Dear Fellow Children of God,
What concerns you right now? What is it that might keep you awake at night
worrying, if you do that sort of thing?
Is it family? Do finances concern
you? Perhaps the direction of our
country keeps you awake. Maybe you face
an illness.
I am in St. Louis at the Triennial convention of our
church body. In the last couple of days
I have read through many documents about proposals for action by our church,
including a 170 page document with all the resolutions which might be acted on
in convention. These are all issues that
concern someone. Some people in the
church want action to fix a need or solve a problem. I confess to you that even though I have read
these resolutions and know the story behind many of them, the 170 pages make my
head swim. My eyes glaze over. There are complexities and intricacies which
are beyond my wisdom.
What do you do when life seems overwhelming? When life overwhelms me I go back to the
basics. Rather than building on the
complexities of today’s life, I try to build on the sure foundation of God’s
love for us found in Jesus. I work to
build on the sure foundation found in God’s word. So, while I await the beginning of the
complexities and discussions (or perhaps arguments) of the convention, a Bible
verse speaks to my heart right now.
In Job 19, Job is in the midst of loss and
confusion. His property has been
destroyed. His children have died. Job’s health has left him. Job has
no idea what God is doing. Yet, in the
midst of this overwhelming loss and trial Job writes these words, 23
"Oh, that my words were recorded, that they were written on a scroll, 24
that they were inscribed with an iron tool on lead, or engraved in rock
forever! 25 I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand
upon the earth. 26 And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will
see God; 27 I myself will see him with my own eyes-- I, and not another. How my
heart yearns within me!” In other words, when Job is overwhelmed by
life, he still knows where to go. Job
goes to his redeemer and Job knows that after he dies he will see God. So, in the midst of confusion and loss, Job
has hope. Job even yearns to see God,
even though his life seems in ruins.
This convention is not yet started. Sessions actually start on Sunday. The issues of the convention in no way
approach what Job was facing. But, as I
am concerned and as I am a little overwhelmed, I can say with Job, 25 I
know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth.
26 And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; 27 I
myself will see him with my own eyes
When life is overwhelming, when it is bigger than we are,
life and its problems are not bigger than God.
In fact, Jesus, our Redeemer, died to forgive the sin that causes the
problem of this world. Jesus, our
Redeemer, rose so that we know that when we die we will see God.
The issues of the convention may be bigger than my
wisdom, but they are not bigger than our Redeemer is. When life is confusing and overwhelming I
return to the basics. I trust God.
A Child of God, Trusting
in God’s wisdom, not mine,
Pastor Jonathan
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ABOUT ‘THOUGHTS FROM THE PASTOR’ - I am
sending these e-mail messages, hopefully weekly, to all St. John members and
friends whose e-mails I have. (I am always adding new names of friends
and members – in case you are just receiving this e-mail for the first
time.) However, if you don’t want to receive this e-mail, please let me
know, and I’ll gladly leave your name off my list for this message. . . Or, if
you know someone who would like to receive one of these e-mails, please send me
their e-mail address.
****
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