by Randal Matheny

Take the last six weeks. Please. (Just kidding.) Here's a little list of what's been happening in our congregation over the last month and a half:

• Suicide attempt • Personal financial disaster(s) • Sexual immorality • Cancer • Victims of robbery • Marital separation and reconciliation • Prolonged unemployment • Persecution

And we have "only" about 40 Christians in the congregation! We're not exactly Corinth redivivus, but we've had our share of problems.

That's why Hebreus 12.7 spoke loud and clear to me recently.

"Endure trials for the sake of discipline. God is treating you as children; for what child is there whom a parent does not discipline?"

Many things we bring upon ourselves, yet the resulting bumps and lumps can teach us something. And it seems some of us (if not all) have a lot to learn.

There is much we can do to avoid the lumps. We can go a long way in avoiding a lot of suffering. We can

• Live like Jesus. • Soak up the wisdom of God. • Learn from others' mistakes. • Be frugal in personal spending, generous toward others. • Work hard, even for a meager salary. • Be squeaky-clean honest. • Show bend-over-backwards kindness. • Turn the other cheek. • Let resentment shrivel on the vine. • Eat right, sleep well, wake up with a smile.

The more we add to this list the more we can make the first one shorter. But in spite of it all, sufferings will come. We cannot but involve ourselves in the problems of Christian friends and family members. Sickness pops in for a visit when we least want it. Persecution comes calling when we feel least prepared to meet it.

What then?

Back to Hebrews 12.7. "Endure." It's no easy row to hoe. There's no softening the blow. Sometimes we feel as if we're in the ring with the heavy-weight champion slugging away at us.

The Lord helps, he wants us to take a lesson to heart, wants us to draw closer to him, but from somewhere down deep we have to pull out the desire, the determination, the decision to endure.

The fog may be so thick I can't tell which way is up. The mud may be so deep I can barely extract my foot with a thluck.

My problems mixed with your problems, and our problems piled in on their problems seem to constitute the perfect motive for bailing out of the church. That's what the Hebrew Christians were doing, and we're tempted to do the same.

The Hebrew writer tells us we're in the right place (10.19-25). The place where problems and sufferings and sins are seen for what they are, dealt with as they should be, examined for lessons to be learned.

We're in the right place. Stick it out. Endure.

It's a sign, says Hebrews, God is treating you as his child.

by Emmett Smith

That's right. Jesus was proclaimed to be "...mighty God..." in Isaiah 9:6. And so He is! In the salutation of his second letter Peter referred to Him as "...our God and Savior Jesus Christ..." (2Peter 1:1). John's gospel begins with the declaration that in the beginning "the Word was God". And should there be any doubt as to John's intent, verse 14 declares that "the Word became flesh and dwelt among us", an obvious reference to the incarnation. And Matthew's quotation of Isaiah 7:14 (Matthew 1:23) explains that the name Emmanuel means "God with us".

Have you thought about this lately? God became human. He lived "among us" according to many hundreds of witnesses of record! (see 1 Corinthians 15:1-9 & 1 John 1:1-4) And 1 Timothy 3:16 summarizes it as follows: "And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory". The gospel is unique in this respect.

No other religion claims that their god became human, lived a simple human life, was put to death by fellow humans, and then demonstrated his power over death in the resurrection. And all this so that we humans could have a loving relationship with Him. The mystery is made even more compelling when we look at Philippians chapter 2. Verse seven says that He "emptied himself" in becoming a man. Just look at a few different commentaries on that verse if you don't think it's mysterious. How could we understand how the sovereign of the universe became human?

But we can understand why. A few verses further on, we're told that His obedient death on the cross enabled Him to be exalted, to be given a name above all others. And we're also told that "every knee should bow" and that "every tongue should confess" that Jesus is Lord. And those knees and tongues are not limited to human ones either, but to things heavenly, and earthly, and under the earth, i.e. every sentient creature ever to exist. The question is not whether we will submit to Him and confess His name, but when we will do it! Whether before or after it's eternally too late.

In John chapter 20, as events following the resurrection are noted, the reaction of Thomas is recorded. We sometimes refer to him as "doubting Thomas". When the others told him that they had seen the Lord alive, Thomas said "I will not believe" unless "I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side". But when the Lord presented this evidence, his response was simply "My Lord and my God".

Think about it. Given that the evidence was true, what other response was possible?

John 20:29  Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

by Barry Newton

Doubt was written all over her face. Speaking with a pierced tongue, her question was blunt but honest. “Is the Bible relevant for my life? After all, the Bible is ancient!”

Such questions might reflect the thinking of a lot of people since you will search the scriptures in vain to find the following chronic problems: Nintendo addiction, road rage, compulsive consumerism, anorexia, or even depression. Although you will not find within the Bible these or a host of other debilitating characteristics crippling the lives of people, scripture does address all of these problems and more. For example, consider the following story of “Betty.”

At times Betty would find herself feeling a bit down. Long ago she discovered that by going to the mall and shopping she would feel better. With time she developed the coping habit of going shopping whenever she felt depressed in order to perk herself up. Unfortunately, the good feeling would quickly wear off and soon she would be faced again with that horrible darkness.

