LIFE: THE HOUR OF OUR TESTING

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Hebrews 12:12 ESV

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Therefore, lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed.

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Is There Something More to Life? A short lesson on life, leaves you seeking and hoping there is more to life then what meets the eye. The church is evidence of this, as people flood through the doors with the resounding questions, "Is there a God," and "What is the purpose of my life?" The hearts of man are empty and this world only offers dead works leading to more darkening of their understanding (Ephesians 4:18). And in weakness of spirit, one must admit the vast numbers of people asking these questions are outside the church, for this is the place where they've been hurt the most. Having asked these questions myself, and being transformed upon finding the answer, I've dedicated my entire life to delivering the good news to this broken world. Our great God only wants, You (to) love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind (Matthew 22:37) and He will take care of everything else.

Eternity and Purpose Were Put Within Your Heart. ​In God's infinite wisdom, He placed eternity within our hearts (Ecclesiastes 3:11) along with our purpose (Psalm 57:2; 138:8; Job 42:2; Exodus 9:16; Revelation 17:17). After tasting the bitter emptiness of this world, we would now there is something else, so we would seek Him. As He graciously says, If you seek Me, you will find Me (Jeremiah 29:13). At the onset of Jesus' ministry, after His baptism and testing in the wilderness, He retreated to the mountains with his disciples, to reveal the great hidden mysteries only to be revealed in this age. He could have began by explaining the meticulousness of His works, which they are. He could of demonstrated His infinite wisdom, in His creation; making everything out of nothing. But instead He revealed the healing ointment of God for the brokenness of man's hearts and lives. How rich in mercy, He is. Instead of showing how great He is, He began by explaining that we're going to alright. He met us at our greatest need; He met us in our deepest pain, wondering and anxieties. In the midst of our suffering, He offers the reassurance of miraculous provision to all who seek Him (Matthew 5-6). God is holy and He wants to do great things for you!

So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of His purpose, He guaranteed it with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things, ... we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us (Hebrews 6:17-18).

You Have Been Given a Part on God's Stage. We've established that God created  you with a purpose, but you must understand it flows from His great love for you. He didn't form you out of clay in a meaningless way. Never! Your life isn't pointless; that's a lie from the enemy. The devil is a liar! God is far greater, with miraculous power and unending wisdom and abounding in steadfast love. He didn't turn His back on you either, as some suppose. Additionally, He isn't too busy doing other things. The Creator of the universe lovingly made you in His image with a specific plan and purpose that only you can fulfill. The snow flakes speak to this truth. You were more fearfully and wonderfully made then them, and they are divinely beautiful when viewed under a microscope. But you, beloved, are exceedingly more valuable then a snowflake, for your very breath, is His (Genesis 2:7). He created you with a purpose in your heart, sealing the success of it with an oath and a decree. The bible is fabulous in demonstrating this truth, for it is rich with success story after success story of those who walked before us, and achieved victory. The  cast of characters, were not the famous heroes presented by Hollywood. No, these heroes were the ones on the cutting room floor. I've not meet a true believer, who hasn't thank God for this truth. It's the hope that holds their hands to the plow and their feet on the ground. Sometimes that all you've got, but I tell you - it's all you need!

And my God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:19).

He Will Bring Your Purpose to Completion. God's elite army lived on every word He spoke, and it has sustained the new recruits for over 2000 years. He is so capable that He tells us, Do not be anxious about your life (Matthew 6:25). Does He mean just the big things? No, He means everything! He decreed with an oath and a guarantee the most marvelous redemptive plan of restoration, meaning and purpose for you and your descendants. He is the God of eternal and everlasting covenant. He isn't so near sighted that His plans are limited to your sojourning here on earth. Never! His plans goes beyond time, into eternity. He predestined us for adoption to Himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will (Ephesians 1:5). He planned to have you as His child with Him in His Kingdom. He wrote your name as an heir in the Lamb's book of life, before He ever spoke a breath of anything into being. His ways are unsearchable. He is beyond our understanding of greatness.

 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and He will make straight your path (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Be Strong in the Lord. The Lord tells us in His holy word, Therefore, strengthen your tired arms and your weak knees, and strengthen the paths of your life, so that your lameness may not become worse, but instead may be healed (Hebrews 12:12). The Lord wants to restore what the locusts have eaten (Joel 2:25). He is ready to slaughter the fatten calf in celebration for your return home to Him (Luke 15:23).  He wants you to lay hold of the promises and surround yourself in the cloud of witnesses who went before you, to give you hope and a future. We are to know the wows of this life only bring us glorification in the next as we prepare ourselves as living vessels to bear His glory. The Lord is gracious and merciful. Always good. Overflowing with steadfast love. His ways are always perfect. Put your trust in Him, for He is holy.

Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely. And may your spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 5:23).

Dear heavenly Father, we come before You with the bold confidence and reassurance of hope which You gave us; we ask that You would continue to guide us and teach us, opening our eyes and ears to understand Your truths; be merciful to us, Your humble servants, and show us Your great Fatherly love, the love we've always needed but seldom got; help us to know You, for to know You is to love You; give us strength to endure the suffering of this life, even though it's only for a season. Amen