Tag Archives: trial

“But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.” (Matthew 7:26-27, NLT)

Most of our personal calamities or failures are a result of our disobedience to Jesus’ teaching. It is not because the calamity is God’s “payback” for our disobedience; rather, because we have ignored God’s blueprint we discover, frequently in tears, that our own designs are inadequate for the stresses of life. In such instances, it is we — not God — who are responsible.

It is helpful to note that in Jesus’ parable, both houses are beat upon by the rains, and assaulted by the floods.  However, only the house founded on a solid rock is able to withstand the trial.  

When the next storm of life greets you, will your life’s foundation prove adequate? Jesus says, “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock.” (verse 24)  – Luther

Reminder: Daily Encouragement will take its customary Sunday break tomorrow.  Have a great day of worship, fellowship, and thanksgiving.  Lord willing, see you on Monday!

Tagged , , , ,

“‘Here comes that dreamer!’,  they said to each other. ‘Come now, let’s kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns and say that a ferocious animal devoured him. Then we’ll see what comes of his dreams.’” (Genesis 37:19-20, NIV)

The maltreatment of Joseph began with the evil plans of his brothers.

Joseph’s brothers resented Joseph on many levels: He was their father’s favorite son (and Joseph made no secret that he knew that his father’s favor rested on him); and Joseph made much of his dreams, in which he seemed always to be the hero. The good news here is that God works on many levels, too.  Joseph’s circumstances were used by God to fit Joseph for God’s work; he used the brothers’ guilt to provoke confession and true repentance; and throughout, God was glorified for His love and His mercy.

Like Joseph, we do not know where life will take us; but we should never doubt that God is at work in our circumstances — however hopeless from our perspective — to transform us into the image of Christ; to bless others; and to glorify God. If we are convinced of this, though we may fall down, we shall not stay down!  – Luther

Tagged , , , ,