As the years progressed, the need to shop became more and more frequent. She also discovered that handling her depression in this way created further complications. Financial difficulties grew causing feelings of guilt which eroded her self-esteem leading to an even deeper depression. In order to handle the financial problems, sometimes she would return what she had purchased. But the cycle just seemed to grow worse and nothing short of drugs seemed capable of handling the depression. Her self-esteem plummeted further as she blamed herself for not being better.

While the Bible does not directly address shopping addiction and its related problems, it’s message strikes at the heart of Betty’s dilemma offering her freedom from a tortured existence. Betty’s problem, like most of our problems, began long before she started feeling blue one day. Somewhere along the line, probably while growing up at home or perhaps from other influences such as school or her peer group, Betty heard statements, saw actions and witnessed decisions being made which led her to believe the lie that her self-worth, purpose and dignity are based upon this world. At an early age she began to believe that if she was pretty enough, popular enough, had the right clothes and friends, etc. then life would be grand. Perhaps her parents even unwittingly contributed to this belief through their comments and actions. Frankly, although at first she had tried hard to measure up and “be somebody” so she could be happy, in the end her self-evaluation fell far short of the goal ... and her life seemed to unravel as destructive negative thoughts took root.

If Betty is a typical person, she would probably not perceive any connection between being “saved by Jesus” and her “real life” predicament. But she could not be more wrong. Although she might even attend church and sing songs on Sunday, it is possible that for all practical purposes her life could be centered around serving created things such as her own looks, fashion and her friendships. Fortunately, there is good news for not only Betty but also for the rest of us.

Part of God’s message is that Betty, like the rest of us, is extremely important and she has dignity because she has been made in God’s image. Furthermore, although she did not deserve God’s love, God loved her so much that he sent Jesus to rescue her from her sinful hopelessness created by serving the created order. And if she will respond to Jesus, God will even make her somebody who nothing in this world can destroy! She will stand in that most important relationship of all – a child of God.

Scripture may not directly address the labels we slap upon modern problems, but its message addresses the root issues for the blight of modern living. The answer is simple but not simplistic. Believe in Jesus. Allow God’s message to shape your understanding and your heart. It will change who you are, how you feel and what you do.

by Randal Matheny

People seem to like to tell what they're going to do. Big plans. Impressive ideas. Political promises.

One brother I know has told me, oh, a half a dozen times, how he's really getting back on track this time. And it lasts, oh, a couple of weeks.

May he had a father who made lots of promises and never came through with them. Whatever. He does have a Heavenly Father who has never missed a lick.

That's why Jesus -- and the rest of the entire Bible -- is so adamant about doing what you say you'll do. No big oaths or impressive prefaces needed. And think hard before you put the wet pencil tip to the agenda.

The Big Truth is, God is faithful. And any child of his worth his salt will be, too.

What'd you say?

"The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this" (1 Thes. 5.24, NRSV).

by Randal Matheny

"Even though princes sit plotting against me, your servant will meditate on your statutes" (Psalm 119.23, NRSV).

Eastern religions understand meditation as an emptying of one's mind and soul. The goal is nothingness. The mantra, a syllable, word, or phrase repeated in meditation, seeks to disconnect the chanter from the world around and separate him from this reality.

According to the Scriptures, meditation seeks to fill the depth of the human soul with God's word. The goal is Christlikeness, or godli(ke)ness. The concentration in God's statutues takes into account the reality of our experience and serves as delightful counsellor to the righteous (Psalm 199.24).

Here's a short list of what meditation is or seeks to do for the Christian. You can add to it.

• The wait until the mind brings me deeper meanings or extended applications of Scripture for my daily life.

• The expectation of opening new horizons of comprehension and action.

• The confrontation of the Word with the soul, in all its weaknesses, pride, fears, and anxieties (Ps. 119.11, 59).

• The apprenticeship of learning who I am (Jas. 1.22-25).

• The absorption of truth, so as to think, speak, and act automatically or instinctively by its guidance.

• The preliminary to courage and success (Josh. 1.5-9, Ps. 119.23-24, 78, 95).

• The hiding of the word of God in the depths of the heart, in order that, from within, may flow rivers of living water (Ps. 119.112, John 7.38).

• The discovery of the Savior's nearness.

• The effort to give up effort.

• The questioning of how the Word may come to my side, to my aid.

• The search to please the Lord in my integrity (Ps. 19.14).

• The feeding of gladness and pleasure in the goodness of God (Ps. 119.15-16, 18, 47-48).

• The dependence on the Lord's purpose for my life (Ps. 119.27).

• The sunrise of wisdom (Ps. 119.97-100).

Meditation is the lost art of faith, the forgotten article of devotion. Busyness has crowded out contemplation. The life run by a task-oriented agenda has squelched reflection.

And we are the poorer for its lack.

Stop today, turn off the gadgets, lock yourself into the bathroom or bedroom or hide in the woods. Get alone with God, hear the Word speak, and ponder its meaning.

Ponder well. From such deep thoughts flow the springs of life.