ARE YOU GROWING WEARY?

From: Ron Hawks

“Not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up…Galatians 6:9.”

Most people who come to Christ come when they are facing difficult times. They come when they are in great need. They are hoping for change in circumstances and/or within. Why don’t people come to God when they are in a “good space?” It’s probably because when things are good, we tend to be content with our self-reliance. We call out to God when relying on ourselves isn’t working anymore.

Life can still be tough – even when we rely on God. The apostle Paul encourages those who are living in Christ to “Not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:9) Why would people who have learned to rely on Christ become weary in doing the right things? It’s because we all are prone to lose focus.

It could be that we really want to see things change as a fruit of our good work. We keep our eyes on the change we hope for, and when we don’t see it we become weary and depleted. “Hope deferred makes the heart sick.” (Proverbs 13:6) It can happen to any of us. When we don’t see the change (fruit) we want from our labors, we can wear out.

However, we would do better to focus on doing the right things … for the Lord. It is better to serve the Lord in worship, rather than as a means of change. Yet, in honest, doing rightly rarely provides enough incentive to sustain us over the long haul.

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, He is our prize and the reward for our labors. Let’s work for Him (His delight), in Him (His power), and with Him (in Relationship with Him). When we live with Jesus – the things, the changes and even the results of our labor fade in prominence. He becomes the “why,” He becomes the “how” and He becomes the “treasure.” Jesus lived focusing on His relationship with His Father, and He has opened the same kind of relationship for us. “For the joy set before Him He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2) The joy was in being with His Father – the ultimate joy was in sitting down with His Father.

You may already be feeling some weariness this fall – don’t worry, that’s natural. However, this could great time to sharpen your focus. You will receive a bountiful harvest of deeper relationship with the Lord and all the fruit He produces if you will content yourself in His presence and keep pressing ahead. He is the reward – and He will reward you – it’s a promise!

Pressing on in Him with you,

Pastor Tom

RELIANCE

From: Karen Parrish

“For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God, strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light…Colossians 1:9-12.”

I have read this verse many times, and have often thought, there is no way I can walk in a “manner worthy”, because I am a sinner saved by grace. However, as I reread and digest it, it comes to me that if Christ lives within me, and the Scripture says He does, this is an area that I have to depend totally on Christ for this walk.

How do I do that? I have shared with you before that I use to be a “control freak”. I wanted to control everything, not to be mean and controlling, but to protect myself! I have come to learn that human control usually ends up poorly, and I could give you many examples of that.

Since, I now allow Christ to live through me, I depend on Him for ALL my decisions. That means I talk to Him, as I talk to you now. I ask Him questions for answers; I share my concerns and insecurities with Him. I am brutally honest with him, he knows my feelings anyway. I read His scriptures, I praise Him and I thank Him for creating me.

The more I rely on Him, the more I realize His great love is for me in ways I never thought possible. I heard for years, how much God loves us, but as I depend and rely on Him more and more, I experience His love more and more. The beauty of this is that I have a “peace that passes understanding”, and a freedom that is hard to describe.

There is not a good work I can do, except Christ does it through me. The knowledge I receive from Christ, as I depend on Him more and more, is often knowledge I had never even considered, and so I know that this is wisdom from Christ.

Dear brothers and sisters, my prayer for each of you, is that you will rely on and trust Him more and more in ALL areas of your life.

Don’t wait until you are older, as I have done. Let Him be your total source and the peace and joy you will receive will be reflected through you and all you do. In addition, you will experience His love that can’t be measured!

Just knowing He is there for us during the good times and the bad, allows me to be comforted sooner. It also helps me to know those trials are coming to Him as well as me, and we are never, ever alone!

I can honestly say those trials that we all go through, are not as painful, knowing He is enduring them with me. Knowing His love dwells within me, enables me to love others as only He can love through me. All I have to do is know who I am in Christ and who Christ is in me! Praise God for whom ALL blessings flow!

PROMINENT POSITION

From: Ron Hawks

“We are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do…Ephesians 2:10.”

Sometimes it feels like you are not getting anywhere. You may be working hard, being faithful and even bearing more weight than those around you. Yet, few seem to notice your work, your abilities or your investment. At times like this, you start to wonder about the future – whether you will ever be seen or heard for what you really are. You may ask what you need to do to get noticed, appreciated and/or rewarded.

