In the process of redeeming our suffering, God not only draws us into a deeper relationship with himself and develops us into more Christ-like followers, but he also redeems our suffering by bringing glory to himself and bringing the world closer to him. Salvation isn’t just about our eternal destination but about bringing God’s kingdom closer to earth. God is working in and through us to accomplish those purposes. Our endurance, character and hope demonstrate to the world the beauty of the God we serve. This gives the world a window into the deep love of God and the peace and hope we have found, a hope and peace that is not found in the world. As Paul states in 2nd Corinthians 1:3-4, God comforts us so that we can comfort others. We are never on this journey alone; all that God gives us is not only for our benefit but is also to be for the benefit of others. Then in the process of taking our eyes off of our own sufferings, we will find that we have not only lessened the suffering of those around us, but we have lessened our own suffering as well.
Questions for further thought: 1. How does knowing that the purpose of our salvation is about more than just our individual eternal destination change the way you live? 2. How can you take past, or current, struggles and use them to help someone else through a similar struggle? Challenge: Find at least one way this week you can help to bring God’s kingdom closer to earth by reaching outside yourself and blessing someone else.
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In Romans 5:3-5 we learn that suffering brings endurance which leads to character which finally leads to hope. This is not a hope as the world sees hope. The dictionary defines hope as: a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen. The difference between the world’s definition of hope and the Bible’s definition of hope is that we are not just desiring something, we are assured of that something. Endurance and character give us the steadfastness to continue to hope. This takes away the highs and lows that we often experience through trials. It keeps our eyes steadfastly fixed on the hope of Jesus Christ. In John 16:33 Jesus says that we will have trouble but to take heart he has overcome the world. What we hope for is secure and guaranteed. Christ has won, he has overcome the world, when all is said and done, he will reign supreme.
Questions for further thought: 1. What comfort, if any, do you get from knowing that Christ has already won? 2. How can this knowledge change how you live your life and how you view life’s struggles? Challenge: This week, as you watch the news or work through a current difficult situation in life, remind yourself that Jesus Christ has overcome the world. If being a Christian doesn’t get us a “hall pass”, or a “get out of jail free card” when it comes to suffering, what is the purpose? Why does God allow our suffering? While God does not cause our suffering, he always redeems our suffering, if we allow him to. Through our suffering he refines our faith. In Romans 5:3-5 Paul teaches that suffering produces perseverance which produces character which produces hope. Perseverance or endurance, is the ability to get through the difficulties in this world, the ability to face the challenges that we know will come in the future. This perseverance then leads to character. Biblical character is our likeness to Christ. The evidence of this character is the fruits of the spirit in our lives; love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Suffering and challenges are the refining fire that makes us more like Christ. But all of this only happens if we allow God to refine us, trust in his process and lean on him, even when we don’t understand the purpose or how any good could possibly come from our situation.
Questions for further thought: 1. When you look back on difficult times in your life, can you see God’s footprint there, ways he provided for you, brought others into your life when you needed them? 2. Have your past struggles developed endurance and character in your life or have they developed bitterness and distance from God? Challenge: Look back at 1-2 difficult struggles in your past, did you allow God to use those difficult times to refine your faith and character or did you resist and allow bitterness to take over? Just as we cannot do good works to obtain our salvation, good works won’t guarantee us a pain free life. No where does God promise to take away our trials. In Matt 5:45, Jesus says good will fall on the righteous and the unrighteous. So also, the righteous as well as the unrighteous will experience the consequences of this broken world. Jesus’ audience was primarily the down-trodden, the suffering, the persecuted. He did not promise to take away all their earthly suffering. That was one of the reasons the Pharisees would not accept him as the Messiah. They wanted a Messiah who would take away their suffering and oppression. Jesus promised a “new and different” kind of redemption. This redemption included the promise of eternal life but more than that, it promised to lighten, not remove, but lighten the burdens we carry here on earth. Jesus does this by carrying our load with us and by giving us a peace beyond worldly understanding.
Questions for further thought: 1. How does it make you feel when you think about God allowing good to fall on the righteous and the unrighteous alike? 2. How does it make you feel when you think about God allowing the consequences of a broken world to fall on the righteous and the unrighteous alike? Challenge: Meditate on Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Now go back and reflect on the above questions again. 2/23/2024 0 Comments Do Not JudgeHillcrest should strive to be a community that allows and desires authenticity. We should be authentic with each other, and we should allow people (newcomers and regulars alike) to be authentic with us. We all have faults, and we all want to grow closer to God. We do well now, but we can always do better.
Questions for further thought: 1. How can we be more authentic with each other? 2. What do you need to do to allow others to be more authentic with you? Challenge: Hillcrest offers multiple ways to grow with each other. Two ways that have helped me are serving in ministry and small groups. Consider one or both of these options as a way to grow in authenticity. 2/22/2024 0 Comments The Imperfect ChurchThe Hillcrest building is an imperfect church. Recently, we discovered cracks and leaks in the building. Yet we still love the building. It is our home and meeting place. It provides many functions for us. The building requires care, and we want to fix the cracks and leaks so we can use it in the future, but we can only fix them if we know where the leaks are. In the same way, our congregation consists of flawed individuals who have different functions. We work to help each other grow and fix our flaws, but we can only fix each other’s flaws if we know where the flaws are.
Questions for further thought: 1. What are the flaws your friends have shown you? 2. How have you shown them grace? Challenge: Pray for others to help them overcome their flaws (sins). Speak life to them as necessary. 2/21/2024 0 Comments Outside vs. InsideWe tend to judge the outside. We have pre-judged people and things based on what we think, instead of what will be best. Jesse was overlooking his son David by presenting his other sons to Samuel to be the next king. Yet Samuel was letting the Lord choose. God chose the castaway youngest son, who was out tending the sheep, to the be the next king.
Questions for further thought: 1. When have you ever overlooked someone based on their outward appearance? 2. What did that person do to exceed your expectations of them? Challenge: Get to know a person that you have “low” expectations off. Consider mentoring them to help them reach their potential. 2/20/2024 0 Comments Walking in IntegrityWe are called to walk in integrity. There are things we want to hide, but eventually they will come out in the open. You can keep a secret, but God will know. The secret may also come out in public, where it could cause even more harm trying to hold it within. Oftentimes, the cover-up causes more punishment than the sin.
Questions for further thought: 1. Is there something you are covering up? 2. Will the consequences of the cover up be worse than the sin itself? Challenge: Pray to God for forgiveness of your sins. Confess those sins to the people they may hurt. 2/19/2024 0 Comments Don't Show OffThe Pharisees in Jesus’ day wanted to show off their “spiritual deeds”. They would show off their self-righteousness to each other, trying to outdo each other. They would work to hide their sins; afraid they would be found. Jesus was able to see right through them and was not afraid to call them out.
Questions for further thought: 1. How do you show off your self-righteousness around other Christians? 2. Is there a sin you should tell a close Christian friend, but you are afraid to share? Challenge: Reach out to a close Christian confidant (spouse/parent/friend/pastor) and share what you are afraid to share. |
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October 2024
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