21

Jump Start # 2374

Posted on June 21, 2019 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2374

 

2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.”

The chorus of one of the hymns we sing says, “I love to tell the story! ‘Twill be my theme in glory, to tell the old, old story, of Jesus and His love.” This is the proclamation of all Christians. We love the Lord. We love what the Lord has done. We love what the Lord has promised. And, we love to tell others about that.

 

I’ve been reading the story of an old Indiana preacher named Daniel Sommer. He started preaching in the late 1800’s. He played a significant role in the direction of God’s people during a turbulent period of change and unrest. His name became a label for what some considered a narrow and negative mindset. In his time, men who wanted to be preachers picked up a Bible and started preaching. They weren’t trained, mentored or guided by older preachers. They were self taught and did things the best that they could.

 

In his own words Sommer said, “There are men who delight to preach, and regard it a high honor; but I do not. I wish I could. In early life, I enjoyed working on a farm and chopping cord-wood more than I ever had the work of preaching! The good accomplished by my labors is my only comfort. I am not a natural talker, and don’t like to talk…Sixty-five years of labor that has been almost constant has not made much change…Besides, I dislike to be in a crowd, and dislike most of the compliments on my preaching that I hear.”

 

Basically, here was a preacher who didn’t like to preach. My advise to him would be go back to the farm. One can work in the kingdom and serve the Lord well on both sides of the pulpit. Preaching isn’t the only way to influence others and to lead people to Christ. I’ve known preachers who said from the pulpit that they were depressed. That certainly puts a dark cloud over what they were to say next.

 

The art of writing sermons and the presentation of sermons takes some talent and some find it easier to do than others, but to declare that one does not delight in preaching makes us wonder about motivation, purpose, zeal and passion. There are times in life we have to do things, but we may not want to. Taking out the trash isn’t the highlight of my week. Getting blood drawn at a lab doesn’t thrill me. Sitting in a waiting room while my car is being worked on isn’t something that I get excited about. Those are things that have to be done. Those are things that are necessary. I’m not motivated nor passionate about those things. But, preaching shouldn’t fall into a category like that. Preaching is necessary. God declared that. From the early days until now, God has used preaching as the means to communicate His will. Moses preached. Noah preached. The prophets preached. The apostles preached. John the baptist preached. And, even Jesus preached.

 

But to have a preacher who doesn’t like to preach, is like an artist who doesn’t like to draw, or an athlete who doesn’t like to play in a game. All of us preachers have different aspects of preaching that we like better than others. And, there are sermons we like and sermons we don’t like. We look at our fellow preachers and often wish we could borrow some of their insights and talents. But, among the preachers I know, we like to preach. Preaching does a lot of good. Preaching builds faith and drives away fear and worry. Through preaching we become stronger in the Lord. We become motivated and challenged to take up the work of the Lord.

 

So, what do you like about preaching? I ask that to young men who want to preach. Their answer speaks volumes as to what they expect, and how well they will do.

 

My son who preaches is in town this week. We spent a lot of our time together talking about preaching. He’s been doing it long enough now that we can really have some great conversations about preaching, traveling, and the ups and downs of preaching. We even wrote a sermon together this week. Preaching is much more than standing behind a pulpit on Sunday. In fact, that’s the easiest part of preaching. And, that often is the greatest measure of preaching, how well one does behind the pulpit.

 

So, what do I like about preaching? Here’s a few things:

 

  • It is exciting to see and learn truths in God’s word and then to share than with others. It’s wonderful to be able to help others see what you see. And, when they get it, to see them grow and change is a marvelous thing!

 

  • I like the production of a sermon. Starting with a blank screen or sheet of paper, and taking thoughts and shaping them and filling them and rearranging them and building them to a completed sermon. Each week, we preachers go back and have to start this process over. Some weeks, the well really seems dry. Other times, the thoughts flow so easily. But to look back and to see in just a few days you have gone from a sketchy idea in your mind to a powerful sermon that you preached is such a joy.

 

  • I like the love, confidence and trust that others put in me to lead them in God’s word. One must be careful and not abuse that trust nor take advantage of it. But it’s an honor to have people come with their questions and hope that you can help them see what they ought to do.

