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So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever. 2 Corinthians 4:18
It seems like every day we’re met with more and more troubles. Racial tension. Conspiracy theories. Political unrest. Natural disasters. Pandemics. Climate change. Inflation.
When you start to look around, it can really be pretty depressing. It’s no wonder fear and worry and anger and frustration and hatred seem to be rampant.
The apostle Paul encourages us to place our gaze on the things that last forever. All of the struggles we see now will someday go away. But there are some things that we can’t see that will last forever.
The love of God is new every morning. The forgiveness of our sins. The promise of eternal life. A peace the passes all understanding. The presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives as believers in Jesus. What are some other things that will last forever?
Focusing on the things that will last forever makes it easier to endure the things we struggle with that surround us. The things we see are temporary, but the promises of God are eternal.
Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God. Ephesians 5:2
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but up here in the north country, fall is soon to be among us. While I’m not happy about what comes after fall, there are many things I love about fall.
The crisp air. The colorful leaves. The woodsy smell of a campfire or walking through the forest. Our lives are centered around aromas and smells, that’s one of the reasons why the candle industry is so huge. We all love those pleasing aroma’s.
Jesus’s life was a pleasing aroma to the Father. That’s how God saw Jesus. He looked down from heaven, and saw his son and the marvelous things that his son did for his creation. The love Jesus showed for God’s people made God happy.
Not only is Jesus, a pleasing aroma to God, That’s how he sees us when we live in his love. The next time you smell something that just makes you feel good, think about the fact that you smell good to God!
When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father. John 15:8
Imagine having the craving for an apple, seeing an apple tree, and then, in your excitement going up to grab an apple only to find Brussel sprouts hanging from the branches!
What a huge disappointment! Of course, nothing like that could happen, right? After all Apple trees only produce apples. Orange trees only produce oranges and brussels sprouts? Well, that’s another story.
In John chapter 15 Jesus tells us that he is the vine, and we are the branches. The branches are worthless without the vine. The branch does not strive to produce fruit. The fruit comes naturally as a result of the work of the vine.
Jesus says that when we produce fruit, it brings glory to the father. Think of glory here as being joy. The father takes great joy and seeing us produce fruit. But the father is also the one that causes the fruit to form. Our job is just to show the fruit that he’s given us.
So don’t get tired. Don’t get weary. Don’t give up on the good works you do. Don’t give up on the love that you show. Others may not see, or acknowledge your efforts, but God does. It’s these things that gives the father great joy as he produces fruit in your life.
The Lord is good, a strong refuge when trouble comes. He is close to those who trust in him. Nahum 1:7
Where do you turn when trouble comes? Who do you call on for help?
When relationships go south, some turned to new relationships, hoping to find relief.
When finances are hard, some borrow money which only increases their debt load and anxiety.
Loss of a loved one can lead to years of grief, depression, and mental health issues.
God has never promised that life will be easy. In fact, He promises us that we will have troubles. He also promises us that he will always be there to work with us through every storm we encounter.
The closer you draw to him, less impact the storms in life will have on you. You can trust in him in whatever storm comes your way!
What storm are you in today? What struggle is keeping you from seeing the good things in life? Lean heavily on God and he will bring you a peace that passes all understanding.
Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Matthew 7:24
What do you think is more foolish? Find the perfect spot to build your house. Collect all of the building materials and store them there? Or to find a place on the beach and build a house in an area that is susceptible to storms and destruction?
Neither option is very wise. In the first option, there is no shelter whatsoever. When the storms come, you have everything you need to be safe, but you haven’t put it together.In the second option, when the storm comes, what you have built is destroyed.
It’s one thing to have the right materials to build and have the right place to build on. It’s quite another to take those materials and actually build.
Jesus tells the story of two houses. Let’s assume that the building materials used to build these houses are exactly the same. They are high-quality, they are exactly what you need.
This story isn’t so much about the building materials or the location is it is what you do with the materials you have. Inactive faith is no faith at all.
Just before he tells the story about the two houses, Jesus warns those listening to him that there will be many who claim to know him, but he won’t know them, because they have not lived a life of active faith.
Following Jesus isn’t about knowing him, and knowing all sorts of scripture, and knowing all the right things to say. Following Jesus is having an active faith. Building a house of grace, of mercy, and of love. Building a house in which people can run to for shelter in the midst of the storm.
What can you do today to make your faith more active in the lives of those around you? What can you do today to start building a house that will withstand the strongest storms?
Mike Fisk & Built with Grace 