Tracking Thoughts on Traveling Trains

I have always been one who enjoys talking over writing, so I would much rather sit over a cup of coffee than write this all out!  With that said, I invite you call me out on that coffee next time I’m back J

While traveling on one of the many trains we have taken so far, I fell into one of those deep thinking moments. Part of this moment came up from listening to the song – With Everything by Hillsong. If you haven’t heard it before I encourage you to check out the song below!

Although I have heard and sang this song countless times a certain line struck me in a way it never had ever before - “With everything, We will shout for your glory.”  I began to ask myself, do I really mean “With Everything?” I mean seriously.  What does that even look like! Is it even possible?  I mean, I love Jesus so of course it’s with everything.  I love how he walked in perfect truth, he healed the sick, and died for my sins.  But if I am really honest with myself, in many areas of life I desire the idea of Jesus being my role model, more than I desire to become like him.  For example I often prefer to win an argument rather than swallowing my pride.  I’m not a big fan of turning my other cheek, I don’t really want to wash your feet, and I won’t forgive you right away if you spit on me. The reality is Jesus laid down his rights for me, yet I spend much of my life fighting for mine.

After doing some reading, listening, and reflecting on some of our trains, I want to invite you to reflect on some of our inheritance!

We are adopted sons and daughters of the most high. Even more exciting, we aren’t black sheep of the family. We are co-heirs with Christ!  (Romans 8:13-17)

Psalm 63:3 For your love oh Lord is better than life,

Psalm 73:25-26 Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

With the many promises from God why isn’t it easy to shout for glory?   After doing a little research apparently it’s not that uncommon. Over 1/3 of the Psalms are of lament and groaning.  On top of so many Psalms professing pain, EVERY prophet in the bible except Haggai as at least one lament.  So what do we do with this? I believe we have an opportunity to make our laments either purposeful or purposeless, and the choice is ours.

Before I start discuss a few difficult areas where it is tough to shout for his glory, I want to make clear I don’t claim to know the extent of your pain or suffering.  What I do claim is that we serve a God who does. So as I unpack some ideas, I tread lightly knowing the circumstance you face may seem impossible to shout for His glory.  My goal is in bringing some of this into the light is that we can understand our suffering a little better and that we can be one step closer to shouting for His glory.

I believe this is such an importance issue to take note of because if you haven’t experienced suffering yet, you will because its part of our inheritance - When we are in glad submission to God almighty, we are immediately against the odds of our culture. (Chandler) - 2 Timothy 2:12 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.

John 16:33b In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.

1 Peter 4:12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you

1 Peter 5:8-9 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.

So unfortunately suffering appears to be part of the package that we inherit with Christ.  The good news is it doesn’t have to be in vain.  We have a choice to make our suffering purposeful or purposeless. Mark Driscoll (Joy of Suffering sermon) asks some difficult questions that I believe really put our suffering into perspective.

1.  Will your suffering compel you to love Jesus more?  Often times our brokenness compels us to chose Jesus because we have nothing else!

2.  Will your suffering purify your motives? Paul had no health, no wealth, no freedom.  Paul had nothing to gain on this earth but Jesus.

3.  Will your suffering reorient your priorities towards the gospel?  I know often I have chosen things like comfort, wealth and simplicity instead of Jesus.

4. Will your chains of suffering become opportunities to speak of Jesus?  Your pain relate to what others are going through.

5. Will the Christians who watch you suffer and hear you suffer grow in their faith? Paul: What has happened to me brothers has really served to advance the gospel.

6. Will non-believers become Christians because of your suffering? Paul had up to 9,000 Roman soldiers talking about Jesus because he was in chains.

Another perspective on suffering that I find truth in is a quote from Matt Chandler

“Why is suffering a part of the package? It is not cruel, unjust, or wicked of God to wound you in such a way that it knocks out the props of self-reliance and to put your reliance on him. It would be far more cruel of God to allow you continue to prop yourself up by means of self-reliance. That makes you a slave. God disciplines those he calls sons, and scourges all of those who are his children. It is not cruel of God at all to take from you what might lead you into an eternity of sorrow, to give you sorrow now that leads to an eternity of ever increasing joy.  What you have is a lack of trust in the sovereignty of God.”

So we are told so often in the Psalms, to rejoice! Rejoice! We also know Apostle Paul says in suffering, rejoice.  I don’t know about you, but that is about the last thing I want to hear.  The reason is because we associate joy with an emotion, and you can’t command anyone to have an emotion.  So we can chose to rejoice!  We aren’t called to rejoice in way suffering feels, rather the purpose of it.  That God and his grace enables us to trust him more and that he uses it for people non-Christians to come to faith, and Christians to become strong Christians!  18 times in the New Testament Joy and Suffering are paired together.  The only way we can have joy in suffering is through Jesus.  Here are 5 ways Jesus suffered purposefully.

1. Jesus took our sin and took our salvation by suffering.
2. Jesus suffered as an example for us.
3. Jesus continues to suffer for us.  At Paul’s conversion the Lord said “Saul Saul, why do you continue to persecute me?” I will never leave you nor forsake you. 
4. A day is coming when Jesus will put an end to all suffering.
5. Jesus said we will have tribulation.

Since we know tribulations will come, embrace them and suffer well because that could be the difference in someone else’s life.  Thoughts?

You can make living by what you get, but you can make a life by what you give.