Why Did Jesus Wait Three Days to Rise from the Dead?

Maybe this is a pointless question, but why did Jesus wait three days to rise from the dead?
I mean, once He died, He had fully paid the penalty for the sins of all mankind. Why couldn’t He just resurrect right there, jump down from the cross, dust himself off, and call it good?
Maybe he needed to be buried in the grave. Fine. But why wait three days for the resurrection? Why not get wrapped in burial clothes, then rise sometime during that first night?
Here are some possible reasons, but honestly, I find none of them satisfactory.

To prove He was dead

I suppose some could argue that He had to stay in the tomb for three days to prove He was dead. There is, after all, the “swoon theory” in which people say Jesus didn’t really die, but just went unconscious. I suppose if Jesus “resurrected” two minutes after dying on the cross, this theory would be much more plausible. But when Jesus is buried in tomb for three days, this theory loses all credibility.
But at the same time, this still doesn’t answer the question. If Jesus wanted to prove He was dead, why not wait seven days? Or thirty? I suppose these longer periods can be disregarded because God did not want Jesus to see decay (Psa 16:10; Acts 2:27). But even in three days the body of Jesus would have started to decay.

To fulfill prophecy

Some say that Jesus had to spend three days in the grave to fulfill prophecy. Which prophecy? The sign of Jonah, who spent three days in the belly of a great fish (cf. Matt 12:39-40). But we must be careful here because the story of Jonah is not really a prophecy. Yes, Jesus prophesied that He would be in the grave for three days, just like Jonah was in the fish for three days, but if Jesus had never said this, then there would be no such thing as a prophecy about spending three days in the grave.
So this answer just kicks the question back a little further: Why three days? Why couldn’t Jesus have connected His death with the creation of the world, and said a prophecy about how “Just as the world was created in six days, and on the sixth day, Adam was raised from the dust of the ground, so also, after six days the Son of Man also will rise from the dust”? Jesus could have taken any number of stories and accounts in the Bible and turned them into a prophecy about how long He would be in the tomb. Why did He pick the story of Jonah? What is special about three days?

To increase faith

Another possible explanation is that Jesus wanted to increase the faith of His followers. By not resurrecting right away, they had to question why they had followed Him, and whether He was truly the Messiah. They had to work through the despair of losing Him, and the questions of what would have happened if they had not followed Him, or if they had defended Him better, or if they had simply been duped.
By waiting three days, Jesus allowed them time to work through some of these issues and questions. But again, this begs the question. If three days does this, why not seven, or twelve, or forty, all of which are also significant biblical numbers.

Could not rise during the Sabbath

It could be argued that resurrection is work, and so Jesus could not rise on the Sabbath, but had to wait until the Sabbath was over. This argument actually has some merit. But Jesus was always doing things on the Sabbath that other Jewish people frowned upon, including healing on the Sabbath.

Acting as our High Priest

Maybe Jesus was busy “doing stuff” in paradise, hell, and heaven. You know, High Priestly stuff like sprinkling blood on the altar in heaven, defeating sin, death, and the devil, preaching to spirits in prison, that sort of thing (Heb 9; 1 Pet 3:19).
I suppose this is possible. It just doesn’t really explain why these things took three days.

It doesn’t matter

Maybe it doesn’t matter. Maybe it was all just random. Maybe Jesus picked a number out of the air, and selected Jonah as a way of making a prophecy about it to prove that He could predict the future, which would then prove that He was a prophet of God when the prophecy came true. But the number of days in the grave is irrelevant. It just happens to be what Jesus chose.
I just struggle with this because the biblical authors seem to place such an emphasis on three days in the grave.
But in the end, I have no answer.

The important thing is that Jesus rose

We can all agree here. Maybe questioning why Jesus spent three days in the grave is a pointless question which only theologians ask. The important thing is that Jesus rose from the dead, and for this, we can praise and thank God for all eternity.

