I Can Heal from Pain, by Helping Others

In 1 Peter 4:1 I read, “Since Christ suffered and underwent pain, you must have the same attitude he did; you must be ready to suffer, too. For remember, when your body suffers, sin loses its power.” (TLB)

When I’m experiencing pain, who’s the person I think of the most? Myself! It’s my nature to be self-centered, because I’m human. When I’m suffering, I want to be comforted. When I’m sick, I want to be cared for. When I’m sad, I want to be held. Pain makes me self-centered.

But God says, if I’m going to learn how to love like he does, I’ve got to try to see other people’s pain, even when I’m in pain.

Jesus is the greatest example of this. When he was hanging on the cross, he was in enormous physical, emotional, and spiritual pain. He was carrying all the sin of the world! But in his dying moments, he noticed the pain of other people. He prayed, “Father forgive them. They don’t know what they’re doing” (Luke 23:34 GW). And he said to the guy next to him, “Today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43 GW). He also made sure his mother would be cared for. He wasn’t thinking about himself, even when he was in agony.

God’s Word says to have the same attitude as Jesus (Philippians 2:5). This means, when I”m in pain, I should look around and see who else is in pain. I should think of others, even as I care for myself. That’s a hard one. How do I look at the pain of others when I’m in pain?

“Since Christ suffered and underwent pain, you must have the same attitude he did; you must be ready to suffer, too. For remember, when your body suffers, sin loses its power” (1 Peter 4:1 TLB).

With God’s grace, I can look past my own pain. And when I do, sin loses its power and I become more like Jesus. With God’s grace, I can help others who are in pain, even as I carry my own deep hurt. Because of this, God will give me purpose in my pain so I can help many others to move forward in healing. God can use my pain, too, to help others struggling with the same pain.

In summary, since Christ suffered and underwent pain, I must have the same attitude he did and be ready to suffer as well. For when my body suffers, sin loses its power. When I’m experiencing pain, I think mainly of myself. It’s in my nature to be self-centered. When I’m suffering, sick or sad, I want to be comforted, cared for, or held. Pain makes me self-centered. So if I’m going to learn how to love like he does, I’ve got to try to see other people’s pain, even when I’m in pain. Jesus when he was hanging on the cross, was in enormous physical, emotional, and spiritual pain. He was carrying all the sin of the world! But in his dying moments, he noticed the pain of other people. He wasn’t thinking about himself, even when he was in agony. When I'm in pain, I should look around and see who else is in pain. I should think of others, even as I care for myself. So how do I do this? With God’s grace, I can look past my own pain. When I do, sin loses its power and I become more like Jesus. With God’s grace, I can help others who are in pain, even as I carry my own deep hurt. God will give me purpose in my pain so I can help many others to move forward in healing and to help others struggling with the same pain.

I would do anything to avoid pain, yet suffering helps me to be like Christ. I should be willing and prepared to do God's will and to suffer for it if necessary. I can overcome sin when I focus on Christ and what he wants me to do. Pain and danger can reveal my true values. If I suffer for doing good and still faithfully obey in spite of suffering will help me be more like him and make a clean break with sin.

Father, thank you for this reminder and I ask that with the help of the Holy Spirit in my life that I can live it out. I also ask you for wisdom and guidance for my day, my work, my leadership, my interactions with others, my training for a future job role and learning a small group. I ask these things through you Son Jesus’ name, amen.

 

Am I Seeing Others the Way Jesus Does?

in Mark 6:34 I read, “When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd.” (NIV)

How do I know if I’m looking at life from God’s viewpoint? I need to think about the way I see others. This is a great test of my spiritual maturity, much better than asking how much of the Bible I know, how often I go to church, or whether I serve, tithe, or pray. Life is all about love and relationships. So if I want to gauge my spiritual maturity, think about how I see others.

Consider how God sees my wife? Valuable. Acceptable. Lovable. Forgivable. Is that the way I see her? How about the stranger at the grocery store? The person who cut me off in traffic? The homeless person on the street? What do I see when I look at others? Do I see them as irritations or burdens? How about the people I work with? Do I see them as enemies? Competition? Or do I see them the way God sees them?

All people matter to God. It doesn’t matter who they are, what they’ve done, or even what they believe. Christ died for them. Jesus loves them. God has a plan for every person, and he wants them to have a relationship with him.

The Bible says in Mark 6:34, “When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd” (NIV).

That’s the way Jesus sees people. And that’s the way I can grow to see people as well. I can learn to have compassion for my own family as well as for my neighbors, community, country, and the rest of the world.

Let my spiritual vision get stronger as I learn to see people the way Jesus does.

In summary, When Jesus saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. How do I know if I’m looking at life from God’s viewpoint? It’s in the way I see others. This is the greatest test of my spiritual maturity. Life is all about love and relationships. Consider how God sees my wife? Valuable. Acceptable. Lovable. Forgivable. Is that the way I see her? How about the stranger at the grocery store, the person who cut me off, the homeless person on the street or the people I work with? What do I see when I look at others? Do I see them as irritations, burdens, enemies or competition? All people matter to God. It doesn’t matter who they are, what they’ve done, or even what they believe. Christ died for them. Jesus loves them. God has a plan for every person, and he wants them to have a relationship with him. This verse reminds me that Jesus sees and has compassion for people.And that’s the way I can grow to see people as well. I can learn to have compassion as I learn to see people the way Jesus does.

