Christians are a strange crowd, and most confusing to the unbeliever. We claim to be saved by grace, God’s unmerited favour, and then we burden our selves with guilt. I am an offender, for I went before the Lord with a sorry list. All the things I had done, or not done; all the failures as I saw them, with all the reasons and excuses hovering behind. Had I then forgotten Psalm 145:8? The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.
If I was granted only one book of the Bible to take with me to a desert island, I would be sorely taxed in deciding which, but perhaps the one most needing to be memorised and studied would be Romans, with Chapter 8 at the top of the list. … There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me fee from the law of sin and death. (vv1 & 2)
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the presaent nor the future,, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:37-39.
Why, then, do I want His commendation? Why do I seek praise? I know I don’t deserve it, but the humanity in us constantly desires encouragement. I was reminded of this when I read Proverbs 27:20. Just as Death and Destruction are never satisfied, so human desire is never satisfied. As inevitable as is death, so is our desire for more.
For what is your desire? More food? More money? More knowledge? More recognition? More souls for the Kingdom? More heart for worship? More love? More praise?
Man is tested by the praise he receives. Proverbs 27:21b How do we find balance?
It is easy to become riddled with guilt. It is easy to allow circumstances to drag us into depression. There are times when the downward spiral of our emotions weighs us down to a hurtling descent, and we need to remember our anchor. Three symbols identified early Christians, the Cross, the Fish, and the Anchor. Perhaps their encouragement, as they faced persecution and perils came from this verse.
"We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek." (Hebrews 6:19-20)
It must certainly have been the inspiration for the hymn:
Will your anchor hold in the storms of life,When the clouds unfold their wings of strife?
When the strong tides lift and the cables strain,
Will your anchor drift, or firm remain?
We have an anchor that keeps the soul
Steadfast and sure while the billows roll,
Fastened to the Rock which cannot move,
Grounded firm and deep in the Saviour’s love.
Steadfast and sure while the billows roll,
Fastened to the Rock which cannot move,
Grounded firm and deep in the Saviour’s love.
Becoming a Christian does not guarantee a safe and comfortable passage through life. David, a man after God’s heart, recorded many of his sufferings and trials in the Psalms he wrote, which can cheer us in our own problems.
How do the folk of Christchurch feel as they struggle to come to terms with the disaster they have gone through? Our thoughts and prayers must be with them, and with those others throughout the world who suffer in these End Times.
Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginnings of birth pains. Matthew 24:7,8
Cling to the Anchor, fastened to the Rock.
If I don’t go through difficult times, whether of my own making, (causing guilt) or through circumstances, (causing depression) and learn about breaking through to the light of God’s Presence, provision and protection, how can I encourage others? If I don’t clamber out of the valley, how can I reach down to help another?
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comforts, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. 2 Corinthians 1:3-5
In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith – of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire – may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honour when Jesus Christ is revealed. 1 Peter 1:6-7
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