Love without words

 

"The elderly gentleman next door had recently lost his wife. Upon seeing the old man crying, his neighbor's four year old son went into the old man's yard, climbed onto his lap and sat there. Later, when his mother asked him what he had said to the old gentleman, the little boy said, 'Nothing, I just helped him to cry!'"

Doesn't this anecdote just capture your spirit? Here is the innocence of a child with an unhindered heart of grace.

Job too knew friends like this (at first).

"Then they sat on the ground with him (Job) for seven days and seven nights. No one said a word to him, because they saw how great his suffering was." (Job 2:13)

Silence can be the wise choice of an understanding friend. Silence with loving company can salve the injured soul and caress a saddened spirit. There are times when advice or counsel are, at best, hollow, as the moment, the depth, the emotion can never be plumbed by words. Feelings can reach far deeper than words can ever dive.

Our Father in heaven too knows this. He was the first one to know it.

He too has sent His 'four year old' to sit with us. This is His Holy Spirit - our counselor and comforter (Jn 14:16).

When we feel as 'the elderly gentleman next door' did, His Holy Spirit sits on our lap, won't say a thing to us unless invited to, and even says our prayers that we can no longer form."In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express." (Roms 8:26)

When words won't work for me, His Holy Spirit will.

Do you hear what I hear?

 

 

The next time you see a homeless, hungry person, please remember a message from Psalm 69:33— “The Lord hears the needy” — and then ask yourself if you are “hearing” the needy by providing food in some meaningful way.

 

And the next time you see a heartbroken widow who has just lost her best friend/spouse and a good portion of her financial support, remember to comfort her with the promise that “The Lord hears the needy” and with fervent prayers/generosity showing that you also “hear the needy.”

 

Also, don’t forget that when your own life situation grows filled with stress and loss and fear, “The Lord hears the needy.”

 

You and I both know that we should memorize scripture more than we do. I’m giving you today an extremely simple, easy-to-recall passage to memorize.

 

Psalm 69:33 — “The Lord hears the needy”

 

No, these five words do not comprise the entire verse. But if you weave them into your memory banks and into your everyday life, the fruit for your faith will be much more evident and many more people will be helped during the course of your life.

 

Please be willing to tell a discouraged person of this promise in Psalm 69:33.

 

For in hearing you share it — and in hearing you testify of its truth in your life — the discouraged person might understand that heavenly compassion is on the other side of their prayers to God.

 

Please, my friend, trust the promise of Psalm 69:33 in your own life.

 

Know for certain that prayer is essential in your time of need.

 

God promises to hear the overflow of your heart when stress and loss and fear are flowing against you.

 

As you have opportunity, pray not only for yourself in such times, but also for others in need.

 

God will certainly give heed to your prayers that are offered alongside of the needy person with whom you are praying.

 

You see, we fail God and people in stress if you see their needy state and don’t do something to help them, something even as simple as praying for them.

 

 

The "F" Word

The "F" word that I am talking about is forgiveness. This is the word. It is central to our relationship with God and our relationship with others. It is an easy word to say. It is easy to talk about. However, forgiveness, like we are called to, is not easy to do. But it is necessary.

When we forgive we are freed from the prison that unforgiving places us in. When we forgive others we are set free from the weight of carrying grudges and anger. When we forgive we are living in, and by, the grace that we have received from God.

My computer background has the saying "To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner is you." Not forgiving others imprisons us. The person that is effected and hurt by our not forgiving-- is us. The person imprisoned and oppressed is us.

Thanks be to God that God loves us and forgives us. Thank God that he is a God of second chances, third chances, seventy times seven chances. And God invites us to live lives free of hurt and imprisonment of holding on to the wrongs down against us. God invites us to forgive. To be people of the second, third, forth, and seventy times seven chances. To set ourselves free. To live lives of radical grace. Saved by grace, living by grace, and extending grace.

Forgiveness isn't easy. It will take time. It will take prayer. It will take grace. Let go and let God.

