| Good morning everyone, Our theme for this month: “Christian community” Our Bible verse for today: “We are afflicted in every way but not crushed; we are perplexed but not in despair; we are persecuted but not abandoned; we are struck down but not destroyed.” 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 (CSB) Our thought for today: “Maybe you’re doing it wrong” In 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 the Apostle Paul reminds us of two important truths. The first is that life is hard. That’s just a fact, and it’s true for everyone, Christian and non-Christian. Just because you have come to faith in Christ doesn’t mean that life will suddenly be filled with nothing but lollipops and gumdrops. No, life is hard whether you are a Christian or not. The second truth we find in those verses is that even though life is hard, Jesus enables us to handle it – and to handle it well. That’s what Paul meant when he wrote that we are afflicted but not crushed, perplexed but not in despair, persecuted but not abandoned, struck down but not destroyed. But what if life is hard and you are not handling it well? What if you do feel crushed, in despair, abandoned, and destroyed? What went wrong? Why are you not handling it better? This is something we all experience from time-to-time and I have found in my own life that there are usually are two primary causes for it. One reason I sometimes feel overwhelmed, maybe even to the point of despair, is because I have taken on myself more of a burden than the Lord ever intended for me to bear. In Matthew 11:28-30 Jesus said that His yoke is easy and His burden is light. He meant that He would never put more of a burden on us than we can reasonably bear. So, if I am feeling overwhelmed to the point of being crushed, it might be because I have taken on more than Jesus intends for me to be carrying. I did that to myself, and I need to ask Him to show me the issues or tasks I need to lay aside instead of trying to carry. The other reason I sometimes feel overwhelmed and crushed is because I’m not relying on my brothers and sisters for help. Either I’m not asking for help, or I’m not accepting the help other people are offering. In Galatians 6:2 Paul teaches that an important part of Christian community is that we can and should help each other carry our heavy burdens in life. Helping to bear one another’s burdens is an important part of life in Christian community – but we have to ask for help, and we have to accept it when it is offered. Do you feel overwhelmed or crushed by life today? Well, maybe you’re doing it wrong. Maybe you have taken on more than Jesus intends for you to be dealing with and you need to lay something aside, or maybe you need to ask for help and then accept the help when it is offered. The issues you’re dealing with may still seem difficult and hard, but probably no longer crushing to the point of despair. God bless, Pastor Jim (Please join us at Oak Hill Baptist Church every Sunday at 10:00. Join us in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you are a shut-in, join us online at http://www.YouTube.com/oakhillbaptistcrossville) |
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