Strangely, we find James and John – two of Jesus’ closest followers – in a similar situation. (Mark 10:35-45) They, quite possibly with the input/influence of their mother (Matthew 20:20-28), decided they wanted to take their future into their own hands. They flat out asked Jesus to secure places of prominence for them in His Coming Kingdom. This seemed like a brazen request to the other disciples, though one that may have been in their hearts, too.

Jesus’ response included an interesting idea. He said that these places of prominence “belong to those for whom they have been prepared.” This points to a theological truth with which some have difficulty. God has specific plans and preparations for people. When He said He knew the plans He had for Israel (Jeremiah 29:11), He meant it. The prophecies in Scripture are simply a foretelling of the plans God had/has plans to unfold in the future. God’s “foreknowledge” is perfect and accurate. Thus the apostle Paul can write, “We are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10)

We need not worry about our future – or anything for that matter. (Matthew 6:25; Philippians 4:6) God has good plans for us. Ours is not to try to create our futures or claw our way into them. Instead, we are to discover and discern what God is doing and planning – and simply align our lives and cooperate. This removes the often-accumulating weight of worry from our shoulders. It can release us from needless striving.

If you are working hard, but not being recognized, or if you wonder if you will ever amount to much, remember that your heavenly Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. He has prepared some assignments for you – for which you are a perfect fit. Don’t get caught in the politics and competition for position. Focus on following His lead. Be bold to obey faithfully. He will take you where you need to go and help you become who you need to be.

Trusting God for the future – with you,

Pastor Tom

WHEN LIFE IS HARD

From: Ron Hawks

“For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, experiencing the same conflict which you saw in me, and now hear to be in me…Philippians 1:29-30.”

Do you ever feel like you can’t catch a break – like people and circumstances are constantly raising their hands against you? This is part of what life is like sometimes. Life on earth is difficult. Sometimes, even for long periods of times, life can feel oppressive – and bring suffering. Understanding this reality can be helpful – everyone suffers, and everyone needs to learn to persevere.

Unfortunately, many people of faith are baffled when they hit difficult patches. They subtly or blatantly believe that their lives should be easier because they have faith in God. This is wrong theologically and unhelpful for praxis. Jesus’ life was difficult, and it grew more difficult as He continued in His faith. The Apostle Paul’s life was also difficult. Yet, rather than being perplexed by his difficulties or feeling sorry for himself, Paul invited his spiritual son and apprentice to “join him in suffering like a good soldier in Christ Jesus.” (2 Timothy 2:3) Persevering through hardships and suffering is an important part of life. Christians don’t get to avoid it; instead, they get to go through it with the presence and power of the Lord within them.

The anguishes and distresses of life can feel imprisoning, like the chains that literally bound Paul as if he were a criminal. Though he was bound, he wanted Timothy to know that the Word of God can never be chained. (2 Timothy 2:9) We will suffer in many ways; this is part of the order of this age. But God’s Word is never chained – it/He (Jesus is God’s Word – John 1:1, 14) is unstoppable and unrestrainable. The Truth of God may appear to be chained for a moment, but He is always active – and often most powerfully in the dark, when we feel most tied up.

As Jesus is the Word of God, so His resurrection power accompanies that Word. This power goes beyond reason and human striving. The Word of God, this Seed of Truth, is imperishable and indestructible. (1 Peter 1:23) So, there is always hope when you are aligned with God’s Truth. You may experience sufferings of many different kinds, and your circumstances may lead you to feel despondent and despairing; but there is always hope. God’s Word will help you prevail.

James goes a step further, encouraging us to consider our suffering and trials (and even the temptations that surround our trials) with joy, recognizing that they are tools in God’s hands to deepen our faith and build our ability to persevere. (James 1:2)

Are you suffering in any way? Does your spirit feel bound? Take heart … the Word of God cannot be chained. His truth in you – your loving obedience to that Word – will break the chains in due time, in the name of Jesus! Place your hope in the power of God’s Word – it/He provides strength that outstrips circumstance.

Placing my hope on God’s Word with you,

Pastor Tom