The love of Jesus

  I am amazed and in awe when I think about the love of Jesus. Jesus' love is not like human love. Jesus love for me and for you is unlike any other love that we have and will ever experience. Jesus love for you and me compelled him to step down out of the comfort of heaven and enter into this world. Jesus love compelled him to do for us what we could not do for ourselves. Jesus love compelled him to dine with sinners, offer his forgiveness freely, heal the sick, touch the leper and be associated with people that others would have nothing to do with. Jesus love compelled him to take on sin and death. His love compelled him to lay down his life for all humanity. His love compelled him to reach out to the thief on the cross next to him.

The love of Jesus cried out "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." The love of Jesus cried out, "let he who is without sin cast the first stone." The love of Jesus cries out, "fear not for I am with you." Jesus love is not a love that holds grudges or requires retribution. Jesus love does not require a love you in return. Jesus just loves you and me. And he said the way that others will know that we are his followers are by our love. By God's grace, as we follow Jesus, our love should become more like his. Our love for others, our forgiveness, our willingness to lay down our lives for others grows because that is what the love of Jesus does.

 

 

 

This is one of the most remarkable, and yet one of the most disturbing verses in the Bible. It is remarkable because it shows us that God loves us, and that He has passed His characteristics to us (Genesis 1:27). However, it is disturbing because it reminds us that we only love others, because God loved us. We only love God, because God first loved us.

In fact, I think it is fair to say, that we all fall short when it comes to love, especially loving God. We are told that love is patient, it is kind, it is not easily angered, and I think a lot of us look at these characteristics and pat ourselves on the back... but Paul continues to describe love by saying, "it is not self-seeking... Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth." (1 Corinthians 13:5-6)

When it comes to our lives, we have all put ourselves first, made our desires a priority over God; we have all broken the first commandment- the greatest commandment- by worshiping our desires before His Word (Exodus 20:3). We have all failed to rejoice in truth, and to condemn our evil desires... we have failed to remember that Love is not self-seeking.

And yet, despite this, despite our failure to love, God still loves us (Romans 5:8). He is willing to forgive us (Micah 7:18) so that we may have a deep, intimate relationship with Him.

As we get closer to Valentine's day, there is a lot of talk about what love is, and how to show it. We talk about buying candy and flowers for our sweethearts, or a nice romantic dinner... but somehow the founder of love, God, gets left out of the picture.

We focus so much on the love that we have with others, that we forget that true, perfect love which only comes from God. We forget what He has done for us, and how He has, and continues to show His love towards us.

Today, think about what you can give God for Valentine's Day... think about how you can show your love to God everyday... and ask yourself, when was the last time you said "I love you" to God.

Why I like atheists

 

 

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how much I like atheists. As a christian, that might sound a bit strange, but I find most of the atheists I know to be wonderful, inspiring individuals. I’m sure there are some atheists out there who are also terrible, terrible people, but that has never been my experience. Here’s why I think that is:

 

1. Atheists are reliable

You always know what you’re going to get with an atheist: they don’t believe in God or organized religion. OK, fair enough. With that understanding, you can have many wonderful logic-based discussions on any number of topics. You may disagree, but there’s always an underlying deference to common sense.

With religious people, I’m often completely shocked with how they arrive at some conclusions. “You think the Bible says what now?” When I disagree with a religious person, it usually comes down to how I interpret a part of scripture compared to how he or she interprets it. Disagreements like this lead nowhere and I find myself wishing I was talking with an atheist.

 

2. Atheists are brave

The majority of people in the world believes in God and practices some form of religion. So, the odds are that your atheist friend had to make a pretty serious break with his or her family, culture, and way of life. I call that bravery. Most atheists I know have arrived at their conclusions because of an honest assessment of the facts and of themselves. Despite an enormous pressure to conform, they stand up for what they believe to be true. I find that inspiring.

I have one friend whose father was a Mormon bishop. To fill some time in a meeting, this father called his son up from the audience to share his belief in God and Mormonism. Despite hundreds of friends and neighbors looking at him expectantly, he remained seated and silent. He did not believe and he was not going to lie, even if it would save him from a terribly awkward and painful experience. I don’t care who you are, you’ve got to respect that kind of sacrifice.

