Teague Bible Church

THE HEAT THAT MELTS THE BUTTER TEMPERS THE STEEL
In every crisis in history we see the best and the worst in mankind. In the recent flooding in Texas we see this in the news each day. Not really the time for gaining the larger picture you say? Maybe it is. Most definitely it is that time.
Of course, no one wants to listen to some armchair evaluation of the larger things in life, if the first things; meeting the physical needs of the victims is neglected. James 2:15-16 says, ” If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them,’ Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,’ and yet you do not give them what is necessary for the body, what use is that?”
Praise God for the outpouring of support from the residents of the state of Texas, and the nation, and each church. We need to focus on these good things being supplied, and relieving suffering, in one of the worst events we may see for a while.
In every life God gives an opportunity to see the truth of Jesus Christ and respond to it. What a gracious thing to be driven to it through trials. If that is what it takes to get us to see our need for Christ, then so be it.
I had a brother in Christ tell me in the middle of his trials, ” I can’t wait till my life gets back to normal. I cannot be expected to function until it does! ” I thought that was an odd statement for a man in his forties to say that. “When has life ever been normal?” I said. He only felt threatened by the conversation.
He had a concept of the ideal life floating around in his head. He was given opportunity after opportunity to become real in Christ and give up a false image of himself, but he refused. When an overwhelming storm came into his life he was mad at God, but hide that anger and blamed the people around him for his less than “ideal,” less than “normal” life.
All of us will face all types of trials throughout our lives. Yet, when life gets back to “normal” what does that look like? That is the real question.
Do we go back to spending time with God only when we are troubled? Will we try to “live by bread alone” again? Will we act and speak as if we will be on this planet forever?
When people talk to you they need to sense something deeper than just another person living for the moment. Those who encounter you need to see a traveler, someone who is unselfish and can meet immediate needs, yet lives for someone who is far beyond this immediate world. The world needs to see that believer who spends times with God.
We are either coming out of some trial or going into some trail. Of course, there is great rest in the Lord, for every believer, (who surrenders to training from the Lord,) along the way. That rest is not a journey to your idea of “normal.” Life is not normal; it is hard; but we overcome and become transformed through the journey.
We need constant reminders of this by staying in the Word of God. You really can’t scold people into seeing there deepest need. Sometimes they can only see their need when a crisis comes.
We are not pets in a cage. God does not want pets, He wants sons and daughters. That will mean trails, but not without resources to overcome. The goal is to be like Christ; not to return to normal, (if your normal means you are in control of all things.) He has not left “normal” as an option open to us; He never intended to.
Pray with me today. “Thank you Lord for not leaving me, and my brothers and sisters in Christ to ourselves! I do not want someone’s short-sighted and selfish view of normal imposed over me. I reject my own ideas I have imposed on myself. I appreciated the things that come from you; but what I really want is just You. I just want to know You”

” Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and thought you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.” I Peter 1:3-9