Posts from — April 2011

“I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” –Philippians 4:13 (ESV)

When steam powered trains first made their appearance, they were quite the rage. For the first time in human history man was able to overcome natural barriers which were previously deemed near impossible to traverse. No longer would landscapes such as the high peaks of the Rocky Mountains in North America, or the vast plains and forests of Siberia in Russia hinder human movement. A train could pass through these obstacles with ease and reach its destination in a reasonably short amount of time. It is no wonder that trains in their heyday were indicators of modernization and progress. But no train can move unless it is constantly fed with fuel. Without coal or electricity, a train is unable to do the marvelous feats it is capable of. By itself it cannot do much, but empowered by a source of energy it is able to overcome all manner of challenges.

When we are faced with troubling circumstances and seemingly impossible situations, it is tempting to give up and say it cannot be done. Declaring that it is hopeless, we resign ourselves to defeat and soon adopt a highly pessimistic and cynical attitude to life. We begin to wallow in our disillusionment and become prisoners to our bitterness and anger. But perhaps we have thrown in the towel too early. Perhaps in our shortsightedness we have gone through life relying on our own limited abilities and strength; not thinking of God. In Christ however, we have an eternal source of strength. When we have entered into relationship with Him and have allowed Him to empower us by His Spirit, we will be able to do that which was in our flawed human eyes impossible. With Him as our source of energy and power we will be able to climb mountains we thought we would never be able to climb, and pass through situations we thought we would never be able to endure. As along as we allow His Spirit to be our fuel, we will be able to overcome all that we face through God who has a perfect plan for each one of us and who is able to work all things together for good.

Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

“‘Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.’” –Matthew 11:28 (NIV)

We were not built to be overworked. The very fact that a variety of health problems can be traced to having too much physical and mental stress in our lives shows our inability to truly cope with the pressures we face in this world. Our frail human bodies have their limitations and there is only so much we can bear by ourselves. Yet perhaps out of pride or not knowing of any other way, we try to do everything by our own strength and willpower. However, when we reach the breaking point and our limitations become apparent to us, we are drained physically and shattered mentally. In our broken state we seek restoration and healing, but never finding that which will grant us these. Thus, we continue on in our misery, existing but not living.

God knows that because of Adam’s disobedience and the subsequent entry of sin into the world, we are forced to bear a load that we cannot possibly carry on our own. In addition, because of our own deliberate choice to indulge in sin, we have separated ourselves from God and our relationship with Him has been severed by our actions. But living apart from Him in this fallen world is a painful and arduous existence. Weary of the world around us and our circumstances, we want to have that strength which will help us to not just simply exist, but to live. Such strength can only come from being in relationship with Christ. When we have allowed Him to enter our hearts and cleanse us of our sin, He will restore and strengthen us. Like water to a parched soul He will refresh and renew our spirits. Through Christ we are reconciled with God and in Him we can rest in the promise that He will preserve all who call upon Him and that we have victory through Him who has conquered all.

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

“Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place-the Most High, who is my refuge -no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent.” –Psalm 91:9-10 (ESV)

When I was visiting the city of Halifax in the Canadian Maritimes, I made it a point to visit the Citadel. It is a great example of fortress architecture. The defences follow a design known as the trace italienne, or simply the star fortress. Perfected in Europe, the star fortress design places the defenders behind its walls in a strong position to repel invaders. Owing to its planned geometrical complexity, the star fortress enables the defenders to fend of any attack from almost every conceivable angle. From a military standpoint they made great defensive installations and from an aesthetic standpoint they were often treated as works of art by their architects. To lay siege to such a monumental structure often proved to be an immensely difficult and costly task and were not overcome easily.

Likewise, God is our ever present strength in times of trouble. Sometimes it may seem as if we are being attacked on all sides with nowhere to turn to. We wonder if there is any place which we can run to and be assured of security and rest. But no matter how hard we may look here below, we will never be able to find such a place. The walls of the supposed fortresses of this world are prone to crumble under pressure and can only offer a mediocre defence against the tribulations we must endure in this fallen world. It is only when we have placed our ultimate trust in Christ that we will be able to find enduring strength and peace. When we have turned to Him and have allowed His Spirit to reside in our hearts, He will reveal to us His faithful protection over us. Though suffering and misery may be all around us, we can find confidence in the truth that in Christ we are protected on all sides. With Him as our refuge no evil will emerge victorious over us for He is insurmountable and able to use all things towards the fulfilment of His perfect will.

Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

“But you, O Lord, be not far off; O my Strength, come quickly to help me.” –Psalm 22:19 (NIV)

Birds will do anything for their children. They will often fly for long periods of time searching for food to bring back home to the nest. But imagine what the wait must be like for their young. Only recently having entered the world, they are unable to provide for themselves, helpless and completely dependant on their parents. Their hungry stomachs cry out for food and they loudly chirp hoping that their cries will be attended to. However, no matter the wait, the infant hatchlings are faithfully provided and cared for. Their parents always return with food to sustain their young lives and strengthen them in order to help them grow. As long as the parents are alive, the hatchlings can rest in the assurance of them as being their source of strength.