 

3. Atheists are moral

Truly moral decisions are not the result of the memorization of codes and laws. True morals require a person to explore issues deeply, examine the difference between right and wrong, and make reasoned decisions about which paths to pursue. Without a belief in God or religion, most atheists I know have taken the responsibility to think through important issues and situations on their own. The end result is that most atheists are highly moral people. The danger with religion is when its laws and creeds are accepted prematurely or applied inappropriately.

Considering all that, I think atheists deserve some credit. They’re logical, moral and they stand up for what they believe in. Now if we could just get christian people to do the same.

 

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self seeking, it is not easily angered, and it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres. Love never fails. I Corinthians 13:4-9.

 

Give me today a new burden for my atheist friends. Help me to honor God and love Him with all my heart so my atheist friends will see Christ through me. Open my eyes so that I may see people who need me and open my heart so that I may be tender toward their needs.

 

 

Living the Christian Life

Living the Christian life isn’t easy. Thankfully, Ephesians 4:25-32 provides a few guidelines for Christians to live by. The verses say:

Therefore each of you must put off falsehoods and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every other form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Living the life of a Christian is an ongoing process of studying, learning, putting learning into action, and constantly reflecting and evaluating your actions. It can be a very liberating process, but it can also be very daunting as well.

Getting back to the passage from Ephesians…..first, we are told to be truthful to one another, but notice the same section discusses how we are all members of one body. The reference is to the body of Christ….other Christians, not the body of mankind. I don’t think this is telling us it is ok to lie to non-Christians….not at all, but our Christian brothers and sisters deserve more honest attention from us.

Once we admit with our mouths that Jesus is Lord we are sealed. Nothing can undo the grace we receive at that moment because we are sealed…protected by the Lord. However, our lies and the other negative things we say grieves the Holy Spirit. Thereafter, we should only use our mouths to build each other up.

The part about not letting the sun go down on your anger…I heard my mother spout that bit of advice over and over as I was growing up. Part of her spill was the advice was always something her mother told her. It just makes sense, doesn’t it? It’s amazing all of God’s instructions regarding life make sense. Hmmm….I guess it’s amazing because God’s plan for us is perfect.

Getting back to that anger thing…The longer you wait to settle something with someone the harder it becomes to face the person no matter who was right OR wrong. Anger allows too many other sins to creep in and gain a foothold. One sin that comes to mind is pride.

Work…work not just to provide for your family, but to keep your hands busy. This passage from Ephesians takes the idea of work one step further to becoming Christ-like though. Work to help others….work to be able to provide for others….work to make a difference in the world.

So, let’s see….as a Christian I cannot lie, I cannot be angry with anyone for very long without dealing with the issue, I must work not just to buy stuff but in order to be able to help others, I must watch my tongue and totally turn my back on any type of malice. I must strive to be kind always and forgive others as Christ has forgiven me.

The problem? While I am a Christian, I am also human. Professing Jesus is Lord saves me for eternity, but it does not make me perfect during my stay here on Earth hence the need for the constant study, constant learning, constant putting things into action, and constant reflection and analysis....oh, and constantly praying as well.

No….it’s not easy to be a Christian, but it’s worth it. :)

Love Lessons from God

 

“Now about brotherly love we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other.” –1 Thessalonians 4:9

Wherever we go, we’ll find brothers and sisters in Christ in need of love just as we are. How do we love them? Let’s look at Jesus to count some ways:

 

1. He gave up everything to give us a tangible glimpse of God. When we live for God, we do the same.
2. He healed the sick. We can pray for such while offering comfort and care.
3. He welcomed little children. We can lead them His way.
4. He forgave the adulteress, though He was without sin. We must forgive, for we were born in sin.
5. He cleansed the temple of the cancer of greed. We can prayerfully (and carefully) offer loving correction when it seems a Christian brother is stepping off of Heaven’s path.
6. He ate with tax collectors and sinners. We can befriend non-Christians, too, that they may see God’s love in us and want it for their own.
7. He died and rose again to save us from our sins. We may never be called upon to die for our faith, yet we can stand firm in obedience to God. By doing so, we encourage other Christians to stand as well. We also prove to non-believers that our faith is something real.