 

  • To love preaching is to love the Lord. The message is His story. And, how can one not love to tell others about Jesus. Preaching is not about the preacher but it’s about the message. It’s about Jesus. This is not an ego ride and those that view preaching that way or as an easy way to make money typically bomb as preachers. To preach well, is to put Christ before the eyes of others. The audience ought to walk away impressed with Jesus, not the preacher. The preacher is simply a voice, an avenue by which thoughts travel. The destination is Jesus.

 

We who preach ought to love preaching. We need to work at it. We need to study it. We need to become the best that we can. Our hearts need to be drawn to the cross.

 

I love to tell the story…I hope you do!

 

Roger

 

 

20

Jump Start # 2373

Posted on June 20, 2019 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2373

Revelation 2:2 “I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot endure evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false.”

 

Those who have read these opening chapters of Revelation recognize that there is a common pattern to the letters addressed to seven churches of Asia. One of the things we notice is the Lord complimenting and identifying what was good and right with the congregations. This reminds us that the Lord can be pleased and it also shows that the Lord is aware of what we are doing. He knows.

 

I was talking to a preacher the other day and he asked me, “What do you like about Charlestown Road?” He meant the congregation where I attend. The place where I preach. What did I like about it? That was easy to answer. Within seconds I was running through at least a dozen things that I liked about the congregation, from the leadership and their vision and willingness to try things, to my fellow preacher who works with me, to the spirit and the attitude of the people, to the many things planned and going on. It was an easy question to answer. I had no trouble coming up with a dozen things that I liked about the congregation. And that made me think of our verse. Jesus did that. He told the Ephesian church several things that they were doing well.

 

This is a good exercise for all of us to do about the congregation where we attend. Our fellowship in a congregation can be like a marriage. When dating, a couple sees no wrong. When married they see nothing right. It’s easy to complain, see problems, see what needs to be done, and that has a way of just being a rain cloud on our spirit and attitude. The way some talk, you wonder why they continue to be a part of a congregation that seems to have nothing going right. It doesn’t take too much of this to really get a person discouraged, doubting and wondering what’s the point.

 

What do you like about where you attend? Put some thought to that. Sure, there are always things that could be better. You and I could step it up more than we do, but still, look around, give it some thought and maybe even make a list.

 

Here are some things to think about:

 

  • A fellowship that is based upon Jesus and loves one another. That’s a great start. The fact that they allow folks like you and me through the front doors is worth noting. I’ve been to the White House. You don’t just walk through the front doors. I’ve been to Buckingham Palace. You don’t just walk through the front doors. There are some places that unless you are invited you are not allowed. Try attending a wedding that you have not been invited to. There is a word for that, “Wedding crasher.” You and I are not perfect, but God loves us and so does His people. We are allowed to worship on Sunday, even when we may not have the clothes like others do. The collection plate is passed and we may not have much to put in, but no one will say anything. We are allowed to sing, even those of us who could never make the high school choir nor carry a tune in a bucket. They allow us to sing. We are allowed to bow our heads and join in the prayers that are offered. They will even pray for us or our family if we ask them. We are allowed to open our Bibles and learn. We didn’t have to sign up, pay money, like a college class. And, what we learn is the best stuff in the world, because it’s about God’s word.

 

Maybe the place could stand a fresh paint job and a good ole’ fashioned dusting and spring cleaning, but look beyond that. Look what we get to do, worship God with others. We see lives changing. We see forgiveness applied. We see worry and fear disappearing as faith soars. Our fellowship is a wonderful thing.

 

  • We get to be in the presence of God. He hears what we sing. His heart is open to our prayers. He is thrilled to see His word taught with passion and conviction and those words fall upon listening ears. He loves to see hearts that are open and carrying for others. You’d have to be pretty high up on the political ladder to have a sit down with the president of this country. That won’t happen to most of us, ever. But to think you and I can be in the presence of God, not once in a life time, but all the time and every time we worship is amazing. To know that God is interested in our lives. God is seeing what is going on in our lives. God trusts us enough to put His kingdom into our hands. That is simply amazing.