Inconvenience and competition are often the things in my life that keep me from seeing people with God’s eyes. Part of it’s pride, competition and busyness. I can limit those distractions by making time in my life and schedule for them. I need to keep in mind that all people matter to God. He has a plan for them and wants a relationship with them. I can help introduce them to that by being a good ambassador for God. 

Father, I ask you for wisdom and guidance for my day, my work, my leadership, my interactions with others, my training for a future job role and learning a small group. I ask these things through you Son Jesus’ name, amen.

 

How to Be Merciful to Everyone

In 1 Peter 2:17 I ready, “Treat everyone you meet with dignity.” (The Message)

The Bible says God expects me to show mercy to everybody. How do I do that? Here are three simple, practical ways to be God’s agent of mercy in the world.

Forgive people when they mess up. “When people sin, you should forgive and comfort them, so they won’t give up in despair” (2 Corinthians 2:7 CEV). The normal reaction when somebody hurts me is to want to either get even or write them off. But a merciful person forgives the fallen.

Part of the Lord’s Prayer says, “Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us” (Luke 11:4 NLT). When I pray this, I’m saying, “God, I want you to forgive me as much as I forgive everybody who’s hurt me.” 

Be patient with people’s quirks. We all have our idiosyncrasies and irritating habits. Even myself! When I refuse to get upset over other people’s habits, I am showing mercy.

During the pandemic, while so many people are stuck at home, the most important marriage advice I can give you is Ephesians 4:2: “Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults” (TLB). The first place I need to show mercy is at home.

Show respect to people I disagree with. I don’t have to agree with everyone. But I can disagree with people without being disagreeable. God says, “Treat everyone you meet with dignity” (1 Peter 2:17 The Message). That includes people I disagree with and don’t like. Treat everyone with dignity.

Jesus gets really radical about mercy. In Luke 6:35 he says to love your enemies and do good to them. That starts with laying down your need to be right and to win the argument every time.

Do I want to win the argument, or do I want to win people to Christ? To win people to Christ, choose mercy.

When’s the last time I did something good for an enemy? When’s the last time I did something good for somebody I totally disagree with politically or spiritually? When’s the last time I showed mercy to someone in my home?

God sees when I choose mercy, and he will honor my obedience. It will often be difficult, but it will always be worth it to be merciful, just as God your Father is merciful.

In summary, I’m to treat everyone with dignity. God expects me to show mercy to everybody. I can do that with three simple and practical ways. First, forgive people when they mess up. The normal reaction when somebody hurts me is to want to either get even or write them off. But a merciful person forgives the fallen. Part of the Lord’s Prayer says, “Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us”. In it I’m saying, “God, I want you to forgive me as much as I forgive everybody who’s hurt me. Secondly, be patient with people’s quirks. Refuse to get upset over other people’s habits.  Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults”. Lastly, show respect to people I disagree with. I don’t have to agree with everyone. But I can disagree with people without being disagreeable. Treat everyone with dignity. Jesus tells me to love my enemies and do good to them. This starts with laying down my need to be right and to win the argument every time. Do something good for an enemy or something good for somebody I totally disagree with. Show mercy to someone, God sees when I choose mercy, and he will honor my obedience. It will often be difficult, but it will always be worth it to be merciful, just as God my Father is merciful.

Father, I thank you for these reminders today. I ask that with the help of the Holy Spirit in my life, that I incorporate them continuously.  Father I ask for wisdom and guidance for my day, my work, my leadership, my interactions with others, my future job preparation and leading a small group. I pray these things in your Son Jesus’ name, Amen.

 

Five Ways to Relax in God’s Grace

In Hebrews 12:15 I read, “Be careful that no one fails to receive God’s grace.” (NCV)

How do I learn to “R.E.L.A.X.” in the liberating grace of God?

Realize nobody’s perfect. Psalm 119:96 is a verse directed toward God, and it declares, “Nothing is perfect except your words” (TLB). What society tells me isn’t perfect. What popular opinion tells me isn’t perfect. What I learned growing up isn’t perfect. But God’s Word is perfect. When I get in the Bible and build my life on it, I will have a perfect foundation.

Enjoy God’s unconditional love. The Bible says, “See how very much our heavenly Father loves us, for he allows us to be called his children—think of it—and we really are!” (1 John 3:1 TLB). As a follower of Christ, I take on a role of service to him, but I’m more than a servant! The Bible says I become a child of the King. A servant is accepted on the basis of what they do; a child is accepted on the basis of who they are. A servant starts the day anxious and worried that their work will please their master; a child rests in the secure love of their family. A servant is accepted because of his workmanship; a child is accepted because of their relationship.

Let God handle things. What do I do about the uncontrollable things in life? “Cast all your anxiety on [God] because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7 NIV). When I’m fishing and I cast a line, there comes a point where I have to take my finger off the button and let it go. Just like the essence of casting is letting go, to overcome perfectionism I have to let go and let God do his work.

