| Good Morning Everyone, Our theme for this month: “The power of hope” Our Bible verse for today: “He comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any kind of affliction, through the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” 1 Corinthians 1:4 (CSB) Our thought for today: “Your mess can become your message” Max Lucado has long been one of my favorite authors. Currently I’m re-reading what in my opinion is one of his best books, “You’ll Get Through This: Hope and help for your turbulent times”. The book is packed full of stories, scriptures, and promises, all designed to help us see the hand of God at work in the middle of our toughest times in life – and to help us remain hopeful and optimistic knowing that He is there, at work, and getting us through it. In the chapter entitled, “Oh, so this is boot camp!”, Max refers to something the Apostle Peter wrote in 1 Peter 1:6, “You rejoice in this, even though now for a short time, if necessary, you suffer grief in various trials.” Peter was writing about how hard life can sometimes be but also, how it is that God uses such times to mold us and shape into the men and women He wants us to be. He will use our trials for His glory. The Apostle James explained it this way, “Consider it great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.” God doesn’t cause most of the trials and struggles we go through in life. Usually those things are simply the result of living in a broken world that is filled with sin and sickness. God doesn’t cause those things, but He will use them for our growth and for His glory. That was Max’s point by naming his chapter, “Oh, so this is boot camp!” Like life, military boot camp can be hard. It forces the recruit to deal with trials and struggles, all of which are used by the instructors to train the person to be tougher, better, stronger, and more ready for service. Max also says, “Your mess can become your message.” In other words, your current struggle can be a means for you to give honor and glory to God and, as Paul noted in 1 Corinthians 1:4 (above), God can and will use your current trials to give you a platform to provide comfort and hope to others who are also experiencing similar things. With God you have the hope, the confident assurance, that you will get through this, and also that your mess can even become your message. God Bless, Pastor Jim |
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