December 7 – Cure for Weariness

“For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” Hebrews 12:3 (NASB)

We hear many remarking how difficult this year has been and nearly everyone has been affected by the chaos in our world. They’re hoping next year will be better and are eager for this year to be over. How can we know if it will be any better? We can know that Jesus experienced much worse in His life for our sake. These words were written to encourage us when we are tempted to give up when the going gets really tough. The verse just before this one encourages us to fix our eyes on Jesus Christ our Savior which will help us to avoid giving up. Some may be tempted to think that it is not worth all the trouble involved in following close to the Lord. Then we should remember that Jesus came to earth to do his Father's will and He encountered a lot of suffering. The leaders of the people hated Him and were hostile to Jesus and eventually killed him. But He endured it all, shame and death on the cross, and now He is in heaven's glory and we'll be there someday too. Let's fix our eyes on Him today.

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September 4 – Suffering Share

“Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,”  2 Timothy 1:8-9 (ESV)

This letter written by the Apostle Paul to Timothy was the last writing we have from Paul.  We can assume many were attempting to shame Timothy for being a follower of Paul the prisoner in Rome.  After all, anyone who ended up in a Roman prison had to be considered a failure was their basis. Paul encourages Timothy when shamed, to not be ashamed but to embrace the opportunity. Instead, he was to consider it a blessing to be part of the suffering that was experienced by all who boldly proclaimed the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This passage teaches the same means of our calling as Ephesians 1:3-6.  Suffering for the His Name’s sake was part of what is appointed to us, taught and predicted by Jesus Himself.  Suffering for the sake of God and His great name comes to believers in this world.  It is coming to those who so far have known a comfortable and easier life. God chose all who believe before the ages began, according to his great love and by grace, has called us to share in these sufferings. It is promised to all who have believed and received Jesus as Lord and Savior

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April 29 – No Hide and Seek Games

“Though the Lord gave you adversity for food and suffering for drink, he will still be with you to teach you. You will see your teacher with your own eyes. Your own ears will hear him. Right behind you a voice will say, “This is the way you should go,” whether to the right or to the left.”  -Isaiah 30:20-21  (NLT)

We can know and trust God because He has promised that in the most difficult circumstances of our life, He is with us and providing for us.  He promises to never desert us.  If we have been going through adverse condition and if our way has been more difficult and caused us suffering, God knows this.  Just as the people of Israel, in the time Isaiah was God’s prophet experienced periods of judgment because of disobedience, God promised to open their eyes to the truth of the message of His prophets (Isaiah 29:24).  Adversity is a bridge to a deeper relationship with God if we are willing to cross it. Through it, the Lord reveals Himself to us, helps us to understand His ways, He teaches us to listen to Him, and strengthens our faith.  The Lord promises to lead and to guide us, His people. He doesn’t do “hide and seek,” games or make it difficult for us to find Him and His will. Actually it’s the opposite, God will move heaven and earth to show us His will if necessary. If we really want to do His will, He promises to make it clear to us.

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March 1 – Withstanding the Furnace

“I have refined you, but not as silver is refined. Rather, I have refined you in the furnace of suffering. I will rescue you for my sake—yes, for my own sake! I will not let my reputation be tarnished, and I will not share my glory with idols!”  - Isaiah 48:10-11 (NLT)

Do we recognize how important God’s name is?  Finding promises in the Old Testament books by God’s prophets can be enlightening.  How important is God’s name to us?  How much do we guard our use and reverence of His name?  In today’s passage, God has been describing Israel’s stubbornness.  The people of Israel and Judah used God’s name when making promises they did not keep. But they proved to be obstinate to God’s warnings.  God gives them, and us as well, a reason, for why He holds them and us accountable in such a harsh manner.  He tells us that when we encounter difficult times, as a result of our stubbornness, it is a refining process.  Not like silver in a hot furnace but in a furnace of suffering.  As our actions result in difficult circumstances, they produce a cleansing.  The promise given us is this; when we find ourselves in such a refining situation, God holds back his anger so that we are not wiped out (Isaiah 48:9) and promises to rescue us.  He rescues us for his own name’s sake to keep his reputation from being profaned and to keep His glory from being shared with the idols. 