God, thank You for sending Your Son to show us how to love each other. As I study His Life through Your Word, help me to absorb the example and live life as He taught. Amen.

 

 

Psalm 34:8

Oh taste and see that the Lord is good.
Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.

I think of the difference between looking at a shiny red apple and tasting it. No matter how tasty the apple looks on the outside, the only way that I will truly experience its goodness is to take a big bite out of it!

It is when I sink my teeth into it, that I will be able to taste and see that it is really delicious. Looking at an apple will never sustain us. We could be surrounded by an entire orchard of apples and yet die of starvation if we don't eat the apples.

I believe that God is extending an invitation for us to not only behold His goodness from afar, but to come close and taste and see that He really is good. In some Christian circles, looking for an experience with God might be seen as undermining the importance of believing without seeing. I am not suggesting that we base our entire Christian walk on experience, but I would suggest that experience is part of any relationship that we have.

While faith (Hebrews 11:6) is still the foundation on which we relate to God, I believe that He wants us to experience Him in every facet of our being. I pray that today, each and every one of us will taste of God's goodness in a very tangible way that will give us a greater insight into our Lord's heart.

 

God Loves You

 

 

John 17:23

I in them, and you in me, that they may be perfected into one;
that the world may know that you sent me, and loved them, even as you loved me.

I can understand that God loves Jesus completely and without reservation because Jesus is His perfect Son. But to think that God the Father loves me exactly the same way that He loves Jesus? Wow!

The truth is that when we became born again, we were united with Christ in every way. In today's Bible verse, Jesus describes it by saying... "I am in them, and you in me." When our God and Father looks at you, He sees you through the finished work of Jesus Christ. In Galatians 2:20, the Apostle Paul said "No longer I that lives, it is Christ that lives in me". Because I am in Christ, and Christ is in me, the love that the Father has for Jesus is exactly the same love He has for me!

The truth is that there is nothing that we could do to make God love us any MORE than He does right now... And on the flip side of the same coin... There is nothing that we could ever do to make Him love us any LESS either! Don't try to understand God's love, just receive it like a little child! God is your Father and He loves you even as He loves Jesus!

 

Prejudice

And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their pre-appointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings. Acts 17:26.


Prejudice is a serious problem in our world today. Prejudice can be based on race, on the color of one’s skin, one’s culture, on one’s social standing, on one’s financial status, talent or treasures of others, on education, on religious belief and any of a number of other things that sets one person apart from another. God’s Word has made it clear that prejudice of any kind is not acceptable. Prejudice grows out of pride and causes people to look down on others they consider inferior to themselves.

In the verse above we are reminded that all men and women today are created equal in God’s sight since all came from one man --- Adam.


Jesus came to make all believers one in Christ, because we are all joint heirs in Christ. No one is more privileged than anyone else nor is anyone better than anyone else.

We live a life of faith when we are a child of God. Prejudice and faith cannot coexist in the life of a believer. Prejudice destroys faith and faith destroys prejudice. In James 2:1-6 he writes that there must be no partiality, no prejudice in a believer’s life. If a person is prejudiced against another person for any reason he or she is not a true follower of Jesus. As believers we are to love one another.

We cause real sorrow to others when we dishonor and debase others through prejudice or bigotry. Every human being is created in the image of God and worthy of honor. When by our own prejudice we demean someone we will wound another human being at the deepest level. We are all of the same family, the family of God. God expects us, as His children, to be treasured and cherished by one another. He desires us to show respect to all people because everyone was created by God in His very image.

The sad fact about prejudice is that it is usually passed from parent to child. Children learn from their parents. As believers, parents have the responsibility to make sure they do not have prejudice against others. If they do they can be sure their children will pick up on it.

