The Future: Faith in Suffering

  • April 14, 2015
  • /
  • Bethany Jenkins

Psalm 22.30-31
Posterity will serve him; future generations will be told about the Lord. They will proclaim his righteousness, declaring to a people yet unborn: He has done it!

Tim Keller suggested, on the CNN Belief Blog, that answers to the question, “Why me?” are generally inadequate. He wrote that people usually say one of four things:

  1. “I guess this proves that there is no God.” – which is inadequate because “suffering does not go away if you abandon belief in God.”
  2. “While there is a God, he’s not completely in control of everything.” – which is inadequate because “that kind of God doesn’t really fit our definition of ‘God’”
  3. “God saves some people and lets others die because he favors and rewards good people.” – which is inadequate because “the Bible forcefully rejects” this idea.
  4. “God knows what he’s doing, so be quiet and trust him” – which is inadequate because “it is cold and because the Bible gives us more with which to face the terrors of life.”

“God did not create a world with death and evil in it. It is the result of humankind turning away from him,” Keller reflected. “But God did not abandon us. Only Christianity of all the world’s major religions teaches that God came to Earth in Jesus Christ and became subject to suffering and death himself, dying on the cross to take the punishment our sins deserved, so that someday he can return to Earth to end all suffering without ending us.”

Where do we find this? Psalm 22. On the cross, Jesus quoted it: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Yet neither the Psalm nor Jesus ended with abandonment. When Jesus made atonement, as Psalm 22 foreshadowed, the Father raised him up.

Prayer
Lord, We may not know the reason that you allow evil and suffering to continue, but at least we know that the reason is not that you do not love us. In Gethsemane, Jesus chose to suffer for us and, on the cross, he atoned for our sins so that we need not suffer eternally. Therefore, we proclaim your righteousness in our generation and to a people yet unborn, that he has done it. Amen.

Today’s Readings
Leviticus 18 (Listen – 3:46)
Psalms 22 (Listen – 3:49)

Finding Faith in Future Glory

  • April 10, 2015
  • /
  • Bethany Jenkins

Psalm 17.15
As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness; when I awake, I shall be satisfied with your likeness.

“A little patience can go a long way,” wrote Alexei Barrionuevo in the New York Times as the economy began showing signs of recovery in 2012. “At least that’s the lesson to be drawn from developers who have crawled from the ashes of the housing crisis – or from behind the barricades where they waited it out – to a Manhattan high-end market that has become a first-choice destination for the cash of the world’s wealthy.” 

Yet what has their patience really gained? They may be building bigger condos, but are they making better homes?

When David fled from his enemies, he fixed his eyes on his future home. “The Psalmist looks beyond the grave into another world;” Spurgeon once preached, “he overlooks the narrow deathbed where he has to sleep, and he says, ‘When I awake.’ How happy is that man who has an eye to the future.”

Spurgeon’s sermon, The Hope of Future Bliss, continues, “So says the Christian. I ask no royal pomp or fame now; I am prepared to wait … I want not a pitiful estate here – I will tarry till I get my domains in heaven, those broad and beautiful domains that God has provided for them that love him. Well content will I be to fold my arms and sit me down in the cottage, for I shall have a mansion of God, ‘a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.’”

How do we know that we have such a home? Jesus promised his followers, “In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”

Prayer
Lord, You are the ultimate developer. Not only have you created our current home out of nothingness by your mere word, you have also prepared an eternal home in glory for us. Therefore, let us not long for ultimate satisfaction in any earthly home. Instead, by your Spirit, fill us with patient endurance in this life so that we hope in your home, where we will be satisfied in your presence. Amen.

Today’s Readings
Leviticus 14 (Listen – 8:11)
Psalms 17 (Listen – 1:58)

Finding Faith
Part 5 of 5, read more on TheParkForum.org

 ___________________________________

This Weekend’s Readings

Saturday: Leviticus 15 (Listen – 4:59); Psalms 18 (Listen – 5:47)
Sunday: Leviticus 16 (Listen – 5:36); Psalm 19 (Listen – 1:52)

___________________

FAQs

How can I make a tax-deductible donation? Click here.
How can I get these devotionals in my inbox? Click here.
What is the reading plan this blog is based on? Click here.

