Created by God to serve in a broken, hurtful and fearful world
At a time when grave sin had invaded and penetrated the earth, the world that had been created and made by God needed to be remade. He was the only one able and able to do what needed to be done.
When God created this world, at every stage of Creation, God saw that it was good, and when He created man, He saw that it was very good.
“God saw everything he had made, and it was very good.” Genesis 1 verse 31.
No one would say today that this world is very good. Something had gone wrong. Sin had entered to mar and ruin what had been perfect before.
“Sin” – the word rarely used, or even mentioned, today – the Creation account in Genesis gives us the essential details.
Noah was chosen to be an important part of God’s plan, and an Ark was built to save the fallen Creation. Seven members of Noah’s family and a specific selection of animals were kept safe and secure aboard the Ark, until the flood ended and the danger passed.
Genesis chapters 6 through 9 explain what really happened, and later, Jesus Christ had no problem referring to that catastrophic flood as historical. Matthew 24 verses 37 to 39. The path of restoration and repair was made by God.
In a moment of painful servitude in Egypt, having heard the cries of His people, Almighty God intervened, raising up Moses, appointing him Leader and Liberator of two million slaves. The Exodus record provides the occasions for confrontation, miracle, and victory.
The path to freedom was made by God.
At a time when disobedient, besieged and humiliated Israel was imprisoned in cruel Babylon, as a consequence of their deafness to the prophets that God had sent, Isaiah was inspired and motivated to preach a word of comfort – to strengthen and strengthen people – who were in a mess of their own making – such is the amazing grace of our merciful God.
At a time when everything seemed pretty bleak, spiritually speaking, God sent John the Baptist to prepare the way for the coming of the Messiah and Savior, Jesus Christ.
John did what God had sent him to do, but at great personal cost. That is often the way.
Often our best moments in service and ministry come when it is most inconvenient.
In a time of darkness, confusion, and religious legalism, God in His mercy, love, and grace sent His Son, Jesus Christ, into the world.
The main task of Jesus was to save his people from their sin: his agenda and itinerary were made by God.
When Jesus saw the people suffering, sick and sad, he had compassion on them. Matthew 9 verses 35 to 36, and Chapter 14 verses 13 and 14. Check the Scriptures – let God speak to you.
Compassion is more than feeling sorry for people, and it is deeper than pity.
Jesus did something real and relevant, with miraculous results.
He healed, nurtured, and touched as only he could touch, defying the religious leadership of the time, where he was harsh, harsh, and selfish.
The Gospels are full of Christ’s dealings with those in need.
At a time when the despondent and despairing disciples were locked in that upper room, the risen Lord Jesus Christ appeared and spoke words of peace to very troubled hearts and minds. John chapters 20 and 21 point us to that light that will never go out; no darkness can ever overcome it.
There are seasons when everything seems lost, and suddenly, or not so suddenly, God acts, moves and speaks, and raises up a leader who leads with the power of the anointing of the Holy Spirit.
At this time, when humanity is in a moral mess, the commandments, guidance and direction that God has given, in the Old and New Testaments, are still relevant and appropriate, if man is to recover, renew and restore himself.
Listen to Jim Packer of Regent College, Vancouver, – “Our consciences will not be educated in the ways of God, unless we expose them to the ethical sections of the Epistles.”
Remember that challenging saying: “Seven days without the Word makes you weak.”
At that time, it is time to dive into the Scriptures, to know our Bible, to know our God, not only to know God, but to know God, our God. We can know him, we can get as close to him as we choose.
Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is soft and my burden light.” Matthew 11 pours from 28 to 30.
In a deeply troubled and stressed world, here is Jesus Christ offering what many long for and seek.
Come, bow down, put your head in the yoke, join me and together we will plow the field of this world. What a glorious way to serve. As a carpenter, Jesus may have made the lightest yokes in Nazareth, but he is still a yoke!
When the world, made by God, seems to be in danger, know how God acted, reacted and responded in the past; know how God saved and rescued mankind from various critical circumstances.
In a time of environmental and climate turmoil, know that the God-ordained and sustained climate continues under His able control and care.
When we need something else, consider this scene in the life of Moses, recorded in Deuteronomy Chapter 1.
Only a week old, and now quite old, Moses continues to work as fully and faithfully as he can. He brings the nation before him.
Moses addresses the people of God, having guided them for forty years. We know exactly where and when this incident occurred. Moses told the people what had gone so terribly wrong and why it had gone so wrong.
The trip, from Egypt to the Promised Land, which should have lasted about eleven days, has lasted 40 years, the result of rebellion and grumbles.
God had given Israel this Promised Land, but they did not want to go in and take possession of it.
How many people have refused to take possession of what God has freely given and offered? Suffering can be the painful consequence.
Many Israelites who had come out of Egypt have died, but God carried this nation as a father carries his son.
A father holds his son when his son is tired, sick, fatigued or disabled, or when he holds his son to hug him.
The journey through the desert is a symbol. It is an image of our pilgrimage through life, even when we are, in Christ.
We experience crippling injuries, various illnesses, and deep, aching pains.
In those moments, God comes and takes his sons and daughters – in the valleys – when we are down and can’t get up – or when we feel alone and abandoned.
That is when His hand grabs you and lifts you up. You may not see her arm with your eyes.
You may not realize what is happening at the time, but they are there, lifting you up, holding you up, holding you up, taking you where He wants you to be.
As you emerge and arrive safely and securely, you look back with thanksgiving.
Our merciful God can be totally trusted, and completely depended on, to act once again.
You were made for a purpose. God’s purpose cannot be frustrated.
An eight-year-old boy made a boat out of wood. He looked great. He went to the beach on vacation, and with great excitement he lowered his boat to the beach to sail his creation. He trailed off, but kept on trailing off, further and further away, until he realized that he had lost it. He has left.
On the last day of the family vacation, he looked in the window of the toy store and there was his boat. Someone had found and rescued him. Pointing this out to his father, the father encouraged him to go in and buy it.
He walked out, with his prized possession in his arms, and with these words: “I made you, I lost you, I bought you back, you are twice mine!”
“Made by God!” That’s you. Purchased by Christ on the cross – and sealed with the Holy Spirit.
“Rescued, healed, restored, forgiven – who like me His praise should sing”
Stop. Stay firm and strong in these challenging days. Be brave and bold. Fulfill that to which the risen and living Lord Jesus Christ has called you.
Made by God, for a world marred, scarred and broken by sin, and the sad consequences of sin. – that’s you.
Created by God, transformed in body, mind and soul, to extend a loving hand to those who are hurt, weak and broken, that is you.
Created by God, to be part of the answer to the massive struggle of this world, that is you.
“Almighty God – Gracious Father – How can I give thanks enough? I bow down and adore. I am twice yours – created and ‘born again’ – rescued – bought – a new creation – restored – I praise you. All this it is for a purpose: to stand and serve in this fallen, broken and wounded world, where there is fear, disappointment and worse. Help me, use me, in Jesus name. Amen.”