Daily Encouragement | A scripture-based, 60-second, challenge toward fidelity in living-out the call to Christian discipleship! | Page 1214

Leave a comment

Uncategorized

“We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.” (Romans 8:22, NIV)

Making sense of the apparent senselessness of many of the things we encounter in life is frustratingly difficult unless we maintain a perspective that is informed by God’s viewpoint.

In today’s passage, Paul states that all of creation is in transition. If we do not believe that God’s perfect creation was — and is — corrupted by sin, there is no accounting for the dysfunction we see in every aspect of life.

If we do not believe that God’s plan of redemption is at work, both in the past and in the present; and that this plan is moving toward a divinely-ordered end, our frustration will soon become despair.

Do all that you must to maintain God’s point of view, particularly in the difficult spots. – Luther

Tagged God's provision, the book of Romans, trial

Leave a comment

Uncategorized

“We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.” (Romans 5:3, NLT)

The only way to become a successful long-distance runner is to put in the miles over a period of time. Anything less, and the runner fails because he or she lacks endurance.

God is building into us endurance (perseverance) through various problems and trials as a track coach might send his runners over rough, hilly, trails; and through spongy meadows, knowing that in order to overcome, a runner must first endure.

God is fitting each one of us for His purposes. Trials and problems come into our life only with God’s permission. He permits them only to the extent that they are necessary to run the course we cannot yet see — or to run beside the individual we have not yet met.

When we recall that it is within God’s plan, we can rejoice. – Luther

Tagged endurance, the book of Romans, trials

Leave a comment

Uncategorized

“As Jesus and his disciples were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him. Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, ‘Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!’ The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, ‘Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!’

“Jesus stopped and called them. ‘What do you want me to do for you?” he asked. ‘Lord,’ they answered, ‘we want our sight.’ Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.” (Matthew 20:29-34, NIV)

The response of the two blind men to the miraculous gift they had received from Jesus was obedience. They “followed him.” One cannot follow unless (or until) he/she is willing to obey.

God, by His grace, showers us with innumerable blessings. When we receive any blessing from Christ, do we follow in His steps? When God is generous to us, do we imitate His generosity? When God forgives us our trespasses, do we follow his example by forgiving those who have trespassed against us; or, does Jesus continue on His way while we chart our own, different, course?

To their great credit, the two healed men responded to God’s blessings by following the One that had shown them mercy. What is our response to God’s love and mercy? – Luther

Tagged gratitude, obedience, the book of Matthew