Trials for Others

John 9 As He passed by, He saw a man blind from birth. 2 And His disciples asked Him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?” 3 Jesus answered, “It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him..."

This morning I read these first 3 verses in John 9 and just had to stop and set the book down. I was struck, maybe for the first time, by Christ's response to this man's ailment. "It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him..."  As a believer I have often found that my mentality towards trials is that they are a direct result to sin and disobedience in my own life, but here is a verse that directly proves that mentality to be wrong. Yes, it is true that the Lord disciplines those whom He loves. Yes, it is true that He puts us through the fire to sanctify us and make us more like Him. However, it is also true that sometimes trials come to us for others, that they might see Him displayed in us. 

Be not discouraged when trials come and you don't understand why, whether it be that you can see no sin in an area, or you have felt you were walking closely to the Father, sometimes a trial comes and you have no idea how it is helping others. 

Press on, Beloved Ones.

Treasures Produce Worry

Do not worry! Earthly goods deceive the human heart into believing that they give it security and freedom from worry. But in truth, they are what cause anxiety. The heart which clings to goods receives with them the choking burden of worry. Worry collects treasures, and treasures produce more worries. We desire to secure our lives with earthly goods; we want our worrying to make us worry-free, but the truth is the opposite. The chains which bind us to earthly goods, the clutches which hold the goods tight, are themselves worries.

Abuse of earthly goods consists of using them as a security for the next day. Worry is always directed toward tomorrow. But the goods are intended only for today in the strictest sense. It is our securing things for tomorrow which makes us so insecure today. It is enough that each day should have its own troubles. Only those who put tomorrow completely into God’s hand and receive fully today what they need for their lives are really secure. Receiving daily liberates me from tomorrow.

~40 Day Journey with Dietrich Bonhoeffer

"Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Luke 12:34

The King of Love My Shepherd IS

The King of love my Shepherd is,
Whose goodness faileth never,
I nothing lack if I am His
And He is mine forever.

Where streams of living water flow
My ransomed soul He leadeth,
And where the verdant pastures grow,
With food celestial feedeth.

Perverse and foolish oft I strayed,
But yet in love He sought me,
And on His shoulder gently laid,
And home, rejoicing, brought me.

In death's dark vale I fear no ill
With Thee, dear Lord, beside me;
Thy rod and staff my comfort still,
Thy cross before to guide me.

Thou spread'st a table in my sight;
Thy unction grace bestoweth;
And O what transport of delight
From Thy pure chalice floweth!

And so through all the length of days
Thy goodness faileth never;
Good Shepherd, may I sing Thy praise
Within Thy house forever.
~H. Baker

I was very much blessed by this sweet hymn this evening. I was especially blessed with the thought that though I enjoyed my sin and never gave thought of coming to Christ, except for selfishly wanting to save myself from pain and  misery, He in love sought me and brought me home, rejoicing!  Beloved, can you believe it! The Creator of the entire universe rejoiced when He brought you into His kingdom.  It is too much to bear. When I realize how sinful I really am and how unworthy I am of any good thing it can only bring me to my knees thanking God for who He is, the King of Love and my Shepherd.

Beloved, forget not your King, remember all He has done for you, and rejoice in Him as He rejoices in you.