 

  • We get to participate in helping shape a congregation of God’s people. Through our influence, our spirit and attitude, our forgiveness and grace and our teaching and leading, we are molding and shaping hearts for the Lord. Some congregations are cold and indifferent. Some are warm and loving. Some, you just don’t want to leave. Why are some one way and others are a different way? It’s the people. The members make the congregation. So, in Revelation, Laodicea was a lukewarm church, because the members were lukewarm. That’s the way they were in worship and that’s the way they were at home. Why had Ephesus left their first love? Because the members had. That’s the way they were in worship and that’s the way they were at home. So, a friendly, warm and welcoming congregation will be that way when we are that way. That way in worship and that way at home. A strong, Biblical church is that way because the members are strong and Biblical. And, you and I are allowed to help turn the temperature of a congregation. By our actions, a church can be cold or it can be warm. What we say to one another and what we say to visitors, sets that temperature. So often, some want to walk into a congregation and find it running smoothly and just sit and enjoy the ride. They do not realize that their presence will either keep things going in that direction, or it can turn things the other way. Complaining, bitter, not connecting with others, being selfish, all those things impact a congregation. You and I help set the tone, temperature and the direction of a congregation.

 

It is important to be able to see the good around us. That makes us thankful, responsible and appreciative of those who are doing so much. There is a story about a guy who hated his farm. He hated the house. He hated the pond. He hated the barn. He was fed up and ready to sell the place. He got a relator and put a sign in his yard. He started reading about other farms that were listed for sale. One caught his attention. It wasn’t too large. It was a wonderful setting. It was just what he always wanted. He called the agent and wanted to go see the place. The relator explained that he was reading his own listing. She had put a positive side to his farm and in his discouragement he never saw what a great place he had. The sign was taken down and he stayed on his little farm.

 

I tend to think many of us could do the same thing about the congregation we attend. We can get so discouraged about all the things that need fixin’ around the place and all the things that do not seem to be going well, that we fail to see what a wonderful blessing it is to be a part of God’s family. Many folks overseas would love to trade places with you. They would love to have all the spiritual tools available that you do. They would love to have a variety of song leaders; gifted preachers that come in and teach; to have the finances to provide material; to have an eldership that leads them. Take a look around and see what you have. Maybe it’s time to take down the “For sale” sign are realize just how blessed we are.

 

What do you like about your congregation? Could you list ten things?

 

Roger

 

19

Jump Start # 2372

Posted on June 19, 2019 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2372

Genesis 2:24 “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.”

 

I was at a wedding over the weekend. Actually, I was the one preforming the ceremony. The bride was beautiful. The place was gorgeous. The crowd was large. They even had a chocolate fountain, and no I didn’t stick my fingers in it. What made the evening special and magical was not the music or the lighting, but the fact that a Christian was marrying a Christian. Two believers from families of believers. Not only do they understand what God says about marriage, but they now become partners in the kingdom. They will be a blessing to others and their marriage an illustration to what God wants and expects in all of our marriages. It was a special evening.

 

The ceremony included me reading letters from the parents to their child who was getting married. That was touching and special. I handed the couple a decorative box during the ceremony. I told them it was a gift from me and had them open it before the audience. The box was empty. I used that to illustrate a point about marriage.

 

Many come to a marriage looking for romance, conversation, togetherness, and especially happiness. What they discover is that the box of marriage is empty. Some, disillusioned, leave the marriage. Some even blame the other person, declaring that they married the wrong person. Others, go into another marriage, still looking for those things. The box remains empty. For some, they enter a marriage wanting to take but they find nothing in the box to take. Some think marriage is about what I get. Thus, an empty box. What I said during the ceremony is that both the bride and the groom had to fill the box. Put in romance, conversation, joy, happiness and togetherness and your box will be filled. But put nothing into it and there won’t be anything to take out. And, the greatest thing that they could put in the box was their hearts. Love, as described and defined in the Bible, that is a choice and a decision and not a feeling nor a reaction, is what ought to be in the box.

 

Our verse today, taken from the first marriage, reminds us of three divine principles that God establishes in marriage. We must remember that marriage is God’s idea. He thought this up and invited us to it. Man didn’t evolve into that relationship. And, God has some things to say about marriage.

 

First, there is the maturity factor. God says to “leave mother and father.” Leave is more than location, but that helps. Old advice given to newlyweds was to move one mountain and three rivers from your parents. But more than location, is the grown up aspects. Marriage is for those who have grown up on in insides as well as the outsides. Some have grown up on the outside, but they never grew up on the inside. They still act like a child, pouting if they can’t get their way. Selfish and demanding, inconsiderate and spoiled, they ruin a marriage because they have never grown up on the insides. Some can’t leave their parents and some parents won’t let their grown child leave. This is a two way street. They must form their own home and be independent.