Lord, Continue to remind me daily that all of Your creations are rare treasures but none compares to one man’s worth to You. Thank You for creating me in Your image and help me to always show respect and honor to all of my fellow man.

AGAPE love

AGAPE is true and genuine love. AGAPE love is not sexual love as between a man and a woman. Love is the very nature of God. The ultimate expression of AGAPE LOVE is God giving His only son to die on the cross for our sins. This kind of love comes to us by God through His Son Jesus Christ. We have AGAPE love in our hearts as a result of knowing that God loves us with no strings attached and that His love for us never changes. We show our love for God by the commitment of our heart, soul and mind to our Lord. This is TRUE AND GENUINE LOVE!

How many times in life do we find ourselves in a position of just needing someone to love us? This is when we need AGAPE love because we need the caring and comforting love that only the Lord can give. Remember, He gave His life for you. What greater love is there then this?

AGAPE love means that God first loved us and we are to love God first and then to love others. It is the love from Christ that compels us to act, on Christ’s behalf to share Christ’s love to someone (II Corinthians 5:14). It is a love that never fails (I Corinthians 13:8). It is a love that made Jesus say to His disciples in John 21:7, “If you love me, feed my sheep.” In Romans 12:9-10 (above verse), Paul defines AGAPE love as being sincere and being devoted to one another in brotherly love. Sincere love is not selfish. When we have AGAPE love we will honor others above ourselves.

This AGAPE love can only be felt by one that has a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. If you want to experience AGAPE love then make that decision today.

“Whoever does not love does not know God, because GOD IS LOVE. This is how God showed His love among us; He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. This is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” I John 4:8-10.

Jesus said: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment” Matthew 22: 37-38

Love must be sincere --- be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Romans 12:9-10.

For His Glory

Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God.

— Ephesians 4:1


Are you living your life well? That is an important question, because you never know when your life will end.

In a broad sense, life for the Christian will never end. There is an afterlife. There is a heaven. And ultimately, there will be a new earth where we will rule and reign. But according to Scripture, what we will do then is connected to how we live now. So we want to think about our lives and how we are living them today.

We all assume we will live a long life. Maybe you are a young person just getting started. Maybe you have lived many, many years. Maybe you are middle-aged. Whatever age you may be, you don't really know where you are in life's journey. And that is the thing we all have to think about.

We live our life as a story that is being told, and, for some of us, we may be further along in that story than we realize. So we have to ask ourselves questions like, "What purpose does God have in mind for me now that I have committed my life to Jesus Christ?" And, "What will the legacy of my life be? How will I be remembered?"

We are here to bring glory to God—nothing more, nothing less. So the objective is not to be the most successful or to have the biggest this or that. It is to be faithful to what God has set before each of us.

It is not for us to look at another person's success and say, "Why not me?" Nor is it for us to look at our own suffering and say, "Why me?" Instead, it is for us to simply say, "Lord, how can I best glorify You with my life?"

Dying to Be a Servant: A Parable

Once upon a time there were two grains of wheat lying on the floor of a warm and cozy barn. But one day, the farmer came in and told them, "I want to take you out of this comfortable barn and plant you in the earth. I'm going to place you in the cold ground and cover you with soil. It will be dark, and you will die. But I promise that you will multiply and become very fruitful."

The first grain of wheat turned down the suggestion. "No way!" he said. "Count me out. I like my comfort, and I don't want to die." But the second one, after carefully considering the pain and discomfort of dying, decided the promise of a future harvest was worth the sacrifice. So the farmer took him outside and planted him in the ground, while allowing the first grain of wheat to remain inside the barn.

A few days later, a small green sprout appeared over where the seed had been planted. Then it grew and became a tall stalk of wheat that produced one hundred more grains. For the next forty years, the farmer planted all the seeds that had originated from that first grain of wheat, and year after year, the harvest multiplied. However, the grain of wheat that stayed in the barn remained there by itself, never multiplying--but he was very comfortable.

