January 2006

By Anonymous -

Welcome to the first issue of 2006! Hopefully we’re keeping up on reading the Bible each day. Keep at it, only 11 more months to go to read all the way through! This month I wanted to share about disappointments. Something we can all relate to on one level or another.

During a Sunday in November my pastor shared this during his sermon, “our disappointments can be God’s appointments for others to come to know Christ.” He was referring to Paul being chained for two years to a Roman guard during house arrest (II Timothy 2:9). Paul could have been overwhelmed by his situation and rightfully succumbed with disappointment and grief. Yet, he took this opposition as an opportunity to preach Christ to each guard who was chained to him. Not to mention anyone who came into the house where he lived. What a man of God!

Paul’s opposition led to the salvation of many Roman guards and to the bold preaching of many believers in Christ (Philippians 1:12-14, Philippians 4:22). Now we can be encouraged by Paul’s love for Christ in that as we have disappointments, low times, emotional or physical hardships, financial struggles, etc. we can see it as an opportunity to share Jesus too. We may not realize it, but people are watching to see exactly what we’ll do when these times fall. We proclaim Jesus during the good times – and now they are watching to see just what “that Jesus can do for us now”.

Take a moment to think about all the things that have disappointed you recently. Or take note of the oppositions in your life. If it helps, write them down. Then pray over this mental or written list, asking God to use your life as a message board to others for Jesus. Ask for his strength, for his refreshing word to guide you and that he would be glorified. This is no easy thing to ask. However, we already are facing these difficulties (or will at some time) and people are already watching to see what Jesus will do. Let us therefore allow Jesus to reveal himself through us to a world searching for truth and healing.

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (Hebrews 4:14-16)

In Christ,

Elizabeth

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