 

Second, there is the enduring factor. God says to be joined to one another. Cleave is the word older translations use. Be glued to one another, and make sure it’s superglue. Don’t enter this relationship thinking if this doesn’t work out, I’ll find a better one. We live in a Velcro society. Some trade mates more than they trade cars. God presented Eve to Adam. She was a suitable mate. She was his wife, not his mother and not his maid. And, Adam was to be Eve’s husband, not her daddy and not her slave. God intends for the marriage relationship to last until one of them is finished here on earth. Jesus said, “What God has joined together, let no man separate.”

 

Third, there is the intimate relationship. God said they shall become one flesh. This is one of the marvels of Biblical mathematics. One groom. One bride. One relationship. One and one, does not make two, but one. It’s like two rivers merging together. It’s like two notes blending together. It like two strands of yarn being woven together. Two becoming one. This is more than the physical act, this is how the couple conducts themselves. First, their language changes. I becomes we. Mine becomes ours. Me becomes us. Second, they understand that what one does impacts the other. Careless words spoken to each other wounds the relationship. So a couple becomes one in thinking, in plans, in finances, in hopes, and in walking with the Lord.

 

So powerful is the marriage relationship when it is right and honoring God, that the Lord uses it to illustrate the fellowship between Jesus and the church. God didn’t draw from business partners. He didn’t use the analogy of teammates from the game of sports. He didn’t pull from fellow actors on the stage. He didn’t use neighbors, or students in a classroom. There are so many relationships in life. But the one that He chose was from a marriage. As a husband thinks and honors his wife, so Jesus thinks and honors His followers. And, as a wife praises and appreciates her husband, so the church praises the Lord.

 

We refer to marriage as “holy matrimony,” not “happy matrimony.” Marriage must include God, not just at the ceremony, but throughout the many decades a couple travels together. Without God, the marriage turns sour. Influenced by a world without direction, marriage becomes a battle ground for who can grab what. And, before you know it, that box called marriage, is empty. And, without God and without a couple filling the box up, thoughts enter as to why we even stay in this relationship. I get nothing out of this, becomes a truth, because the box remains empty. Fill that box with your heart and all that you are and you’ll find a powerful, wonderful and blessed marriage. Only take from that box, and you’ll soon find it empty and without purpose.

 

Congrats to Brooke and Aaron. Our prayers and wishes are for a long journey together with the Lord and each other. An old Indian proverb says, “Marriage is many moons in the same canoe.”

 

Roger

 

18

Jump Start # 2371

Posted on June 18, 2019 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2371

Ephesians 5:21 “And be subject to one another in the fear of the Lord.”

Here is a tough question, “When is it time to leave a congregation?” You won’t hear many sermons on that. Many have thought about this and wondered about this. We are not talking about someone who is moving far away. We are considering a person who could still attend the congregation he is at, but thinks it’s time for him to leave. Something is not right. He feels that he can no longer stay with that group. Should he stay or should he leave? It’s hard to know.

 

Some give very little thought about this. They float about like a little butterfly, here, and then there, and back here again. Never really establishing spiritual connections or roots and never really making much of an impact. But we ought to give this some thought.

 

Leaving a congregation has an impact.

  • It impacts the fellowship. The subject we are addressing involves a person who is not happy or agrees with what is going on. Their leaving makes others wonder.

 

  • It impacts the spirit of a congregation. Just as we are excited to see new families come in among us, to see some leave hurts.

 

  • It impacts the budget of the congregation. Some congregations run on a very tight budget and when a family leaves, that means adjustments have to be made.

 

  • It impacts classes, schedules and teaching programs.

 

Some folks leave too soon. They leave every time they disagree or no not like things in the congregation. Some leave because they have had their feelings hurt. Some leave because they didn’t get their way or their suggestion was not used. And, like that butterfly, off they go to another congregation nearby. It won’t be long and they will run into the same thing. No one gets their way all the time.

