Do Not Despair 09.01.08

Hello My Friend/Guest,

Today we are continuing and completing our studies on the book of Lamentations. Please read Chapters 3-5 in your Bible or Click Here to read. Cut & paste to your browser: biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Lamentations%203-5&version=9

Today we will read and learn about God's mercy; His punishment for Zion; the faithful grieving over the disaster; and the confession of their sins. Today's message focuses on the imporatnace of realizing that God's excellent power is shown through us when a Christian does not despair over affliction and puts their faith and trust in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Very few prophets have suffered so much public humiliation, rejection, and hostility as Jeremiah. For more than 40 years, he warned the Israelites to believe what Moses had written and to follow the Law or face the judgment of God for their sins. Eventually, because they did not repent, they faced the inevitable destruction of their glorious Temple and Jerusalem, the City of God.

The old prophet had walked with God through one adversity after another yet through it all he remianed faithful to God. Jeremiah laments over the suffering he faced, "I AM the man that hath seen affliction by the rod of his wrath. He hath led me, and brought me into darkness, but not into light. Surely against me is he turned; he turneth his hand against me all the day. My flesh and my skin hath he made old; he hath broken my bones." (Lamentations 3:1-4).

Although he is in deep sorrow he is assured knowing that God is with him even when it does not feel like it. "My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me. This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD." (3:20-26).

God does not permit suffering just for the sake of punishment, sometimes He places grief before us in order to strengthen us and bring us closer to Him. Often we get so caught up with day to day activities and stress that we forget that God is with us, it is by suffering that we get back on track with Him. "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you." (I Peter 5:8-10).

Those who live in the world will never understand why a person who follows God is joyful during affliction and continues in their faith no matter how bad things look. Christian's understand that affliction strengthens their faith and trust in Him and allows them to experience His wonderful mercy and grace. "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us." (Romans 5:1-5).

In today's reading Jesus Christ is revealed through the merciful Savior (Lamentations 3:22). Jesus is our merciful Savior who died to save us from our sins.

Today's Prayer:
Dear Lord,
I know that contentment with godliness is of great benefit. It brings about a lasting peace and grateful heart that only You can give. Help me not to focus so much on the material possessions that I lose sight of that which is of vital importance. May the character of my soul and the fruit of my actions be of much greater importance than the perishable goods that capture my attention. I look to You for proper balance in the things You have blessed me with and the attitude in which I receive these good things from Your hands. In Jesus' name......Amen.

Enjoy the rest of your day and be blessed.
God Bless You,
Christina

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