Which grain of wheat are you? Are you playing it safe, or have you let Christ plant you in the world? The only way you'll ever become useful and fruitful in God's kingdom is to abandon your own selfish desires, get out of your comfort zone, and serve the Lord by serving others.

Practical Ways to Bear Burdens

There are hurting people everywhere, but at times we just don't know what to say or do to ease their pain. Here are six practical ways to bear someone else's burden.

1. Be there. At times the best "method" of helping is simply to be present. During our darkest hours, we don't need someone who tries in vain to fix everything; we just need a friend.
2. Listen. Don't attempt to give answers or tell people what to do next. Injured souls frequently want simply a listening ear so they can express what's on their mind.
3. Share. Never parade yourself as someone who has all the answers. Instead, allow your own pain and failures to help others.
4. Pray. There is power in speaking people's names before the Lord. When they hear someone talk to Jesus on their behalf, healing often starts taking place.
5. Give. Sometimes helping others involves more than a handshake or warm hug. Maybe they need something financial or material. One of the best measures of sincerity is how much we're willing to give to others.
6. Substitute.You may know an individual who bears the burden of caring for someone else. If you step in and take his or her place for a while, you are emulating your Savior--He, too, was a substitute.

Because we were unable to do it ourselves, Jesus bore all of our sin and sorrow, even unto death. As a result, we can live happily and eternally in communion with our Father. If Christ did that for us, how can we ever say, "I'm too busy to bear someone else's burden"?

1 Thessalonians 5:14  Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all.

 

Avoid Negativity

Avoid people who are negative.

If you want a simpler and happier life, choose your friends with care. Avoid whinners and complainers. Sometimes this goes for family too. Spend your time with friends and family that encourage you. Invest your time with people who maintain a good attitude and have a positive outlook on life.

Sometimes you have to let go of friends and family who bring you down. They may not be bad people, just bad for you.

Just because you are a believer, doesn't mean you have to accept abuse. Scripture says, "Look, I'm sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as serpents and as harmless as doves." (Matthew 10:16) I am confident God means we should know how our enemy operates and be alert to his attacks (like verbal abuse). Then stand your ground and speak up. The trick is to remain as calm and as gentle as a dove even if the enemy starts screaming in your face. Keep standing your ground without fear and steadfast in faith that God keeps His promises. Only speak what comes from Him and don't let the enemy win the floor. Make him flee. Scripture says, "So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." (James 4:7)

Look for the good (and God) in every situation...

Spiritual-Wellness

Spiritual-wellness is the result of being at peace with God. To be at peace with God and experience spiritual-wellness, you must first believe that He exists, “--- without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6 NASB).

Why is faith necessary to please God? Because we cannot serve Him unless we are convinced that He exists and that His plans for us are “good and acceptable and perfect” (Rom: 12:2). It is necessary if we are to trust in Him with all our heart (Prov. 3:5)

God has a plan for our lives whether we believe He exists or not. He gives us the freedom and power to make choices. During our lifetime we have the opportunity to make literally thousands of choices. Some are significant, some are not but all have consequences. The single most important choice that we have to make is what our relationship with God will be. The consequences of that decision are eternal.

God is omniscient. He knows every thought that we have or will have. He knows every deed that we have ever done. He knows our sinful nature. Yet He loves us deeply and stands ready to accept us as we are. All we have to do is believe his word and accept His grace to have spiritual-wellness. He paid a heavy price for you and me as individuals, which is the ultimate testimony of His love for us.

We cannot approach the Father God except through the Son, Jesus Christ. “For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Tim. 2:5).

When the apostle Paul writes there is one God, he is referring back to Israel’s statement of faith (Deut. 6: 4-9). This foundational belief is not replaced – it is deepened. Jesus is not another deity, but God Himself, who has also become our Mediator. A mediator is like a priest who brings two parties together in peace. As our High Priest, we can “draw near with confidence to the throne of grace” (Heb. 4:16) because we know He will faithfully represent and lead us in His way (Heb. 2:1-18).

