Monthly Archives: April 2019

Let your Light shine

2 Corinthians 4:16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.

This chapter four of Paul’s epistle has always spoken to me, it is highlighted in many colors in my favorite Bible, with notes, and times when God spoke to me. Paul somewhat begins to open the doors to deep within himself, he gives a glimpse of what it is to live for Christ. Paul never wants to draw attention to himself, but here he pens of the inward battle. 7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. 8 We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed– 10 always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. Paul always related any and all of his sufferings as an honor, to relate his troubles in any way, in a very small way to Christ. He related to Jesus in these tribulations, both physical and mental to the immeasurable way Jesus suffered for us. Paul also saw how he was to focus on the glory that awaited him eternally in Heaven, for how these troubles were but for a small minute, a speck of sand in the hourglass of eternity.

There are none of us that don’t have hidden struggles, more than the physical ones that others see. I have not opened the doors that deep within me to anyone, only giving peaks to relate or seek help Lord willing. The physical pain, the weakened vessel, this body of mine is failing much sooner than I anticipated; only those closest to me see what I cannot hide. The inner war of the mind, of depression and anxiety, is my “thorn in the flesh.” The fading memory is something I try to laugh about while is terrifies me deep within. 16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. But…..for any and all of these things, I try to focus on eternity, to focus on investing in people, focus on sharing my faith in real ways, not in acts of religion. Our only investments that truly matter is our relationship with Jesus Christ, and how we evangelize to the sphere of influence that he has given us.

What are your struggles? What if your hidden struggles are the same as someone you see every day? What if they can’t cope through their faith like you try to do? What is they need to look at eternity, and not their present despair? 13 And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed and therefore I spoke,” we also believe and therefore speak, 14 knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you. There is nothing you have ever dealt with, are dealing with now, that has not passed through God’s sovereign hands. No low in your life, cannot be used to draw glory to God; from deliverance, to coping and comfort, to healing, to sharing it from an eternal perspective no matter the time of suffering here. Paul writes of this in chapter four in detail. Why not let God use your struggles, to encourage someone around you today? Why not speak up today, and let his light, shine in their darkness, through you.

Over and Over Again

James 4:5 Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”? 6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” 7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

How easy it is to get sucked into this worlds affairs……It seems natural to want things we can’t have, to pursue things that rot or rust away, to focus on political debates, to idolize careers or family or sports or anything that becomes our god, to put our energies into things that don’t matter eternally, to put simply, anything that takes our focus and energies away from eternity. It isn’t our fault, we have a sin-nature at our core, even the greatest Christians still battled the lures of sin and misguided focus at times. Satan knows how to attack, deception is his greatest tool, and the greatest saints have still never walked purely in God’s eyes; they still need to be atoned for by the blood of Jesus to appear holy before a righteous God…. “but God gives more grace.” The depth of those words boggle the mind, the depth of his love for us, over and over and over again.

My life has been incredibly busy recently, much of it misguided focus and always battling the lures of sin and idols myself. We have launched NeedPrayer? Racing Team, and it is so humbling to see my testimony coming full circle back to the racing community. At a national race, in the midst of loosing focus, I failed to pray for two friends that needed prayer. God showed me I was lacking, and Satan tormented my mind as the great accuser he is. It was a wake-up call, one I learned from, and I will take that lesson and become more aware next time. Even in the times of doing what we deem “good things,” we may miss opportunities to join God to do great things. My favorite devotional of all time speaks at its core of joining God where he is already working, but we must be attentive to him, and not focused upon ourselves.

In the context of James chapter four, there is much depth to expound, but simply put, it is the battle of good and evil that lies within us. Of how we are to live in a pursuit of righteous living, of how pride is the root of all worldly sin. James puts it so clearly of how we are to feel the weight of our sin, a weight that leads to repentance. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. I truly question one’s salvation that has never felt deep conviction of oneself; the depravity of man as it is put. The conviction of sin is healthy, it is an assurance of the Holy Spirit that lives within you once saved. We are a temple of God, and when we sin, we grieve Him that lies within us. James put it so well, the humble person that see their need for God, through the many means that God draws them, we rest in the assurance of the promise of this continued grace he speaks of here. It is not a call to continue in sin, but an understanding of the forgiveness to those who continue to repent and believe. If we will just focus on God each day, to start our days with God in prayer and his word, maybe we won’t miss the opportunities to join God where he is already working around us, and if we mess up, he will forgive us, and “give more grace.”