Peace and Future

You cannot have a peaceful heart if your expectations about life are inaccurate. When we seek to achieve a calm and contented spirit by asking God to fix all our problems we can be certain our lives will be filled with angst and anxiety. While it may be intuitive to want a peaceful heart by means of a peaceful life, Jesus said that for now inner peace is achieved through knowing that there will be plenty of trouble and trials in this fallen world. Realistic expectations about this period before the establishment of Christ’s kingdom, and confidence that it is indeed on its way, are the keys to biblical fortitude and serenity. After Jesus detailed some of the promises and the problems of the Christian life he concluded by saying: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (Jn.16:33). So while we joyfully anticipate the future reign of Jesus Christ, let us take heart knowing that the current storms of life will one day be quelled and what is right will be finally and forever vindicated. Take heart!

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Faith and Fellowship

Fellowship with other Christians is more important than most realize. Even having the strength of an on-fire Apostle, Paul knew the importance of connecting with those who shared his commitment to Christ. He longed for time with other Christians. He saw the obstacles to fellowship as distractions from Satan himself (1Th.2:17-20). He knew that no matter how grounded in the faith he might be, there was faith-fortifying encouragement to be had by spending quality time with his brothers and sisters in Christ. Consider Paul’s heart when he writes: “I long to see you… that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith” (Rom.1:11-12). In the very next verse he highlights the importance of “planning” these times of connection. So what about you? Are you taking the time and “making the time” to fellowship with other disciples of Christ? Are you willing to rearrange your meal schedule or your leisure time to share it with brothers and sisters in Christ? Make a decision today to fellowship, not just at church, but in your home, the restaurant or the ballpark. You might find that your faith could use the encouragement.

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Blessings and Faith

God’s blessings are great – God loves giving them and we certainly enjoy receiving them. But, one caution frequently underscored throughout the Bible is that we are to be careful that our hearts don’t learn to trust in them. When God graciously grants us relationships, riches or good health we must remember that these blessings ought to bolster our confidence in the Giver and not the gift. Sadly, our tendency is just the opposite. It seems that we often seek the Lord with growing levels of faith when we are in need or in pain. If only we would learn to deepen our faith while God grants his blessings. While we enjoy God’s gifts, may we be quick to remember God’s words in Jeremiah 9:23-24: “Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who exercises kindness!”

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Revenge and Faith

Trusting God may sound relatively easy when it is framed theoretically, but when there are real life pains and injustices that provoke our hearts to personal revenge and retaliation, then reliance on God gets tough. Our faith is always tested in the crucible of pain and discomfort. God couldn’t be more clear about his call for us to leave our personal provocateurs for him to deal with. God directs us to leave room for his judgment (Rom.12:19) and to commit ourselves to our faithful Creator and just continue to do good (1Pt.4:19). This is the exercise of real faith. And much like the exercise of our physical muscles it doesn’t always feel good. But remember, the results are impressive. Not only does it please God and “leave room” for his response, it also results in a spiritual strength, perseverance and completeness that is invaluable (see James 1:3-4). May your faith be emboldened as you wait on the Lord.

For more devotionals sermons and resources go to http://www.focalpointministries.org/