Tuesday, May 31,
2016
May the grace
of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
Philippians 4:23(NLT)
Yesterday I told you about
the 22 year old boy named Ricky who died in an accident, and how, in the face
of terrible pain, there was joy – peace that passes understanding.
I can imagine that was
something like the joy Paul felt, sitting in a Roman jail. He and Ricky had similarities; both were
educated, energetic, and ambitious. In
their respective fields they were tops!
But Paul had lived his life,
accomplishing much for the cause of Christ, and now he was in prison, in danger
of being executed as a common criminal – all because of his faithfulness! And in the middle of all that, Paul would say
joy.
I want you to know, beloved;
there is only one thing in this entire universe that can make a person joyful
in the midst of that kind of circumstance: It is the grace of Almighty God.
Grace makes
you joyfully grateful
Even so, you have done well to
share with me in my present difficulty. Philippians
4:14(NLT)
For others' participation
Paul was grateful for the gift brought by Epaphroditus. None of the other churches had shared in the financial
needs of his ministry, and Paul was joyfully grateful because the Philippian
church had a proper sense of why they were giving.
It was not just for Paul's
sake; they knew they were ministering with their gifts. With the gifts God gives each of us, as Maxie
Dunham wrote ...we act on behalf of each
other, knowing that we are acting for the sake of God."[2]
In the daily arena of life
God provides that which we cannot do for ourselves. Margaret Trudeau, wife of Canada's Pierre
Trudeau wrote in her autobiography of meeting Britain's Queen Elizabeth:
I was wearing a brand-new haute-couture suit and very high-heeled
shoes. I was extremely nervous. As I sank into a deep curtsy, it became
crystal clear to both of us that I was not going to make it up again. Without altering her expression by as much as
a flicker, the queen strengthened her grasp, tensed all the muscles of her
right arm, and drew me up to my feet with a grip of iron, smiling steadily all
the while.[3]
For God's purpose
Paul was working to see the
gospel spread; that was his call from God.
The circumstances were not wonderful, but he could see the purpose of
God being worked-out, even in his misery.
And I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that
everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News. Philippians 2:12(NLT)
Paul could see. That means he was able to look past the
circumstances, and see God's hand at work.
Often I am blind in this area.
I sometimes seem to live my life succumbing to the principle that it’s
tough to remember you were sent to drain the swamp when you are surrounded by
alligators. What I SEE is the circumstance – great big green, saw-toothed,
nasty gators. What I really need to
remember is that those circumstances are often what God has to work with,
considering the material (me)
He has to start with.
Even more important is that,
those circumstances which He allows to pile up in my face are there by His
design to accomplish His purpose. I can
trust better when my will is surrendered to His purpose.
I can be joyfully-grateful
that He loves me that much!
For You Today
Are you joyfully-grateful
for some of the tough things you’re facing?
Go to VIDEO
[1] Title Image: By Meghana Kulkarni from Pune, India
(Happiness), via Wikimedia
Commons
[2]Dunham,
Maxie D., THE COMMUNICATOR'S COMMENTARY
VOL. 8, (Waco, Word Inc., 1982), 320
[3]Trudeau,
Margaret, BEYOND REASON, (Paddington
Press, As quoted in Reader's Digest)
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