Hope Reflected

Encouragement and Hope from God's Word

God's wisdom Archive

Friday

25

August 2023

Exceeding Abundantly

Written by , Posted in Christian Living, Published Work

When Mary and Martha’s brother Lazarus became sick, Mary and Martha expected Jesus to intervene.

"Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us..." (Ephesians 3:20) | Read more on hopereflected.com

“Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.” (John 11:3).

Mary and Martha asked Jesus to come to them. When we pray, we ought to pray specifically and expectantly. This kind of expectation in prayer can only come through relationship with Christ. Mary and Martha both had great reverence for Jesus, and a close relationship with Him. They wanted to share with him about their brother being sick and as a result they eagerly sent for Jesus to come to them. Because of their closeness to Christ, because they knew He cared for them, Mary and Martha longed to cast their cares on Him. They expected Him to move.

Thank God, His logic is much different than ours.

Like us, Mary and Martha were human, and therefore didn’t have a complete understanding of God’s timetable. They tried to expedite Jesus coming to them by sending news of their sick brother, thinking that Jesus would come and heal him, but they didn’t understand that Jesus had a greater plan than healing their brother (v. 4). Thank God, His logic is much different than ours. While our understanding is finite; His is infinite. His thoughts are not our thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9). While Mary and Martha thought Jesus would heal their brother, He had greater plans of raising their brother from the dead. Jesus purposefully delayed His arrival, Mary and Martha had no choice but to wait. While we’re waiting, God is working.

When we don’t know how to pray

When word came that Jesus was near, we read how Mary and Martha expressed themselves. “Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house.” (v. 20). Martha came to meet Jesus; she was ready again to earnestly enquire of Him. Mary, on the other hand, stayed in the house (probably because she was so consumed with grief). Martha had a lot to say, Mary didn’t, and Jesus was moved by both (v. 33). Even when we don’t know how to pray, and even when we cannot find the words, God hears our cries, and He knows every tear (Psalm 56:8). Mary and Martha both showed evidence of their faith in Christ, albeit in different ways. They both believed in Christ’s power.

“Even our trials are designed to bring glory to God.”

Hope Reflected

Mary and Martha were looking for Lazarus to be healed, and Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. God always does exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think (Ephesians 3:20), even in a literal life or death situation like that of Lazarus! As Matthew Henry wrote, “The afflictions of the saints are designed for the glory of God, that he may have opportunity of showing them favour; for the sweetest mercies, and the most effecting, are those which are occasioned by trouble.” What an encouragement to know that even our trials are designed to bring glory to God!

Originally published as “Exceeding abundantly.” Independent Plus. June 16, 2022: 5. Print. Web.

Monday

1

May 2023

Why do the heathen rage?

Written by , Posted in Christian Living, Published Work

There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. (Proverbs 14:12) | Read more of Why do the heathen rage? on hopereflected.com

“And there happened to be there a man of Belial, whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite: and he blew a trumpet, and said, We have no part in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to his tents, O Israel. So every man of Israel went up from after David, and followed Sheba the son of Bichri:” (2 Samuel 20:1-2).

Just when it seemed that things couldn’t get any worse for David, he was faced with a rebellion, led by Sheba, a man of Belial and the son of Bichri. It seemed as though things would never go right for David. On the heels of one uprising, Sheba caused another, and quickly new allegiances were formed: The men of Israel followed Sheba; the men of Judah followed David.

Rebelling against God

Upon reading through 2 Samuel, Sheba doesn’t appear to be a significant character in the life of David. He’s mentioned a few times near the beginning of chapter 20, and then disappears until the end of the chapter, when his head gets cut off and thrown out of the city to Joab (vv. 21-22). Why should such a minor character matter at all? There’s a greater lesson here. Rather than follow David and submit to his leadership, Sheba opted to go his own way, and he took others with him. Maybe that doesn’t seem like a big deal, but upon realization that David was God’s anointed, Sheba was really rebelling against God.

When people rage

David wrote in Psalm 2, “Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed…” (vv. 1-2). Whether in ancient times or present day, there’s no denying the damage and discouragement that result when people rage, and when they live only for themselves. Raging for “the right” to kill a baby in the womb, right up until birth, or raging on other people because they have a different opinion.

No question at all to Him

While we deal with all kinds of rage here on earth, Psalm 2 continues, “He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the LORD shall have them in derision.” (v. 4). The things that work us up here, that make us question God’s purpose, or how or why things are going the way they are, are really no question at all to Him. Matthew Henry wrote that “Sinners’ follies are the just sport of God’s infinite wisdom and power; and those attempts of the kingdom of Satan which in our eyes are formidable in his are despicable.”

“There is a way which seemeth right unto a man,
but the end thereof are the ways of death.”

Proverbs 14:12

Sheba’s rebellion, while it was worrisome for David, was of no matter to God. Sheba met a tragic end, hunted by David’s army and having his head cut off (2 Samuel 20:21-22). We may think we know better than God or that we have a better way than His, but in the end, it will only lead to our demise. “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” (Proverbs 14:12).

Originally published as “Why do the heathen rage?” Independent Plus. June 2, 2022: 5. Print. Web.