When we are going through trials we often cry out to God for relief and deliverance. Yet sometimes it seems that despite our cries nothing appears to be happening and we grow discouraged. In our desperation we run after things which, although promising to be a never failing source of strength, soon prove to be foundations prone to crumble and fall. Perhaps in our anxiety we have recklessly charged into situations in our own wisdom instead of placing our trust in God’s faithfulness. He will always give us what we need and when we need it the most according to His perfect will. When we have chosen Christ to be our foundation and have allowed Him to carry out His redemptive work in our hearts, we can find eternal hope in Him knowing that He will always provide for us. He will make His faithfulness known to us if we simply choose to wait on Him, thereby strengthening our faith in Him who holds the universe in place. In Him we can trust in His eternity as our sure foundation, knowing that He will never leave nor forsake us.

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

“I will come down and speak with you there, and I will take of the Spirit that is on you and put the Spirit on them. They will help you carry the burden of the people so that you will not have to carry it alone.” –Numbers 11:17 (NIV)

Working together in a group setting can often come with its disadvantages. Conflicting personalities, differing expectations, and a lack of unity can not only serve to hinder productivity, but create a very unpleasant environment in the process. That is why we can sometimes be so loathe to working with others, fearing that our vision will not be realized and thinking that it would be better if we did not entrust others with our aspirations. But what a joy it is when people work together in unity! Grasping a common vision everyone diligently works together towards that vision no matter the disappointments and failures. When the successful end result is achieved every member of the group is satisfied, echo one celebrating the victories gained and congratulating each other on a job well done.

God has placed within each and every one of us a vision. Those good and pleasing plans and ambitions which we cherish come from Him who assures us that He works to give us hope and a future. However, we may not trust others with this vision and keep it to ourselves thinking that if we get others involved they will only ruin it for us. Yet what often is the case is that God has given us a vision that was not meant to be borne by ourselves. Rather, for it to be fulfilled He requires that we allow others whom He has strategically placed to help carry out His perfect will for us. If we jealously guard our dreams and desires, we turn them into idols that will only serve to hinder the work God is doing through us. But if we surrender every area of our lives to Christ, giving back to Him the desires He has placed in our hearts, He will lead us to others who have caught the same vision He has given us so that His will may be fulfilled.

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

“…but the men said to them, ‘Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!’” –Luke 24:5-6 (NIV)

At the centre of humanity is the resurrection. It is what believers in Christ on Easter have celebrated throughout the ages, and it is what continues to be celebrated around the world by those who proclaim Christ to be Lord. Without the resurrection, the redemptive mission of Christ loses its power and His sacrifice becomes irrelevant; bearing no transformative implications for our lives. While Christ died for our sins and we are forgiven and made right with God through His death, His sacrifice becomes a convenient excuse to continue living in sin if the story was just left at His crucifixion and burial. The purpose of Christ’s coming was not simply to cleanse us of sin, but to give us life and freedom from it.

When Christ arose from the tomb, there was something markedly different about Him. His resurrection resulted in Him gaining two things; a new body and a new nature. This nature was characterized by the righteousness which comes from God and it shone forth for all to see.  The old sinful nature was dead and buried, and God raised Jesus up to bring Him into newness of life and clothed with His holiness. But how does this relate to us? When we accept Christ and allow Him to come into our hearts, we become like Him in His resurrection. Through Him our old sinful nature has died and we are clothed by the righteousness which comes from God. Though we were once slaves to sin, we are now freed by becoming slaves of righteousness as we allow His Spirit to help us live according to the new nature He has given us. Have we become dead to our sin and entered into new life with Christ? In doing this we will find freedom from the destructive consequences of sin and allow Christ to raise us up; unshackling us from our depravity so that we will find liberty, hope, and life eternal in Him.

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

“We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” –Romans 6:4 (NIV)

Rarely do we give a second thought to the burial of Jesus. In the wider Easter story the two main events are His death and resurrection. Yet when we come to the burial of Christ, how often do we treat it as a mundane detail of the story? On the surface there does not seem to be anything extraordinary about Jesus’ burial and we think nothing of it; anticipating the glorious resurrection soon after. But nothing that God does is devoid of meaning. To understand the significance of Christ’s burial is of prime importance in understanding the meaning behind His death and His resurrection. The burial is a key part of God’s plan of redemption and how we are to view our personal salvation.

When we accept Christ as our Saviour, we become like Him in His death, burial and resurrection. The sins of humanity were laid upon Him so that through His death the penalty for each and every one of our violations of God’s holy standards is paid in full. By His blood we are forgiven and stand cleansed before God. However, Christ was buried to show that through Him our old nature of sin has passed away to make room for the new nature of righteousness that is bestowed upon us from God in Heaven. Have we truly become like Christ in His burial? Have we left behind our sinful nature, or do we continue to return to it? When something is dead and buried, it is dead and buried for good. True repentance in Christ is only when we have asked for the forgiveness of our sins and, by identifying with His burial, not returning to them again. Doing this we will find real freedom from our slavery to sin; living instead in the joys and blessings which come form having our new nature through Christ.

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.