Is God Worth It?
When times of trouble come, and things don't look as rosy as we interpret Jesus' words in John 10:10 for 'life abundant', we tend to ask the question, "God, was it all worth it?"- all the holy living, and moralising, all the struggling and wrestling with temptation, all the denial of self, the taking up of the Cross, all the suffering in silence for the glory of God- is it all worth it?
Beloved, let us not forget that Jesus Himself was asked the same question when He was upon the cross and He, in all His perfection and intimacy with the Father, in a way that the human mind can only grasp at but not understand, cried out, "My GOd, My God, why have you forsaken me?" At the crux of His question was the word "why"- as if He wanted to know the reason for God the Father's forsaking. This is a questioning that we too suffer, and how comforting to know that Jesus understands it all.
Sometimes, we look around us and see how Godless men succeed, and how the wicked hold sway over this world. Psalms 73 describes it in such a painful but true way, that it seems that the enemies of God enjoy this life, whilst we, His children have nothing but spit and dust to gristle our teeth on. Yet, all this simply reinforces one single truth- we need Him so much more, we need to rely on His resources so much more, when we are weak- because it is when we are weak that we are strong. Let us learn to declare the truth of His love, and the truth of what we need- Jesus. Yes, God is worth it- so many times over.
PSA 73:25-26 Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Dearest Lord Jesus,
the world may seem like it can live without you, and yet you have promised inthe Bible that you alone are the way, the truth and the life- no one can truly live without you. You promised bread that would fill the hungry soul forever, water that would quench our thirst eternally, and a comfort that would soothe all pain ever day henceforth. Your love is perfect. Please let us catch a glimpse of your perfection in our darkest hour, that we can truly say who have we but you? And whom do we need other than you? Be our portion and our inheritance Lord, we have nothing except what we have in You. All our money, titles, education, positions are all rubbish compared to the fact that we are found in You. We need you so much Lord, to help us not envy those who seem to have better lives, but to remember that we are vindicated adn justified in you. The sorrow may indeed, last for the night, but Your JOy comes with the morning! Give us that joy, that hope to look forward to, taht we can be excited abt everyday because of you! Your are marvelous O Lord, and worthy of our praise. Sometimes we take you for granted and expect you to make our lives better, forgetting that you have redeemed us from death adn sin and eternal damnation. It is not just waht you gave us, but waht you saved us from- we need you O Lord- we are so weak on our own. Bind the enemy and his servants, tie them up with ropes and shackles that cannot be broken. Remove the opposition against the armies of the Lord, and give us victory over lust, pride, bitterness, hatred, malice, rage, jealousy, fear, selfishness, self-centredness, laziness and all the other evils that the enemy may use against us. For you have the power to give us victory, and for Your namesake, you will do so. We want to lead lives of victory, not lives of defeat. Jesus, we entrust our lives into Your hand, and for Your glory alone- you are worthy of worship O Lord, you are worth it. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Beloved, let us not forget that Jesus Himself was asked the same question when He was upon the cross and He, in all His perfection and intimacy with the Father, in a way that the human mind can only grasp at but not understand, cried out, "My GOd, My God, why have you forsaken me?" At the crux of His question was the word "why"- as if He wanted to know the reason for God the Father's forsaking. This is a questioning that we too suffer, and how comforting to know that Jesus understands it all.
Sometimes, we look around us and see how Godless men succeed, and how the wicked hold sway over this world. Psalms 73 describes it in such a painful but true way, that it seems that the enemies of God enjoy this life, whilst we, His children have nothing but spit and dust to gristle our teeth on. Yet, all this simply reinforces one single truth- we need Him so much more, we need to rely on His resources so much more, when we are weak- because it is when we are weak that we are strong. Let us learn to declare the truth of His love, and the truth of what we need- Jesus. Yes, God is worth it- so many times over.
PSA 73:25-26 Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Dearest Lord Jesus,
the world may seem like it can live without you, and yet you have promised inthe Bible that you alone are the way, the truth and the life- no one can truly live without you. You promised bread that would fill the hungry soul forever, water that would quench our thirst eternally, and a comfort that would soothe all pain ever day henceforth. Your love is perfect. Please let us catch a glimpse of your perfection in our darkest hour, that we can truly say who have we but you? And whom do we need other than you? Be our portion and our inheritance Lord, we have nothing except what we have in You. All our money, titles, education, positions are all rubbish compared to the fact that we are found in You. We need you so much Lord, to help us not envy those who seem to have better lives, but to remember that we are vindicated adn justified in you. The sorrow may indeed, last for the night, but Your JOy comes with the morning! Give us that joy, that hope to look forward to, taht we can be excited abt everyday because of you! Your are marvelous O Lord, and worthy of our praise. Sometimes we take you for granted and expect you to make our lives better, forgetting that you have redeemed us from death adn sin and eternal damnation. It is not just waht you gave us, but waht you saved us from- we need you O Lord- we are so weak on our own. Bind the enemy and his servants, tie them up with ropes and shackles that cannot be broken. Remove the opposition against the armies of the Lord, and give us victory over lust, pride, bitterness, hatred, malice, rage, jealousy, fear, selfishness, self-centredness, laziness and all the other evils that the enemy may use against us. For you have the power to give us victory, and for Your namesake, you will do so. We want to lead lives of victory, not lives of defeat. Jesus, we entrust our lives into Your hand, and for Your glory alone- you are worthy of worship O Lord, you are worth it. In Jesus' name, Amen.
posted by leb at 3:20 AM
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