 ___________________________________

Finding Faith in Busyness and Prosperity

  • April 8, 2015
  • /
  • Bethany Jenkins

Psalm 14.2

The LORD looks down from heaven on all mankind to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God.

From the moment we wake up in the morning, almost everything in our lives tells us not to seek God. The message, of course, is not explicit. The Evil One is more subtle and deceiving than that. Instead, he fills up our lives with enough activity and prosperity to keep God out of our minds. 

As Screwtape told Wormwood in C.S. Lewis’ The Screwtape Letters, “It is funny how mortals always picture us as putting things into their minds; in reality our best work is done by keeping things out.”

In the midst of our busy lives, however, God makes a promise: “Those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.” 

We do not seek God, however, as though He were hiding. He is omnipresent and, therefore, always near everyone and everything. Moreover, He has made a covenant commitment with His people to stand by us and work for our good always.

If we do not seek God as though He were hiding, then how do we seek him? Most of us know that the full presence of the Lord is not our constant experience. We have seasons when we lack intimacy with Him, giving Him little thought and forgetting His beauty. Therefore, we seek Him by consciously fixing and focusing our attention and our affection on the Lord. 

We make this effort because, in our talkative culture that constantly sends us the message that Jesus is not valuable, we must set our minds to going around things to see His face. He is hidden behind cultural and personal obstacles. We must flee every spiritually dulling activity that blocks our way to Him.

Prayer
Lord, Give us discerning hearts that know what makes us sensitive to your presence in the world. Open our minds to know what dulls our affections and blinds our eyes from seeing you. Let us throw these things away if we must so that we may seek you. We cry out to you because we long for your promise to be true of us – that you will not forsake those who seek you. Amen.

Today’s Readings
Leviticus 11-12 (Listen – 7:20)
Psalms 13-14 (Listen – 1:43)

Finding Faith
Part 3 of 5, read more on TheParkForum.org

___________________

FAQs

How can I make a tax-deductible donation? Click here.
How can I get these devotionals in my inbox? Click here.
What is the reading plan this blog is based on? Click here.

 ___________________________________

Heaven’s Joy, Employment and Privilege

  • March 27, 2015
  • /
  • Bethany Jenkins

Today: A Lenten reflection and prayer guide to prepare our hearts and minds for Holy Week. Curated by Bethany Jenkins.

John 17.24
[Jesus said,] “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.”

Lenten Morning: The Redeemer’s Prayer (an excerpt) | by Charles Spurgeon

Christ prayed, if I understand his prayer, for three things… The first great thing he prayed for, is that which is heaven’s greatest joy—“Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am” … He prayed that we might be with Christ—that is our companionship, with him where he is—that is our position. It seems as if he would tell us, that heaven is both a condition and a state—in the company of Christ, and in the place where Christ is …

Now the next prayer is, “that they may behold my glory which thou hast given me.” This is heaven’s sweetest employment … The moment the soul departs from this body, it will behold the glory of Christ. The glory of his person will be the first thing that will arrest our attention. There will he sit in the midst of the throne, and our eyes will first be caught with the glory of his appearance …

I must close by noticing the last point, which is this. In our Savior’s prayer heaven’s greatest privilege is also included. We are not only to be with Christ and to behold his glory, but we are to be like Christ and to be glorified with him … That in all Christ has, a believer has a share. This seems to me to be the sum total, and the crowning of it all—to reign with Christ, to ride in his triumphal chariot, and have a portion of his joy; to be honored with him, to be accepted in him, to be glorified with him. This is heaven, this is heaven indeed.

And now, how many of you are there here who have any hope that this shall be your lot? Well said Chrysostom, “The pains of hell are not the greatest part of hell; the loss of heaven is the weightiest woe of hell” … For you who have a hope, I beseech you, hold it fast, live on it, rejoice in It … Live near your Master now, so shall your evidences be bright; and when you come to cross the flood, you shall see him face-to-face, and what that is only they can tell who enjoy it every hour.

