“For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.”
1 Timothy 6:7
Hi Men:
One of the brothers sent me the above quote from C.S. Lewis. Lewis goes on to say that if we ever find ourselves believing that we are better than someone else, “we may be sure that we are being acted on, not by God, but by the devil.” Make sure you read the Puritan Prayer below, “Man A Nothing.” And don’t forget what Jesus said about you, “………….. for apart from Me you can do nothing” (Jn 15:5).
Sorry for the delay in getting this email to you today. All of us have difficult things that come into our life by the Sovereign hand of the Lord. Interesting that last Friday Men’s Group email included Day 110 in the Red Book, “The Benefit of Affliction.” This past week, one of our dear brother’s son that you have been praying for almost 2 years, Alejandro Jr, had another round with his bi-polar condition. Talk about throwing a young man and his family into the valley of vision, nothing will do it like a brain disfunction. All logic and rationality flies out the window. I was reading up on this condition and went to a site with blogs from parents who have a son or daughter with this disorder. Reading these stories broke my heart. A son or daughter that has so much going for them and suddenly it is like a switch being flipped and they are not in control of anything – a different person. In times like this, we have to stand on the foundation that God is in Control and He is Good! To refresh your memory, go to Day 11 in the Blue Book: “The Twin Pillars of Faith” (see attached). Even though it is exponentially difficult, Alejandro Sr. shared the following with me and David Shoaff, “I am totally a slave who is able to sleep knowing that He is taking care of my son. No doubt about that.” Here is a man that amidst the tears, understands Day 11……
Please pray for Alejandro Jr and his family.
Broken and Dependent in Christ,
Dan
The last sentence we should take to heart: “Then take me to the Cross and leave me there!”
Men: Make sure you look up all the passages as you read this profound note from Lee……..
WHEN GOD AND LIFE MAKE NO SENSE
In meditating through the story of Lazarus’s death and resurrection (Jn. 11), several poignant lessons can be learned that help to explain the mysterious workings of God that often make no sense in this life:
- We are expendable for the glory of God: “But when Jesus heard about [Lazarus’s death] he said, ‘Lazarus’s sickness will not end in death. No, it happened for the glory of God so that the Son of God will receive glory from this’ ” (vs. 4).
- We are presumptuous in attempting to advise or second-guess God’s method of operation:“…[Jesus] said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.” “But Rabbi,” the [disciples] said, “a short while ago the Jews tried to stone you, and yet you are going back there again?” ‘Roll the stone aside,’ Jesus told them. But Martha, the dead man’s sister protested, ‘Lord, he has been dead for four days. The smell will be terrible ’” (vss. 7, 8,12, 39)
- God operates on His timetable, not ours:“ So although Jesus loved Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, he stayed where he was for the next two days…And for your sakes, I’m glad I wasn’t there, for now you will really believe. Come, let’s go see him…When Jesus arrived at Bethany, he was told that Lazarus had already been in his grave for four days…Martha said to Jesus, ‘Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died ’ (vss. 5,6,15, 17, 21).
- Jesus’ strategy boggles our “rational” thinking:“ But some of them said, ‘This man healed a blind man. Couldn’t he have kept Lazarus from dying? ’” (vs.37)
“’… My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the Lord. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts’” (Isa. 55:8b).
CONCLUSION : One of our greatest problems in life is our refusal to allow God to transform our minds to conform to his. (Rom. 12:2) Until we do, we will constantly waffle between viewing life through a temporal or an eternal lens. “ That sort of man cannot hope to receive anything from the Lord, and the life of a man of divided loyalty will reveal instability at every turn.” (Jms. 1:8 – Phil. Trans.)
QUESTION : On which side of the temporal, eternal ledger are you choosing to live?
This week, may you experience His grace, peace, and protection.
~Dwight Hill~