 

Our verse today reminds us that we do not run the church, always get our way, but rather we are to be subject to one another. Subjection is a choice. It’s bending our will for others. Subjection is an attitude. Some can go along but they make it pretty clear that they are not happy about it. That’s not subjection. There are lots of judgment calls that must be made in a congregation that are necessary to make things run smoothly. How many times will the church meet on Sundays? Some congregations meet for one service. It’s their choice. They are still worshipping God. Others may have an evening worship. Some start Sunday with classes. Others start with worship. Some do not have Sunday classes. What time are we going to start? What’s the order of worship? Who is going to preach? What subjects are going to be taught? Lots of decisions that the leadership must think about. No one will have it their way in all of these things. Where I worship, we start at 9:30 on Sunday morning. I’d much rather start a lot earlier—like 7:30. But those with children would die and we have many that travel a long way. Do I complain about 9:30? No. Do I fuss about starting at 9:30? Nope. Do I walk around sighing about how late in the day we are starting? Never. Why not? It’s not about me. I am in subjection to the others. It’s fine.

 

When someone says, “I’m thinking about leaving,” we wonder, why? Is it a matter of you not getting your way? If that’s it, you best keep your bags packed because you’ll always be leaving. We must work together to be together.

 

Some, however, wait too long to leave. Some stay, hoping to change things. Some hope to influence others in a positive manner. Some hope to bring life and bring a group closer to the Biblical pattern. But in the process, staying too long, one can get so discouraged that they quit or they can ruin their family by staying so long. There comes a time when a person realizes that the ship is sinking. One can keep bailing water, but that won’t do much good if you go down with the ship yourself.

 

The first priority is getting yourself to Heaven. Then, your family. Then anyone else that you can get.

 

Here are three times that a person needs to think about leaving:

 

First, If I cannot worship God without violating my conscience. If the church is causing me to worship in a way that I feel like is unscriptural, then after I have tried to show the leaders what the Bible pattern is, I ought to leave. This is not about differences of opinion, but a matter of what the Bible teaches the church should do. To continue when I think something is wrong, makes me participate in what is wrong.

 

Second, if I am dying spiritually and I have exhausted all avenues to stay alive, then I ought to leave. It does little good to remain and become lukewarm or to lose my first love. But this decision should come after a person has tried all sorts of options to pump life back into themselves and the congregation. Hospitality, home Bible studies, sitting in different places, taking notes are just a few things that a person needs to try. Focus upon the Lord and all that He has done for you.

 

Third, if I am compelled to fellowship those who are not in fellowship with God. That was the situation in 1 Corinthians 5. A brother was living immorally and the church was doing nothing about it. Paul instructed the church to deal with this man who was not living righteously. They did. What if they didn’t? What if they continued to act like nothing was wrong? Then it becomes a time that you ought to leave. Fellowship with God is more important than fellowship with one another. Far too many churches have given up on discipline. The membership roles are filled with those who are living ungodly and unrighteous and no one dares mention a word. Not only is that shameful, it doesn’t help anyone and it certainly doesn’t honor God. Influence is destroyed and fellowship doesn’t mean anything.

 

Now, if a person must leave, do it without making a scene. Don’t walk out in loud protest. Don’t be slamming doors. Don’t be texting others to get them to join you. God hates division, remember? Don’t be the cause of it, nor the ringleader behind it. And, if you leave, don’t be trashing talking the place you left.

 

Shepherds in a congregation ought to be on the ball and recognize why some are leaving. I’ve seen places where there were so many holes in the boat and yet the leaders were sailing onward as if everything was fine. It wasn’t. Denial and pretending problems will fix themselves never works. Sometimes there are some tough calls to be made. Sometimes a “come to Jesus” talk is necessary.

 

Now, another study would be what can be done to keep people from leaving? For some, nothing. Some walked away from Jesus. Some are not interested in the Biblical way of things. They want a party church and they’ll keep floating around until they find one. But for others, back to Biblical shepherding, Bible preaching, and relevant studies will make a big difference. Lets talk more about how we can walk closer to the Lord rather than what’s wrong with everyone else. Let’s focus upon our families, our worship and our hearts. Let’s find ways to build stronger faith and become more engaged in the kingdom.

 

A time to leave…it’s important to know when that time is.

 

Roger

 

 

17

Jump Start # 2370

Posted on June 17, 2019 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2370

2 Corinthians 1:8-9 “For we do not want you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction which came to us in Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life; indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead”

 

The fifth sentence in 2 Corinthians is troubling. Word came about how the apostle was doing. The news wasn’t good. Rather than sunshine, happy faces and rainbows drawn on the sides of the letter, the Corinthians likely saw dried tears of an apostle that was beaten and beaten and beaten. The Corinthians had only one thing that they could do. Pray.

