of abundance"–probably in this life, but certainly in that which is to come–so keep focused on that which is above and the glory that awaits when the journey is ended.

       "Blessed be God, because He has not rejected my prayer or removed His steadfast love from me!" Quite the contrary–He is ever faithful. God is our refuge and strength–and underneath are the everlasting arms. Always.

"Together again. . . ."

“Together again. . . .”

        Isn’t that a marvelous scene when Jesus took Peter, James, and John and went up into a mountain to be transfigured so the disciples could see His glory in a physically visible way. And both Moses and Elijah came in bodily form with glory from God to talk with Jesus. And we know what they talked about because scripture tells us! “They spoke about His departure. . . .” Luke 9:31–his homegoing to heaven. They had been “dead” for 1500 years, but there they were!–in recognizable bodily form speaking in understandable human language. “God is not the God of the dead, but of the living,” so they were not “dead” in the way most people think of it. They were very much alive and in the Presence of God.

        What insights that gives us into the glory that yet awaits us when God takes us home to be with Him. Look at the pattern you see in these verses from the Old Testament: “ Abraham breathed his last and died in a good old age, an old man and full of years, and was gathered to his people.” Genesis 25:8 ESV

        “And Isaac breathed his last, and he died and was gathered to his people, old and full of days.” Genesis 35:29

        Then Jacob commanded them and said to them, "I am to be gathered to my people; bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite.” Genesis 49:29

“When Jacob finished commanding his sons, he drew up his feet into the bed and breathed his last and was gathered to his people.” Genesis 49:33

        God spoke to Moses, "Let Aaron be gathered to his people, for he shall not enter the land that I have given to the people of Israel. . . .” Numbers 20:24

And He told Moses, “[You will] die on the mountain which you go up, and be gathered to your people, as Aaron your brother died in Mount Hor and was gathered to his people.” Deut. 32:50

        The pattern is clear: when we die, we go to be with “our people” as well as “with the Lord.” We’re not alone and we’re no longer separated from many we love.

        That same truth was taught in a slightly different way when David’s little son died and David said, “But now he is dead. . . . Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me." 2 Samuel 12:23

        So scripture gives us an expectation, an anticipation, of a future personal glorious reunion with those we love so dearly in this life.  Surely that will give you comfort and encouragement as you look forward to seeing each other again.

        Today one of my granddaughters entrusted to my care what was probably the last letter that her Mimi wrote to her before the Lord took her home. Minnie gave her some of her jewelry to have and remember her by and here is part of what she wrote, “When you wear it remind yourself that I am surrounded by all the jewels and crowns of heaven–and remember that great reunion that is coming when we all get to heaven. I love you and your little family so very much and have been blessed that all of you are parts of our lives.” (Mimi to Wendy, December 2009)

          We will not only be “together again,” we will be “together forever!”

                                                                                                                               

Purpose fulfilled

                                                    Purpose fulfilled
        A verse in one of the Psalms I read this past week keeps coming back to my mind and I’ve pondered and thought about it a lot. It’s so clear in the ESV Psalm 57:2  "I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me." We’re here for a purpose. God is doing something in each of our lives. And He will indeed accomplish what He sets out to accomplish. "Being confident of this very thing, that he who has begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." Philippians 1:6

        There are many "purpose statements" in scripture and we do well to pay attention to them. Those great salvation verses of Ephesians 2:8-9 which tell us we are saved by grace through faith are followed by verse 10: "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." Good works are not only a purpose of God for us but He has actually "ordained" that we follow a life of good works. It was said of Jesus that "He went about doing good." Acts 10:38

        One of God’s main purposes for us is that we be like Christ in our actions and attitudes and desires. There, too, that is ordained or "predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son. . . ." Romans 8:29 Will God actually accomplish that? He even tells us when that will be fulfilled or accomplished: "Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is." 1 John 3:2 ESV

        Another purpose statement is given in 2 Cor. 5:4-5 ESV "so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee." God has "prepared us" for life–real life–eternal life. We weren’t made to live eternally as fallen creatures in a fallen world. He has prepared a place for us and now He is preparing us for that place–eternal life in glory with Him. It’s going to be even better than you can imagine!

       God no doubt has other specific purposes for you that may be different than the purposes He has for me, but there are many that are the same for all of us. We are to
"run with patient endurance the race [or course] that is set before us," Heb. 12:1–the course individually laid out for each one of us by God Himself." Do you remember the words of that great hymn, "In Christ Alone"? "No guilt in life, no fear in death, this is the power of Christ in me. From life’s first cry to final breath, Jesus commands my destiny."

      "The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever." We will be doing both throughout eternity. And how do you glorify God here and now? By acknowledging His control of your destiny. "The Lord gives, the Lord takes away, Blessed be the name of the Lord." So be thankful for whatever the "good hand of our God" brings to us and learn patiently from it. My wife told all of us before she died, "I am where I have always been, in God’s hands."
                                                                    –Pastor Burnside

Sunshine Today

        What did you think this morning when you woke up and saw that beautiful sunshine after "the worst snowstorm in history" or whatever it was?  ^-~)  The sunshine lighting up that beautiful white blanket of snow and beginning to thaw it is an encouraging thought, isn't it?  Did you thank the Creator of the snow and of the sun??    We are so-o-o dependent on the heat and light and movement of the sun.  Literally we would die without it. 

