NO!! NEVER ALONE!!
Sunday, September 05, 2010
Verse for Today
2 Timothy 4:16 - At my first defense no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it.
It is quite understandable that the people of the world do not stand with God's children when they are battered by the enemies of gospel. But it makes it extremely difficult for us when even God's children do not stand with us in our trials. It is felt all the more painful when those who desert us in our trials are people who have enjoyed benefits from our own ministries. Sadly this was what Paul experienced while standing trial at Rome. The very same people for whom he laboured in love for years have forsaken him and left him alone to stand trial at the highest court in the Roman Empire. At such times, we might be tempted to pray like John and James to ask the Lord to bring down fire from heaven to destroy them. But Paul knew the power of the prayer of Jesus on the cross, and Stephen as he was dying. So he prayed the same prayer that these saints who forsook him be forgiven by the Lord. Perhaps Paul understood on that day, better than ever before, that it was futile to trust in man and that we should not expect love in action often even from believers. There are occasions when no one would stand with us, as was the case with the Lord Jesus when He was on the cross. Peter who vouched to die with Him was not to be seen any where near the cross. He escaped the scene to protect his own life. None of the other disciples who wanted to go with him to die were there, except John and even he was not near the cross. In the case of Jesus, even His Father forsook Him for our sake that He might die for our sins. But in Paul's case, the Lord Himself was there to support him and gave him utterance when he was required to speak at Cesar's court in Rome.
Dear reader, are you facing situations similar to that of Paul right now? Do you feel that you are forsaken by even the believers around you? Perhaps they are doing it out of fear of public opinion. There are times when you might go through the experience of Job when even your life partner and best friends might forsake you and that you will have to go through the fiery furnace of trials all alone. It is possible that your brothers do not stand with you, as in the case of Joseph. Your children might not want to walk with you in the narrow way of the Calvary Road that you are treading. The believers among whom you ministered might not be there to put in a nice word for you. We must understand that there are limitations in any human support. But there is One who will never forsake you nor leave you. He will be always with you, no matter what the intensity of the trial that you might be encountering right now. You will be able to experience the Lord's presence, power and peace even though He is invisible. His strength will never fade or wane. He will comfort and strengthen us to go through the trials in the valleys of our lives for His glory. He will strengthen us with His hands and lead us each step of the trial, telling us all about how He stood trial before the high priest, Herod and Pilate. He will renew His promises that He will see us through the trials. His mighty arm will be around you. His love will flow to us uninterrupted and unceasing and we will be drenched in His peace to face our situations boldly and by faith. He will give us the reassurance that His purpose in you will be accomplished in spite of your trials and tribulations. He is with us right now, to wipe our tears and take away your loneliness. His fellowship of love is all over us and He is giving us company even in the worst scenarios of our lives for our joy and His glory.
Joshua 1:9 - Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.
Thought for Today
The Invisible God will give us strength which far surpasses the powers of darkness which are around us.
Verse for Today
2 Timothy 4:16 - At my first defense no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it.
It is quite understandable that the people of the world do not stand with God's children when they are battered by the enemies of gospel. But it makes it extremely difficult for us when even God's children do not stand with us in our trials. It is felt all the more painful when those who desert us in our trials are people who have enjoyed benefits from our own ministries. Sadly this was what Paul experienced while standing trial at Rome. The very same people for whom he laboured in love for years have forsaken him and left him alone to stand trial at the highest court in the Roman Empire. At such times, we might be tempted to pray like John and James to ask the Lord to bring down fire from heaven to destroy them. But Paul knew the power of the prayer of Jesus on the cross, and Stephen as he was dying. So he prayed the same prayer that these saints who forsook him be forgiven by the Lord. Perhaps Paul understood on that day, better than ever before, that it was futile to trust in man and that we should not expect love in action often even from believers. There are occasions when no one would stand with us, as was the case with the Lord Jesus when He was on the cross. Peter who vouched to die with Him was not to be seen any where near the cross. He escaped the scene to protect his own life. None of the other disciples who wanted to go with him to die were there, except John and even he was not near the cross. In the case of Jesus, even His Father forsook Him for our sake that He might die for our sins. But in Paul's case, the Lord Himself was there to support him and gave him utterance when he was required to speak at Cesar's court in Rome.
Dear reader, are you facing situations similar to that of Paul right now? Do you feel that you are forsaken by even the believers around you? Perhaps they are doing it out of fear of public opinion. There are times when you might go through the experience of Job when even your life partner and best friends might forsake you and that you will have to go through the fiery furnace of trials all alone. It is possible that your brothers do not stand with you, as in the case of Joseph. Your children might not want to walk with you in the narrow way of the Calvary Road that you are treading. The believers among whom you ministered might not be there to put in a nice word for you. We must understand that there are limitations in any human support. But there is One who will never forsake you nor leave you. He will be always with you, no matter what the intensity of the trial that you might be encountering right now. You will be able to experience the Lord's presence, power and peace even though He is invisible. His strength will never fade or wane. He will comfort and strengthen us to go through the trials in the valleys of our lives for His glory. He will strengthen us with His hands and lead us each step of the trial, telling us all about how He stood trial before the high priest, Herod and Pilate. He will renew His promises that He will see us through the trials. His mighty arm will be around you. His love will flow to us uninterrupted and unceasing and we will be drenched in His peace to face our situations boldly and by faith. He will give us the reassurance that His purpose in you will be accomplished in spite of your trials and tribulations. He is with us right now, to wipe our tears and take away your loneliness. His fellowship of love is all over us and He is giving us company even in the worst scenarios of our lives for our joy and His glory.
Joshua 1:9 - Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.
Thought for Today
The Invisible God will give us strength which far surpasses the powers of darkness which are around us.
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