Dear Fellow Children of God,
What injustice, what heart-wrenching loss, or what long-standing
problem is causing you pain, grief, or trouble?
That’s not a very pleasant question, is it? Nevertheless, everyone faces trials in this
life. And these trials are not just
minor inconveniences. These tragedies and
losses can change our lives, seemingly for the worse.
So, as you consider your serious life challenge, or
challenges, please also consider the following question. “How is God using your struggle, disappointment,
or pain to bless you?” You might respond
to me by asking, “What!? How can this
gut-wrenching trial be used by God?”
This year for my personal devotions I am again using the “Today’s
Light Bible,” which takes a person through the Scriptures in two years. As January concludes I am near the end of
Genesis and reading about Joseph. Now
Joseph is a man who suffered injustice, loss, and trouble!
Joseph’s 11 brothers were jealous of him. So, according to Genesis 37, beginning when
Joseph was 17 years old, his brothers made life difficult, if not miserable for
him. They hated him, and sold him into slavery. If that was not enough, Joseph became a slave
in Egypt of a powerful official of the government. But, he was falsely accused of sexual misconduct
and thrown into prison. Joseph spent
time in prison until he was 30, according to Genesis 41:46. In part, Joseph’s time in prison was because
he was forgotten by people whom he had helped.
Therefore, for 13 years, from when he was 17 until he was 30, Joseph
suffered injustice, loss, and trouble. Notice,
these were not inconsequential troubles.
Imagine what that kind of trouble would do to your life!
However, in his trials God had not forgotten Joseph. In fact, God used the evil brought on Joseph
by others to bless him. As God worked in
Joseph’s life, Joseph was released from prison and became the second most
powerful man in Egypt, overseeing an effort to deal with an approaching
famine. Joseph saw GOD’S presence even
in his suffering and pointed to the blessings of God as he named his two
sons. Please read Genesis 41:51-52 with
me.
51
Joseph named his firstborn Manasseh and said, "It is because God has made
me forget all my trouble and all my father's household." 52 The second son
he named Ephraim and said, "It is because God has made me fruitful in the
land of my suffering." Joseph
saw God acting in his life to use the evil caused by others to bless him. Notice, according to the names of his sons, Joseph
says that it is God who made Joseph
forget his trouble. It is God who made Joseph fruitful. Joseph testifies to God’s faithful goodness
during his trials, in the way that he names his two sons.
I
share this insight from my personal devotions as I prepare for worship this
Sunday. Most people attending a
traditional liturgical church this week will hear Jesus speak what we call “The
Beatitudes” from Matthew 5:1-12, at the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus tells people they are “blessed” when
they are poor in spirit, they are blessed when they mourn, and they are blessed
when they are persecuted. Who wants to
suffer these trials? Yet, Jesus is
saying that, just like God used Joseph’s suffering to bless Him, God uses our
real and significant suffering and loss to give us His love, to bless our
relationship with Him.
Do
not be confused. Please understand what
I am not saying. I am not saying that God causes these trials
and heartaches. God is not the source or
the cause of evil. Evil and sin are in
our world through the efforts and temptation of our enemy, the devil, and because
of our own weakness and rebellion against our Creator. Yet, while God does not cause the evil in our
lives, He does use our trials to bring us back to Him, to bless us!
This
week I am again the volunteer chaplain at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center. As I visit patients in the hospital, I have
pamphlets which the hospital provides that I can share with these people. One of those pamphlets shares Lamentations
3:22-23. In the New American Standard
Bible this Old Testament verse reads, “22 The LORD's
lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. 23 They
are new every morning; Great is Thy faithfulness.” This verse was written when the Israelites were in Babylon lamenting, regretting,
crying, weeping, because of their exile.
Yet, they know that God’s lovingkindness never ceases. His compassions never fail. Even in their forced relocation God is with
them and working to bless them.
God used
the injustice and trials in Joseph’s life for good. Jesus calls us blessed even when we mourn, or
are persecuted. Let me ask you that
question again. “How is God using
your struggle, disappointment, or pain to bless you?”
A Child of God, Trusting in the
Blessings of God,
Pastor Jonathan
P.S.
I visited with the Neslunds on Tuesday.
Kristine has been keeping baby Bjorn home to protect him from possible
illness. Nevertheless, this almost 19
month old miracle boy is growing and healthy!
Here is a picture. God is good!! https://goo.gl/photos/dece2HxW2oujJKfB7
P.P.S. In worship we continue to
focus intentionally on God’s call to share Jesus.
P.P.P.S. I went fishing Monday and stood out in the 0
degree weather in the 20 mph winds Monday.
I got cold, but caught no fish.
****
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 regularly
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.
****
No comments:
Post a Comment