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February 24 – Joining the Resistance

“But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world.”  - 1 Peter 5:8 (NASB)
“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” – James 4:7 (ESV)

Temptations come at us every day; this we know because Jesus told us it would happen if we followed Him and His teaching.  The world hates us and abuses us for professing Jesus as our Lord and Savior.  We have a means to fight this battle by joining the Resistance.  Resisting the devil is an effective means of enduring temptations and avoiding pitfalls the enemy throws in our way.  Temptations and the abuse of the world are part of the sufferings we endure because we choose to believe Jesus.  Resisting is something we must do continually and as we do, we have two promises from two verses today.  The Apostle Peter says that by standing firm in our faith we resist the enemy.  James tells us that if we, in submission to God, resist the devil it will turn tail and run off.  The battle is already won, but devil does not give up.  Each time the devil comes back we resist again and our faith grows stronger.  In the Resistance, we begin to see more clearly the victory God promised (1 John 5:4 ESV) and so we are not so easily tripped up or fooled by the enemy.  

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July 3 – Heirs Indeed, Co-Heirs

“Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.” Romans 8:17 (NIV)

When we accept Jesus as our Savior, God brings us into His family. This verse refers to just one aspect of our family relationship – the inheritance that God has promised us, His children.  We can think of our inheritance as being in the future, and of course we look forward to entering into God's glory in heaven when our life her on earth is over.  We will be co-heirs with Christ and because we carry His Name with us, we will be targets of the enemy and experience a kind of suffering for our faith – it is to be expected.  And yet the promise that He will share with us the wonders of God's glory there.  But even now, we are enjoying the privileges of family membership in this life. Can we not think of God's love and the daily blessings he gives to us as part of our inheritance as members of His family?  God the Father restored His Son to His glory in heaven and we benefit from His presence there and His presence with us here.

June 27 – When Legions Stood Down

“Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels?” Matthew 26:53 (ESV)

The setting of this verse is the Garden of Gethsemane just outside the walls of the City of Jerusalem.  Today, many structures have been built and many places have shrines but the night Jesus said these words, it was simply a garden at the base of the Mount of Olives.  Jesus is being arrested and one of his disciples takes up his sword to defend Jesus.  At that moment, Jesus says these words recorded in the Gospel of Matthew.  They remind us of the wonderful love of our Lord Jesus Christ.  He could have avoided suffering and dying on the cross. Thousands of angels could have been called upon to set Him free. But because God promised a means of redemption, and Jesus was the only way to accomplish that.  Jesus went with the arresting officers and then to the cross to die for us.  Why? Because He so loved us He did what He came to do – He obeyed His purpose.  In return Jesus asks us to love him and show our love by obeying Him.  Today, let's stay close to him and lets again commit to love Him with our whole heart, mind, and might. 

December 4 – Cure for Weariness

“For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” Hebrews 12:3 (NASB)

These words were written to encourage Christians when they are tempted to give up trying to reach some goal in their life. The verse just before this one encourages us to fix our eyes on Jesus Christ our Savior which will help us to avoid giving up. Sometimes we may be tempted to think that it is not worth all the trouble involved in following close to the Lord. Then we should remember that Jesus came to earth to do his Father's will and He encountered a lot of suffering. The leaders of the people hated Him and were hostile to Jesus and eventually killed him. But He endured it all, shame and death on the cross, and now He is in heaven's glory and we'll be there someday too. Let's fix our eyes on Him today.

October 30 – Waiting Quietly

“The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.” Lamentations 3:25-26 (NIV)

It was during the days following the destruction of the city of Jerusalem by the Babylonians that the words in the book of Lamentations were written.  There was much weeping over the destruction of their city and of the Temple of God. So the words in today's verses are like a breath of encouragement. The writer recognized that great suffering had come because people had forsaken God and had turned from believing in Him. But God was still good to those who trusted and obeyed Him. He had not changed. It was the people who changed. So today, as we are pressed on every side and even threatened, let us continue in our confidence in God and His Word.  After all it is good to wait quietly for the salvation the Lord has promised. It will be here for us. 

June 3 – Convinced He is Able

“That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.” 2 Timothy 1:12  (NIV)

We remember that the Apostle Paul had a special encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus. This happened when he was still an enemy of Jesus and was hunting those who believed in and followed Him. But on that day he was changed and he began believing in Jesus and who He was.  When he wrote this letter to Timothy he was near the end of his life.  Paul said, “I know whom I have believed” for he had grown in his knowledge of Jesus and he said he was convinced that Jesus was able to bring him to a glorious future – he believed the promise God had given to him.  As we walk with our Lord Jesus  we can come to know Him better each day. We can be convinced that He is able to bring us through whatever we face just as Paul was convinced. Let's remember today and believe today and be convinced today that He is able.

