Midweek: Bring It On!

The brokenness we experience in this life was never meant to be. Humanity was cursed by our own rebellion and all of creation with us. HOWEVER, that is not to say God doesn't use even the worst of circumstances to draw us to Himself. He is not cursed. In fact, He has used the curse for a much greater Redemption Story! But to fix hope on some kind of utopia in this world is to aspire to something much less than what He has purchased for those who serve Him. To claim the blood-bought life must be adorned with an abundance of earthly things is to contend life in this world is enough. 

God doesn't want His people to experience famine. God never allows His Church to experience drought. God never meant for His children to struggle to make ends meet. God doesn't allow true believers to suffer grief, or loneliness, or pain. God desires all His people to live in homes free of crisis and work in places where things are fair and uncomplicated. 

Oh, really? 

Hunger keeps our soul aching for Bread. John 6:35 And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst."

Thirst keeps our soul panting for Water. John 4:13, 14 Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”

Poverty keeps our eyes fixed on Treasure. Matthew 13:14 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field."

Darkness keeps us dependent upon Light. John 8:12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

Unrest keeps us longing for Peace. Ephesians 2:14-16 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.

John 16:33 "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

So let hunger and thirst, poverty and darkness, conflict and turmoil come for us, and may they take us down to our knees and before the throne of our conquering King!