Act in faith, not fear. Remember how I got into God’s family in the first place. Ephesians 2:8 says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith” (NIV). Grace is the only way to get into heaven. I’ll never be good enough, and I can’t buy my way in. It’s a free gift from God.

Exchange my perfectionism for God’s peace. Perfectionism destroys peace. Jesus says in Matthew 11:28-29, “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest . . . Learn the unforced rhythms of grace” (The Message). What a deal!

I’m going to fail a lot in life. But I don’t have to worry about it if I’ve received God’s grace. In fact, there’s only one failure I ever need to worry about: “Be careful that no one fails to receive God’s grace” (Hebrews 12:15 NCV). Receive it right now, and then relax!

In summary, I am to be careful that I fail to receive God’s grace. How do I learn to do this or to  “R.E.L.A.X.” First, realize nobody’s perfect. What society, popular opinion and what I learned growing up isn’t perfect. But God’s Word is. When I build my life on it, I will have a perfect foundation. Second, enjoy God’s unconditional love. I take on a role of service to him, but I’m more than a servant! I become a child of the King. A servant is accepted on the basis of what they do; a child is accepted on the basis of who they are. A servant is accepted because of his workmanship; a child is accepted because of their relationship. Third, let God handle things. What do I do about the uncontrollable things in life? “Cast all your anxiety on Him because he cares for me” Just like the essence of casting is letting go, to overcome perfectionism I have to let go and let God do his work. Fourth, act in faith, not fear. Remember it is by grace that I have been saved, through faith” Grace is the only way to get into heaven. I’ll never be good enough, and I can’t buy my way in. It’s a free gift from God. And fifth, exchange my perfectionism for God’s peace. Perfectionism destroys peace. I’m going to fail a lot, but I don’t have to worry about it if I’ve received God’s grace. There’s only one failure I ever need to worry about and it to fail to receive God’s grace” 

In reflection, so many of these things are not natural to me. I need to learn to relax, enjoy, let, act and exchange the items mentioned above. The key is that God unconditionally loves me with his never ending unfailing love. I need to build this notion into my life.  Father, I ask this morning for wisdom and guidance for my day, my work, my leadership, my interactions, my future job role and leading a small group. I ask these things in your Son Jesus’ name, Amen.

 

Understanding That God Is on My Side

In Philippians 2:13 I read, “God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.” (NLT)

No matter what I’m going to face this week, I won’t face it alone. God is with me, he is in me, and he is for me.

Philippians 2:13 says, “God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him” (NLT).

“God is working in you.” The word “working” in Greek is the word energos, from which we get our word “energy.” God is the energy driver in my life. I’m not just going on willpower. I’m not just going on my own power. God says he will give me the power I need, no matter what I’m facing.

Not only is he in me, he also is with me. The Bible says, “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you . . . On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you” (John 14:18, 20 NIV). That’s quite a promise! The Bible says Christ is in me, I’m sheltered with Christ, and I’m sealed with the Holy Spirit. That means for the Devil to get to me, he’s got to get through the Trinity! That’s pretty good protection and a great fear reliever.

Not only is God with me and in me, God is also for me. Romans 8:31 says, “If God is for us, no one can defeat us” (NCV).

When a shepherd leads the sheep, guard dogs stay at the back, nipping at the sheep to keep them moving in the right direction. The Bible says the guard dogs in my life are God’s goodness and mercy. God gives me the things I don’t deserve, that’s his goodness. And he doesn’t give me the things I do deserve, that’s his mercy.

Get up every morning and say, “God, thank you that you’re going to be with me today, you’re going to be in me today, and you’re going to be for me today.”

In summary, God is working in me, to give me the desire and the power to do what pleases him. No matter what I’m going to face this week, I won’t face it alone. God is with me, he is in me, and he is for me. The word “working” in Greek is the word energos, from which we get our word “energy.” God is the energy driver in my life. I’m not just going on willpower or on my own power. God says he will give me the power I need, no matter what I’m facing. He also is with me. I’m sheltered with Christ, and I’m sealed with the Holy Spirit. God is also for me. God provides me with goodness and mercy. God gives me the things I don’t deserve, that’s his goodness. And he doesn’t give me the things I do deserve, that’s his mercy. I need to say each day, “God, thank you that you’re going to be with me today, you’re going to be in me today, and you’re going to be for me today.”

God is with me, God is in me, and God is for me. So, what do I do when I don't feel like obeying? God has not left me alone in my struggle to do his will. He wants to come alongside me and be within me to help. God gives me the desire and the power to do what pleases him. The secret to a changed life is to submit to God's control and let him work and to ask Him to help me with the desire to do his will. To be like Christ, I must train myself to think like Christ does. To change my desires, I need the power of the Holy Spirit, the influence of faithful Christians, obedience to God's Word and sacrificial service. As I do his will, I'll gain the desire to do it. So I should do what he wants and then trust him to change my desires.

Father, I ask you for wisdom and guidance for my work, my schedule, my leadership, my interactions with others, preparing for my future job role and leading a small group. These things I ask in your Son Jesus’ name, Amen.