April 15 – Following God's Great Plan

“He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again.” Mark 8:31 (NIV)

We look back in the timeline of Jesus' life on earth before this week and find that Jesus had prepared his disciples.  Isn’t it amazing that Jesus had foretold what would happen? He had told his disciples all about what he had just gone through and had assured them that after His death at the hands of the leaders he would rise from the dead and come out of the grave after three days. Even the enemies of Jesus remember that prediction when they went to Pilate to ask for special guards to be stationed at the grave.  Yes, God’s plan was to raise his Son again the third day and nothing could stop Him from carrying out this plan. So the time Jesus spent in the grave was only to follow God’s great plan. Let’s remember that God has plans for each of us too. We can trust Him to do what He wants in our lives – let’s do that.  

April 14 – The Final Cross Words

“When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” John 19:30 (NIV)

The account of Christ’s crucifixion is recorded by each of the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. They record different details about the six hours on the cross and different words spoken by our Lord. All the words that Jesus spoke during the hours that he was hanging in pain and suffering on the cross are all important. However, for you and me were any of them more important than these three finale words? He said, “It is finished.” He knew that what he had done by dying on the cross was opening the way for us to become forgiven and become children of God. Jesus had come to Earth for this very purpose – to bring a lost world back to God. As we consider this and think of Jesus dying for us, paying the penalty for our sins, let’s thank Him for finishing what He came to do. 

February 13

“Remember your word to your servant, for you have given me hope. My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life.” Psalm 119:49-50 (NIV)

There are many promises in the Bible and often our verse on 90 Seconds with God is a promise. Today our verse is a different kind of promise. It is a promise of what promises do for us. Our focus is especially on the last words in the verse. How often have we found that a promise from God “preserves our life?” Another word might be renews our life. As we said, there are many promises in the Bible and they fit many different situations for many different needs. For some of us there may be certain promises that have been especially precious.  The Holy Spirit has reminded us of one or more of them just when we needed them and they made life worth living again, they renewed our life, they preserved our life. Think, my friend, of such a promise today and it will preserve and renew your life in the hours ahead. 

October 30

“In my alarm I said, “I am cut off from your sight!” Yet you heard my cry for mercy when I called to you for help.”  Psalm 31:22 (NIV)

Can a person who is discouraged really expect help from God? Perhaps the testimony of David will give us an answer. He had been in a difficult and dangerous situation. He was tempted to think that God was not watching and even said so. He said it to God. But did God hold that against him? Did God say, “If you do not believe I am watching I will just let you suffer.”? Of course not. God heard David call and He helped him. God knows our weaknesses and is aware when we are discouraged. But He still loves us and He will listen when we ask Him for help.

June 24

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles,”  2 Corinthians 1:3-4a (NIV)

This is how the apostle Paul began his letter to the Christians at Corinth. He reminds them that God is the true source of comfort. If He is the God of all comfort that means all true and lasting comfort comes from Him. Paul experienced the comfort that God gives. He lived a life which was subject to much suffering, much opposition and many troubles. But he had found much comfort in his God. We have the same God. He is for us, also the God of all comfort. When we need it we turn to Him and He will comfort us and help us.

March 24

“Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Luke 23:34 (NIV)

Jesus spoke several times during his crucifixion – very meaningful words such as those in this verse. He spoke while they were actually crucifying Him – a time of awful physical suffering. He was praying for those who had driven the nails into his hands and feet but also for those who had delivered Him up to be crucified. Just think that at a time like that He could pray that they be forgiven. What a vision this gives us of His forgiving attitude toward all of us. We realize that our sins nailed Him to the cross. Jesus prays for us as we put our trust in Him

March 16

“You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.”  Revelation 5:9 (NIV)

Yesterday we read that John, the Baptist described Jesus as the Lamb of God. Today John the apostle in a vision saw Him as the Lamb. When Jesus died on the cross it was no accident. Nor was it an event of minor importance. Even in eternity, when we are there in the presence of God, the death of Christ on the cross will be a theme of the singing in heaven. So when we are reminded of His suffering, remember the great and eternal meaning of it all. Jesus, the Lamb of God will be praised because He was slain and purchased man with His blood.

January 30

“And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.” 1 Peter 5:10 (NIV)

Peter was writing to believers who were suffering great persecution for their faith. Even though we may not be experiencing that kind of suffering, we will likely admit that we do have difficulties. This verse reminds us that God is personally involved in our lives. I’m impressed by the words which state that He “will Himself restore you and make you strong.” God does watch us and knows how to encourage us, and personally gets involved. Be assured that in your time of need He will Himself restore you to make you strong, firm and steadfast.