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It came to pass.
Todays passage reminds me of a story I once heard a pastor tell: In a church service, members were giving their favorite Scripture verses. One man stood up and said, his favorite Scripture was “It came to pass.” (Obviously, from the King James.) Everyone stared, not understanding his meaning. The pastor asked the man how ‘It came to pass’ could be his favorite verse? The man replied, “In my troubles or when I have problems, I read=2 0this verse from Scripture. ‘It came to pass’ encourages me that my troubles or my problems have come to pass; they have not come to stay.”
This is an example of what the Apostle Paul was teaching in today’s passage. The man in this story had found a way to be “joyful in hope”, understanding and holding on to the faithfulness of God. Beyond his circumstances, was his loving Heavenly Father.
What a great truth for us today. Are we looking beyond our circumstances to our loving Heavenly Father? Are we patient in our troubles, faithful in our prayers, living lives marked by joy in the hope of our God?
Jim, thank you for sharing. I am definitely guilt of not looking beyond my circumstances. I do not have the eternal perspective as often as I should. We live in such an instant gratification, momentary satisfaction society, that it becomes easy to lose the heavenly view.
God, I desire to be steadfast in my relationship with you. I know that you have the best plan for my life. Therefore, my joy should be fueled by the knowledge of the hope in your will, every trouble and struggle are but a passing thing, and my desire to communicate and worship you will help me to stand firm.
Thank you Jim for these words of encouragement. This week is going to be a very hectic one for me at work. Acturally I was dreading this week. God woke me up this morning reminding me that this is His day. It is a new day with new hope. The words the Lord had you share have further encouraged me. As I go through this day and this week I will remember, “It came to pass”.
We all have our share of trouble. Some seem to have just a boat load of it and I really don’t understand how such strong Believers, at least what I know of them, could be loaded down with such bad things. It has been a very difficult change of mind for me to even have a dark glimpse of those “bad things” from God’s perspective.
One thing I have seen is that they face those troubles with a lot more grace and joy than I could. I had a cousin who died of multiple sclerosis some years ago. He was bedridden for a couple years. His wife was taking care of him. My dad and I went to visit him – I really did not want to go because I figured he would be this shriveled up guy waiting for death to call. Instead what I saw was a man totally at peace, full of joy, laughing, and just the sweetest disposition you could ever hope to see in any human being. He had caught hold of the joy in God’s hope, the patience in his affliction, and faithfulness in prayer – both he and his wife. Amazing.
I really, really do not want to go through what he went through, but it seems to me that perhaps such a trial like that would quickly get to the heart of what I believe I believe.
Herb, I share your myopia in not being able to see beyond my own bubble. There have been times amidst amazing personal troubles where I’ve been able to let Jesus in and be my eyes. His vision is capable of seeing much farther than my own.
Thankfully, we don’t have to fix our eyes alone. We can rely on Jesus to perform the miracle…to give us a new heart…and he might just throw in a new pair of eyes as well.
There is one catch, however. Am I willing to let go of my eyes? I’ve had them for quite some time and I know how to use them…even with all their short-comings.
Jesus stands there waiting to give us His eyes with an eternal perspective. Will I accept them? Will you? Today? Tomorrow? Right now?
Jim thanks for the reminder this morning of the eternal picture. I enjoyed yesterdays work day. I was able to met some new people and catch up with old. We are struggling and hurting as a body. I talked with two people yesterday whoes jobs are uncertain. I know the God who holds their future in His hands, He wants great things for them but it is hard when our earthly future is unsettled to hope. I am praying for those people this morning and if your future is uncertain here is my favorite verse. Col 3:1-2 1Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2Set your minds on
things above, not on earthly things Have a hopeful day.
What a gift God has given us with this ‘Joy of Hope’. Shouldn’t we as believers have some measure of this? Yes there are hard times and tough circumstances in this life, but if we truly “get it” there should be SOME peace that you have in KNOWING our God. I know I don’t fear death as I used to. Since accepting Christ as my Lord and Saviour, I try to, but not always succeed in loving those around me better. We are all works in progress right? We are going to have bad days. When I don’t appreciate what God has given me or when I get to miserable from the temporary circumstances of this life, I realize there is more of me in need to surrender to Him.
The first thing I think of when I see “hope” is Ephesians 1:17-23…a powerful prayer to pray over your family, friends and for yourself. The answer to that prayer will sustain you through difficult times. I may very well have read this prayer more than any other section of scripture.
I am so very proud of my husband! Satan tried to take out my husband’s cellphone (that he needs for a phone interview this morning) and his keyboard on his computer last night (that he needs to conduct business for our family and continue to learn about the new business that we are starting) but Dan did not get upset because his troubles of being unemployed are about to pass and satan knows it. Our hope is in God for provision as well as health. I thank God everyday that we have a roof over our head and food on the table even in the midst of our trouble!
Thank you Jim for your words of encouragement. I am joyful in the hope that God brings to me. I have been faithful in my prayers, especially in these times of difficulty for me. It’s the patience thing I have the most trouble with, but I’m working on that. The last few months have been very difficult for my family and me due to my unemployment. But because of God’s presence in our lives, we have been able to maintain our hope.
“And it came to pass…” Hallelujah! That’s been a favorite of mine for a long time.
I sing the song “Refiner’s Fire” to remind me how sweet victory is when difficulty ‘comes to pass’.
I concur. “And it came to pass”, seems like the key for me.
All three are about believing, and trusting God.
I try to also remember, that even though our troubles are only temporary, we have them for a reason. Maybe we need to learn something about ourselves, maybe we need to understand so that when it happens to someone else, we can help them.
For me it is mostly about putting God first. I find that when I have troubles, it is because something is not right in my relationship with God. He is testing my ability to trust him and lean on him, through good times and bad.
By joyful in your troubles because they make us grow.
Jim – thanks for staying true to your calling as a pastor… even when you don’t have your officially designated “walls” to hang that sometimes tenuous pastor’s shingle.
I remember comedian Mark Lowry commenting on his favorite verse: “…this too shall pass.” If, as Mark said, your season is quite difficult, THIS TOO SHALL PASS. If your season is up and to the right, well …
In the good and bad, God has it all under control. May God give me the ability to view my seasons with a Christ-like peace that can handle such a nebulous phrase… “this too shall pass.”
And on a somewhat unrelated front, thanks everyone for such a great day of worship yesterday. Very cool.
Jim, as usual, yours were wise words of encouragement and a reminder that this is a journey. Thank you for your service and your heart for The Lord. You rock.
Great reminder, Jim. Thanks.
Jim – Thanks for your clear word today, profound in it’s depth and simplicity. Similarly, when I’m going through a tough spot, I try to get myself out of the weeds (or miserable self-absorbed blahs) by focusing on the one thing that I know to be true…and that’s God is in control. So from there I have a choice, either to embrace it (for what I understand it to be and to seek greater insight from God) or fight it. One leads to peace and joy and growth, while the other exhaustion; but regardless, God is in control. Thanks again.
Jim – I remember a time in my life when I clung to the hope that this was true. It is so awesome how God always keeps his promises. Thanks Jim.