 

The language is intense—probably the strongest that Paul uses to describe what he went through.

  • Burden excessively
  • Beyond our strength
  • We despaired life
  • We had the sentence of death within us

 

Paul who once hunted down Christians and gave his vote to execute Christians, was now receiving the most intense persecution of all.

 

There are lessons for us to see here:

 

First, God allows the innocent to suffer. Since the days of Job, to the blind man in John 9, even to today, we struggle with that thought. When the wicked suffer we feel like they are getting what they deserved. They sowed the wind and now they reap the whirlwind. But, when the good suffer, that’s hard to understand. Job suffered. Joseph suffered. Jesus suffered. And, now in our verse, Paul suffered.

 

Second, this suffering can be extreme. Paul despaired life. He felt as if he was going to die. When the bottom drops out of life, we all can feel that way. And it doesn’t have to come from rods being beaten against our backs to feel this way.

 

A young Christian man comes home from work and finds a note on the kitchen table. His young wife has taken the babies and left him. There is someone else in her life. He’s crushed.

 

A Christian is busily taking care of her aging parents. She does everything for them. A doctor’s visit and a few tests later and she finds out that she has stage four cancer. Now who will do what she has been doing?

 

A young professional wants to climb the corporate ladder. There are too many ahead of her, so she drops in the HR department one day with a sob story of her senior supervisor sexually harassing her. That supervisor is a Christian. He’s called in. He denies it. The young woman threatens to sue the company. The man is fired. He has a son in college. He has a mortgage. He doesn’t know where he’ll find a job making what he was. He’s bitter. He knows he was set up, but there is nothing he can do.

 

Paul thought he was going to die. He trusted in God who raises the dead. Why is that expression, raises the dead, there? It doesn’t say, Paul trusted God who can kill giants, part seas, or knock walls down. It doesn’t say that Paul trusted God who can get us out of an trouble. Rather, in God who raises the dead. Even if we die, God will do something.

 

Suffering can be extreme. The heartache, pain and suffering that some go through is never understood by the rest of us. Every Sunday morning, there sits a lonely widow who is hurting both in her heart and in her body. She aches every time the song leader says, “Let’s stand.” On a good day, she still doesn’t feel well. Just a row over is a young couple. Few know that she had a miscarriage recently. They suffer in silence as they look at all the children in the building. Just down from them sits a man whose grown children haven’t talked to him in years. They had words and now bitterness and anger keeps them away. He has grandchildren that he has never seen. He sits and worships with a broken heart. Just across the isle is a lady whose mother passed away last week. She too is broken hearted. And behind her sits a man who has an appointment in the morning at the hospital. He is scheduled for a whole series of tests. He hasn’t been feeling well. He fears he has cancer.

 

The suffering we go through can be extreme. We tend to think my pain is greater than your pain. What I’m going through is worse than what you are going through. But for each of us, the pain is extreme.

 

Thirdly, our passage reminds us that these things happened so Paul would not trust in himself. His trust was in the Lord. It wasn’t some inner strength, positive thought, happy place he went to in his mind that got him through these things. It was God. It was believing in God. It was knowing the promises of God. It was trusting the hopes of God. Paul wouldn’t say, “I’ll be ok.” What he would say is, “With God’s help, I can do all things.”

 

What was the worst thing that could happen to Paul? Die. No. To die without Christ. To die on your own, without salvation, promises and hope. Paul welcomed death. It would put him next to the Lord and that’s where he wanted to be.

 

Our passage reminds us that terrible things can happen to us. We want to know how to avoid those terrible things. Drink more water? Move to a better climate? Eat more veggies? None of those things. Terrible things are a part of life. They will happen. What do you do when they happen? If you have been building a foundation upon the rock, when the storms hit, you’ll get through it. But if you wait until the storm is here and then start thinking about a foundation, it will be too late.

 

Paul already had a foundation built upon Jesus. The storms came. They were intense. His house, his faith, his hope stood. There was no blaming God. There was no turning his back on God. These storms made him walk even closer to the Lord.

 

We despaired even of life…but we trusted in God.

 

Roger