RE Verse reading–Matthew 16:13-26 (day seven) “Shall we accept good from God and not adversity?” (Job 2:10) It is a big moment in the life of the believer. It is a good and glorious breakthrough. As we grow in Christ, we come to the point where faith is not conditional. We trust Him in tragedy as much as we do in victory (more?). This transition was hard for Peter. “No, Lord!” (vs 22) We struggle at the same place. When we first follow Christ, most of us expect life to get “better”. Often it does. Eventually we must arrive at the conclusion that He is no less worthy of our trust when life is not “getting better”. “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials” (James 1:2) “You meant evil against me, God meant it for good” (Genesis 50:20) May the Lord bring us to and through this moment. We love and trust Him, “for better, for worse”.
I have been attending a weekly Sunday night seminar for the last month.
Tonight the speaker challenged us to be really honest about whether God is our treasure or we are just trying to use Him to get to our treasure/what we want.
The Lord has been working with me for a while now to help me see that “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Matt 6:21) To help me see that if I want to know where my treasure is, I just have to follow my heart and to see where my heart is, I just have to notice my desires/concerns/interests/investments/goals/plans/hopes/dreams, etc.
If He (in all that He is) is the treasure, then I can look at everything differently and live life as a contented worshipper because Jesus made a way back to the Father and I have all that I need in Him. (I personally have to be honest that although I want this… there is still some work that needs to be done.)
As I sat today on the floor outside a locked door and prayed, I told the Lord I have no agenda but Yours. Interesting how this came up again tonight and it raised in me the great hope/desire that I be able to come to the place where I can live every moment with this same attitude.
Heavenly Father, thank you for all you are growing in me… to Your Glory alone! We do love and trust you. Amen.
(I was so glad I got to listen to your sermon today. God Bless you.)