          Temperatures dropped to -12 last night!  And 3 days from now they're expected to reach 58!  What is making the difference? Obviously the sun!  Think of its impact on the snow (which, by the way, has plenty of nitrogen which will help the soil to prepare for spring.)  In wisdom has God made all of these things.    God is the source of all life and He uses the sun to sustain it by providing heat and light, both of which we appreciate more when they're taken from us. 

       

        The sun's daily movements show an order to the universe and provide a daily routine of life for all who live on this planet.  The sun is "a point of reference in a predictable universe."  It is a symbol of God's all-seeing eye, the judge and lawgiver, and His penetrating power.  It's a symbol of our absolute dependence upon God for life and breath and all things.

 

        Light is essential for photosynthesis and the growth of plants.  And how difficult it is when we are in the dark and cannot see.  "Light is sweet, and it is pleasant for the eyes to see the sun."  Ecclesiastes 11:7

 

        And what great spiritual lessons God teaches us with the sun and its power and movements.  Just as we benefit so much from when the sun "looks" on us warmly in its daily circuit, so also is it important for God to look favorably on us.  He does that through Christ and our obedience and faith.  "Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance."  Psalm 42:5  "The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;  the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace."  Numbers 6:25-2

        "For with you is the fountain of life;  in your light do we see light." Psalm 36:9  Not only does the light of the sun shine brightly so that we can see it, it also enables us to see everything else by its light, as C.S. Lewis pointed out so many years ago.    "The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple." Psalm 119:130  We can see God in His Word and through His words we can understand all other necessary things in life.  Just as the sun provides heat and light to sustain life, God's  "divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness. . . ." 2 Peter 1:3 NIV

 

        In heaven there will be no more need of the sun and the moon which God created for our good and His glory.  "And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light."  "And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb." Rev. 22:5; 21:23

 

        Thank God for giving us the sun and thank Him much more for giving us the far greater "Sun of righteousness," the Son of God Himself. He was predicted in Malachi 4:2 and glorified in Revelation 1:16-18  "His countenance was as the sun shines in its strength.  And when I saw Him, I fell at his feet as dead. And He laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:  I am He who lives, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death."

                                                                            --Pastor Burnside
   

 

   

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

   

 

         

 

   

   

 

 

Pleasure

Pleasure

         One of the potential pitfalls of old age and failing health was pinpointed in the ancient book of Ecclesiastes 3000 years ago, "Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them." Eccles. 12:1

        What a sad thing! Instead of rejoicing in life and its goodness that God has given you, you take "no pleasure in nothin’!" That’s a problem for the severely depressed person, too. And the devastating loss of a loved one carries the same potential pitfall. One of the great pleasures and joys in life is to share your pleasures and joys with someone you love dearly. And if she or he is taken away from you, much of the beauty and pleasure of life goes with her/him.

       One of the things I rejoice in was my wife’s determination to take pleasure in life even when she was very, very ill. She told me every single day, "This is the day the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it!" And we did and we were. And you can be, too, if you stop to think about the things God takes pleasure in and the things He’s given us for us to take pleasure in.

        1. As a starter, God takes pleasure in His works–and we should, too! "The glory of the Lord shall endure for ever: the Lord shall rejoice in his works." Psalm 104:31 And that entire Psalm is filled with examples of the works of God. Be glad and rejoice in them and observe and ponder what God has created and what He does. "Fire and hail, snow and mist, stormy wind fulfilling his word!" Psalm 148:8 Rejoice in the beauty all around you and notice the butterflies in the spring and summer and the birds of the air always and the trees of the forest and the flowers of the field. Take pleasure in them, don’t take them for granted. "The works of the Lord are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein." Psalm 111:2

        2. Take pleasure in the simple things of life. The happiness of a child. The kindness of your wife or husband or children. Enjoying a good meal or a cup of tea together. The warmth of a cozy home in the midst of a bleak mid-winter night.

       3. Take pleasure in the daily chores and responsibilities God has given you to make your life meaningful and useful–and pleasureable. It’s good that you have something significant to do, isn’t it?! ^-~)

      4. God, "the living God, giveth us richly all things to enjoy." 1 Tim. 6:17 I’m sure it doesn’t please Him when you don’t take pleasure in what He has provided for your pleasure. Enjoy life in the way and with the guidelines He has given us. Take pleasure in God’s good gifts.

      5. One other example: "The Lord takes pleasure in His people" Psalm 149:4–and we should, too! Invest your life in people and take pleasure in them. They will continue into eternity while all the material things of this life will crumble in the dust or end up on the ash heap.

       When God created the world and the universe, at each stage of creation, in His great wisdom, He said, it is good, but when He created man and then formed woman from man, "God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good." 1:31

       6. You know that Adam and Eve had no problem finding things to take pleasure in! And guess what? God is bringing us to a similar paradise. Take pleasure, take great pleasure as you think of and anticipate the "things God has prepared for them who love Him." 1 Cor. 2:9
       "To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God." Rev. 2:7

      "They shall be abundantly satisfied with the abundance of your house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures." Psalm 36:8

       "You make known to me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore." Psalm 16:11