Lenten Evening Prayer: The Daily Examen
1. Opening prayer of invitation: become aware of God’s presence (2 minutes).
2. Review the day with gratitude (3 minutes).
3. Pay attention to your emotions (3 minutes).
4. Choose one feature of the day and pray from it (5 minutes).
5. Closing prayer: look toward tomorrow (2 minutes).

Today’s Readings
Exodus 38 (Listen – 4:23)
John 17 (Listen – 3:40)

Lenten Reflections
Part 5 of 5, read more on TheParkForum.org

 ___________________________________

This Weekend’s Readings

Saturday: Exodus 39 (Listen – 5:24); John 18 (Listen – 5:16)
Sunday: Exodus 40 (Listen – 4:07); John 19 (Listen – 6:23)

___________________

FAQs

How can I make a tax-deductible donation? Click here.
How can I get these devotionals in my inbox? Click here.
What is the reading plan this blog is based on? Click here.

 ___________________________________

The Blood of the First Martyrs

  • March 26, 2015
  • /
  • Bethany Jenkins

Today: A Lenten reflection and prayer guide to prepare our hearts and minds for Holy Week. Curated by Bethany Jenkins.

John 16.33
[Jesus said,] “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Lenten Morning: Foxe’s Book of Martyrs (an excerpt) | by John Foxe

James the Great. As James was led to the place of martyrdom, his accuser was brought to repent of his conduct by the apostle’s extraordinary courage and undauntedness, and fell down at his feet to request his pardon, professing himself a Christian, and resolving that James should not receive the crown of martyrdom alone. Hence they were both beheaded at the same time. Thus did the first apostolic martyr cheerfully and resolutely receive that cup, which he had told our Savior he was ready to drink. These events took place AD 44.

Philip. He labored diligently in Upper Asia, and suffered martyrdom at Heliopolic, in Phrygia. He was scourged, thrown into prison and afterwards crucified. AD 54.

Matthew. The scene of his labors was Parthia, and Ethiopia, in which latter country he suffered martyrdom, being slain with a halberd in the city of Nadabah. AD 60.

James the Less. He was elected to the oversight of the churches of Jerusalem; and was the author of the Epistle ascribed to James in the sacred canon. At the age of ninety-four, he was beaten and stoned by the Jews; and finally had his brains dashed out with a fuller’s club.

Matthias. He was stoned in Jerusalem and then beheaded.

Andrew. He preached the gospel to many Asiatic nations; but on his arrival at Edessa he was taken and crucified on a cross, the two ends of which were fixed transversely in the ground.

Mark. Mark was dragged to pieces by the people of Alexandria, at the great solemnity of Serapis their idol, ending his life under their merciless hands.

Peter. Nero sought matter against Peter to put him to death; which, when the people perceived, they entreated Peter … that he would fly the city. Peter, through their importunity at length persuaded, prepared himself to avoid. But, coming to the gate, he saw the Lord Christ come to meet him, to whom he, worshipping, said, “Lord, whither dost Thou go?” To whom He answered, “I am come again to be crucified.” Peter, perceiving his suffering to be understood, returned into the city. Jerome saith that he was crucified, his head being down and his feet upward, himself so requiring, because he was (he said) unworthy to be crucified after the same form and manner as the Lord was.

Lenten Evening Prayer: The Daily Examen
1. Opening prayer of invitation: become aware of God’s presence (2 minutes).
2. Review the day with gratitude (3 minutes).
3. Pay attention to your emotions (3 minutes).
4. Choose one feature of the day and pray from it (5 minutes).
5. Closing prayer: look toward tomorrow (2 minutes).

Today’s Readings
Exodus 37 (Listen – 3:14)
John 16 (Listen – 4:14)

Lenten Reflections
Part 4 of 5, read more on TheParkForum.org

___________________

FAQs

How can I make a tax-deductible donation? Click here.
How can I get these devotionals in my inbox? Click here.
What is the reading plan this blog is based on? Click here.

 ___________________________________