…but god… Episode 200
Transcript
“Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue just as they were from the beginning of creation.” For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water, through which the world at that time was destroyed by being flooded with water.”
2 Peter 3:3-6 NASB2020
We have been chastised, are being chastised, and will continue to chastised for our belief in Christ and His death, resurrection and ascension.
Jesus said it would be so, John said it would be so, Paul said it would be so, now Peter is saying it.
The question is; how do we react when we are persecuted? Jesus explains in Matthew 7 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; leave Me, you who practice lawlessness.”
Matthew 7:21-23 NASB2020
As we have been addressing all year long are you ALL IN? Or are you just going to church for the coffee and doughnuts?
What happens to us on this earth does not matter, for as Paul says In Philippians “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”
Philippians 1:21 NASB2020.
After the past 9 months I have had to live this out, my school year as a teacher has made me question my vocation, there have been times I have wanted to leave our church for various reasons. Then my health failed and was literally on death’s door. Each time I went to sleep in the ICU I was at peace with not waking up again. I have not even spoken about the extended family that I have lost just this year. Then on Friday another blow. My aunt Bonnie, my mom’s only and older sister went home to be with the Lord. Bonnie was like a second mom to me growing up. I spent many days with her and her husband Freddy and my two cousins Nannette and Shannon growing up. Aunt Bonnie took me in when I was a troubled teen, she and her husband gave me a summer job at their carpet store. It was hard labor. Bonnie taught me to drive a fork lift. Bonnie and Fred taught me the value of a hard days work and that good enough was never good enough.
Then, coming home from our schools graduation this past spring I had a right front tire blow out on the freeway going 70+ mph. God protected me from harm and all was taken care of within 4 hrs, spare put on, drive to tire store and new tire put on.
I asked God “Lord what are you trying to teach me through all this?” He said “Aaron it’s not about you! It is about you focusing on Me and praying for others?” Hard words to hear but true. I have been so focused on me, all the time God was saying “stay the course; stay working as a teacher, stay at the church, I’m not done with you yet!” I heard those things but I did not focus on praying and doing for others. This was confirmed by my wife who said to me “Aaron I’ve noticed in our prayer life lately you’ve prayed mostly about yourself and not for others.” She was right. It’s not about me, it’s not ever about us, it is always about pointing people to Jesus and praying for their salvation. This was so evident as so many people were praying for me, my small group at Church, Church leadership, my school colleagues, students families and leaders of the school as well as my personal family and friends, all praying for me! Thank y’all for those prayers. They taught me the value of praying for others.
Therefore, let us focus on the words of Jesus in John Chapter 6 “Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; the one who comes to Me will not be hungry, and the one who believes in Me will never be thirsty. But I said to you that you have indeed seen Me, and yet you do not believe. Everything that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I certainly will not cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that of everything that He has given Me I will lose nothing, but will raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.”
John 6:35-40 NASB2020
Precious Lord and Savior, We pray that you help us to focus on You. Give us strength and peace to seek you and pray for others and their struggles with all we are! Thank you Lord for the lessons you teach us. Continue to open our eyes to how we can be ALL IN for you! In Jesus Name Amen!
Shalom, Shalom Blessings. Press in and Press on!
Hosted by Chad McBeam
