Ps 55:22
Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
As I was reminded this week by a silver-haired old preacher, Brother Locke who has been in the war for many years, we all have burdens in life. As a Christian, if you do not think you do now…you will. Life has a way of putting burdens upon us and our Heavenly Father will even place burdens on us to strengthen us, teach us, prepare us for the future.
There are several causes for burdens. The most obvious one is the burden of sin. It is this burden which the Holy Spirit uses to direct us to Jesus Christ. He\is job is to convict us of sin and show us the danger and destructiveness of sin. It is the burden of sin that gets upon a man’s heart that reveals his depravity and opens his eyes to the holiness of God. This burden humbles us so that we may repent and place our trust in Christ for redemption.
Then there is the burden of sorrows. Every person whether lost or saved will experience sorrow in life. There are those times of desertion by family and friends, times when we are disappointed by unfulfilled dreams, times when our strength and abilities fail us. But as our text reminds us, “…he shall sustain thee:…”
And also, there are burdens that come with service. Serving Christ means working with people. People have needs which must be attended. The servant of Christ is there to give attention to those needs. But it is possible to become weary in well doing when the burden becomes overwhelming.
So how does one deal with such burdens? We are told to “Cast thy burden upon the LORD.” We are never to defend our burden as some who revel in having hardships thinking they will acquire sympathy. Nor are we to despair in our burden for God has promised that the righteous shall not be moved. We need to learn to take our burdens to God in prayer and cast them upon Him. Claim His promise of help and celebrate the provision He will give.
The cure of sin is salvation. God will never release us from burdens of sorrow, but rather will us them to reinforce us in our service to Him.
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Signs of a Growing Christian
Jas 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Jas 1:3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. Jas 1:4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. Jas 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. Jas 1:6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. Jas 1:7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. Jas 1:8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. Jas 1:9 Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted: Jas 1:10 But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away. Jas 1:11 For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways. Jas 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. Jas 1:13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: Jas 1:14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Jas 1:15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. Jas 1:16 Do not err, my beloved brethren.
Spiritual growth is rare among modern Christians. The hindrances abound toward those who would genuinely seek to grow in the knowledge and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Certainly, the world, flesh and devil have motive to impede a believer from maturing, but one would be surprised to find that even among the clergy there exists those who criticize anyone from getting “deep” with God. “You will become so heavenly minded that you will become no earthly good!” I have yet to see the reality of that statement. If one is truly heavenly minded, is that not the mind of God? Would not such a one possess the heart and longsuffering of God?
I have observed that the mature Christian is fearless and faithful through adversity. They consider trials to be fertilizer for their faith. As our text expresses in verses 2-4, they count it all joy…the trial of their faith worketh patience…wanting nothing. A growing Christian will pray to find answers and seek God’s wisdom. A Christian who is mature has a balanced view of earthly possessions and eternal reality. And no matter what happens in life, a “deep” believer will never blame God for struggles, but rather praise Him for the opportunity to bring glory to Him.
“Oh, that’s just your interpretation, Brother Groves. Just the way you see it!” No, my friend, it is what God is showing me.
Spiritual growth is rare among modern Christians. The hindrances abound toward those who would genuinely seek to grow in the knowledge and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Certainly, the world, flesh and devil have motive to impede a believer from maturing, but one would be surprised to find that even among the clergy there exists those who criticize anyone from getting “deep” with God. “You will become so heavenly minded that you will become no earthly good!” I have yet to see the reality of that statement. If one is truly heavenly minded, is that not the mind of God? Would not such a one possess the heart and longsuffering of God?
I have observed that the mature Christian is fearless and faithful through adversity. They consider trials to be fertilizer for their faith. As our text expresses in verses 2-4, they count it all joy…the trial of their faith worketh patience…wanting nothing. A growing Christian will pray to find answers and seek God’s wisdom. A Christian who is mature has a balanced view of earthly possessions and eternal reality. And no matter what happens in life, a “deep” believer will never blame God for struggles, but rather praise Him for the opportunity to bring glory to Him.
“Oh, that’s just your interpretation, Brother Groves. Just the way you see it!” No, my friend, it is what God is showing me.
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
THIRTY-EIGHT
Recently, my wife and I celebrated our thirty-eighth wedding anniversary. I have always admired those couples who have gone faithfully through life to reach their fiftieth and even seventy-fifth anniversary. It has always been remarkable, but today it is also rare. Not necessarily because one of the partners has passed away, but rare because fidelity is rare among us today. I am grateful for the years our Lord has given us together.
Our church hosted a fellowship after the evening service the Sunday following our anniversary. One of the members asked me what I would do if Mrs. Groves were to pass away. I told him that I would probably have to go with her. He said jokingly, “Well, Preacher, the women would be lined up to get you.” To which I replied, “I have spent thirty-eight years training this one and I do not have the energy to train another.”
It would be more truthful that she has trained me. Partners look out for one another. She certainly has taken good care of me through the years. Humanly speaking, I could not have done what I have accomplished through more than four decades of ministry if she had not been by my side. Thirty-eight and a half years ago she accepted a challenge, “Marry me and see the world.” She did and we have. She has gone with me across America, ministering in twelve states; across the oceans in Tokyo, Japan; Taipai, Taiwan; Athens and Corinth, Greece; Ephesus in Turkey; and all through the Holy Land.
She has been lied to and lied about by church members; criticized for her stand; disappointed by those thought to be friends; and broken hearted over the actions of loved ones. Still she remains yielded, submissive, and faithful. Jesus Christ has always taken first place in her life and I would have it no other way.
I gave thought to the possibility of waiting until our fortieth anniversary to share my heart on this matter, but I believe our Lord’s return is so near I did not want to miss the opportunity. Sandra, I love you, I always have.
Pr 31:10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. Pr 31:11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. Pr 31:12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
Our church hosted a fellowship after the evening service the Sunday following our anniversary. One of the members asked me what I would do if Mrs. Groves were to pass away. I told him that I would probably have to go with her. He said jokingly, “Well, Preacher, the women would be lined up to get you.” To which I replied, “I have spent thirty-eight years training this one and I do not have the energy to train another.”
It would be more truthful that she has trained me. Partners look out for one another. She certainly has taken good care of me through the years. Humanly speaking, I could not have done what I have accomplished through more than four decades of ministry if she had not been by my side. Thirty-eight and a half years ago she accepted a challenge, “Marry me and see the world.” She did and we have. She has gone with me across America, ministering in twelve states; across the oceans in Tokyo, Japan; Taipai, Taiwan; Athens and Corinth, Greece; Ephesus in Turkey; and all through the Holy Land.
She has been lied to and lied about by church members; criticized for her stand; disappointed by those thought to be friends; and broken hearted over the actions of loved ones. Still she remains yielded, submissive, and faithful. Jesus Christ has always taken first place in her life and I would have it no other way.
I gave thought to the possibility of waiting until our fortieth anniversary to share my heart on this matter, but I believe our Lord’s return is so near I did not want to miss the opportunity. Sandra, I love you, I always have.
Pr 31:10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. Pr 31:11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. Pr 31:12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
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