In Jesus we are set free from the bondage of the law and the penalty of death required by the law. Therefore, when we die we will be in the presence of the Lord and will enter into his kingdom. Think on this and give praise and thanks to God for His love for each of us.

In the natural world, the more that you know someone the easier it is to believe their words. It is the same with God. When you read and meditate on His Word, you will begin to realize how deeply He loves you and you will begin to trust Him in every area of your life. You will be at peace with God and have spiritual-wellness. In the words of the hymn “all is well with my soul.”

Hope....A Small Word With Big Meaning

Some people place their hope in financial security. Others hope their popularity, abilities, or connections will get them where they want to go. But only those who place their hope in God can face tomorrow without any fear of the future. When you trust in God, you do more than hope for the best. You rest in knowing God's best is His plan for your life.

If we are believers, the Bible says that we are sealed with the Holy Spirit, and He guarantees that we will arrive safe, preserved from all destruction, on the final day of deliverance from sin and all it's effects. WOW!

Just think of what it will be like to actually see God face-to-face, to have no more tears, no more sorrow, no more dying...to see our loved ones who have passed on and never be separated from them again. These thoughts leave me totally awestruck!

But it is so easy to lose heart when your focus is on difficulties that persist day after day. That is why it is so important to reconnect with God every morning. Time together reminds you that an all-knowing and all-powerful God is in your corner, ready and able to help. It helps you sift the trivial from the eternal. And restores hope to it's rightful place in your life, where it can shine a light on God's goodness and faithfulness to you.

Life is not about losing. Life is about overcoming. As long as I hold tight in my heart the fact that His plans are GOOD, then I can fight through the obstacles life throws at me, to see the light of the reward that will greet me in the end.

Remember, God is bigger than your biggest problem, stronger than your most frightening enemy, and greater than your doubts and fears. WOW, WE SERVE AN AWESOME GOD!

All our hope needs to be in God because He is the only One Who can make us happy.

Hope is the ability to hear the music of the future; Faith is the ability to dance to it today. I hope you dance.

God… Please don’t wipe away all my tears!!

Revelations 21:4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

Dear Father God,


I’m so glad that you’re going to wipe every tear away from my eyes one day…but I don’t want all my tears wiped away. I do want the bad tears wiped away…the ones that came from my suffering…but there are some special tears that I hope you collected and will never get rid of….they are….my tears of love for you! My God….I love you so much and in my prayer times I have cried so hard because I love you so so much.


My wonderful, merciful and caring God…these are my good tears and I don’t want you to wipe them away. Every tear of love I shed for you are from deep within my heart. My heart aches for you and each tear represents the depths of that love.


Please don’t wipe my love away. How will I be able to tell you how much I love you when I get to heaven? Will there be a way? Can I pour oil on you? Will I have hair to wash your feet with? I know you are a spirit so how will I pour my love out on you?


Luke 7:38 and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.


Please tell me how I will worship you and I will be so happy. Father God…when I get there… will there be room for me to lay before your throne in adoration of your Holiness and your love that you have shown to me. I think a lot about what I will do in your presence. I’m going to want to hug you tightly and say thank you for making me, forgiving me, saving me, loving me and accepting me warts and all. Yes these tears God…that I have on my face right now…they are for you….don’t wipe them away.


God there are no words in my mouth and in my mind right now…only my tears of love…my human expression of passion for you. My tear’s are my worship Father…don’t wipe my tears away. You’ve given me so much and my good tears are all I have to give you….they are…my love. They are symbolic of my heart’s cry of worship and praise to you.


Will I remember these times of prayer and intimate fellowship with you? They are precious to me! Will my love for you be lost in the history of your many other blood washed children? I know I’m asking so many questions…but I don’t want my good tears to be gone from my memory of you….I cherish my good tears and my good times with you.


I know when I get to heaven….you’ll be waiting for me and I’ll have a glorified body and I’ll be like you and things between you and me will be on a whole different level…..but I still have to say this while I’m still down here…..Don’t wipe my good tears away….they are my joy, my happiness and my love that I have for you! I love you!!


From your tearful daughter… good tears,