Category Archives: Bible Stories

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June 29, 2015

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Attitudes & Behavior, Bible Stories, Challenges & Difficulty, Faith & Hope, God's Plan, Sorrow, Grief & Regrets, Trusting God

WHY ASK “WHY?”

I came naked from my mother’s womb, and I will be naked when I leave. The Lord gave me what I had, and the Lord has taken it away. Praise the name of the Lord! [Job 1:21 (NLT)]

So he will do to me whatever he has planned. He controls my destiny. [Job 23:14 (NLT)]

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Life rapidly went from bad to worse for Job, a prosperous farmer who lost absolutely everything dear to him. In a matter of a few days, Job’s world was turned upside down. His flock of sheep were destroyed, his livestock stolen, his farmhands killed, and his children all died. As if the emotional pain from losing both his family and wealth wasn’t enough, Job became afflicted with boils, causing him terrible physical pain as well.

Job’s greatest torment, however, wasn’t physical or emotional; it was intellectual. He simply couldn’t understand the reason why such horrible events had occurred. In his anguish, he asked why God had turned away from him. Why was he being treated as a God’s enemy? Job, a good man, was positive that he’d done nothing wrong so his suffering couldn’t be punishment for any sins. Why then did he have to endure such woes? Even though he couldn’t understand the why of his misery, however, Job never lost his faith in God. He finally comprehended, as we all must at some point in our lives, that there will never be a satisfactory explanation for suffering and agony; our business is not to ask but to accept. Job finally asked God to forgive him for the questioning of His will. Even without knowing a reason for the tragedies of his life, the faithful Job managed to say, “Praise the name of the Lord!”

Like Job, when tragedy occurs in our lives or even in the lives of others, we feel there needs to be a reason that we can comprehend. Why we keep asking “why?” is beyond me; there is never anything close to an acceptable explanation for the tragedies of this life. We’re simply not ever going to know “why” on this side of eternity. It is a test of our faith to trust in the life a good and loving God has given to us and rather than just to trust in a life that is good. Rather than having faith in God because of what He does for us and the blessings he bestows on us, we need to have faith in God simply because of who He is and what Christ did for us on the cross. God’s plans for us are good ones and that is all we really need to know.

You, child of God, sometimes say, “What can be the design of this cross? What can be meant by that bereavement? Why am I perplexed by this dilemma? Why is this difficulty piled like a barricade across my path?” Well, you know not now, but you shall know hereafter; meanwhile, settle it firmly in your faith that “all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28) [Charles Spurgeon]

Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad? [Job 2:10 ((NLT)]

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June 27, 2015

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Bible Stories, Faith & Hope, God's Grace & Love, God's Promises, Prayer, Trusting God

PRAY AS IF YOU BELIEVE

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Praying Mantis


Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly. [Psalm 5:3 (NLT)]

Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it! [John 14:14 (NLT)]

I never wrote a Christmas or birthday present wish list as a child; I was taught that it is impolite to ask for gifts. When I was first married, I remember being somewhat disappointed at the gifts my husband chose for me because he hadn’t selected whatever it was that I’d hoped to receive. Yet how was he to know? I foolishly thought that if he truly loved me he would automatically know what was on my unexpressed wish list. After a few disappointing holidays, I realized that I had to speak up and make my feelings known. Good man that he is, he hasn’t let me down since!

If I can express my wishes to my husband, why do I have so much trouble asking God for what I want? Am I afraid He won’t or can’t answer? The more critical the problem or greater the need, the less likely I am to pray as if He can deliver. When praying for other people’s needs, I can be pretty specific, but when praying for my own needs I often pray a somewhat generic prayer of, “Thy will be done,” without ever expressing my fervent hopes for healing or help. It’s as if I don’t trust God enough to ask for anything that specific. This, however, is the God who created the heavens and earth, parted the Red Sea, made the sun stand still, restored lepers to health, gave sight to the blind, and brought Lazarus back to life. I shouldn’t be afraid to ask God for anything, always understanding that my hopes may not be His will. I should, however, have the faith to ask Him anyway.

Father in Heaven, give me faith; help me overcome my unbelief!

“Have mercy on us and help us, if you can.”

“What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.”

The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!” [Mark 9:22-24 (NLT)]

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June 15, 2015

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Attitudes & Behavior, Bible Stories, Faith & Hope, Miracles, Patience & Perseverance

HE HEALED

“What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked. “My Rabbi,” the blind man said, “I want to see!” And Jesus said to him, “Go, for your faith has healed you.” Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus down the road. [Mark 10:51-52 (NLT)]

Bartimaeus, the blind beggar, ran after Jesus. “Son of David, have mercy on me!” he called. The crowd tried to quiet him, but he only shouted louder. No doubt about it, he wanted to be healed and he was. A paralyzed man wanted healing so much that he had his friends carry him to Jesus. When they couldn’t get through the crowd to the Lord, the men climbed onto the roof, made an opening and lowered their friend down to Jesus. Nothing was going to keep him from healing. A bleeding woman spent every penny she had on doctors to no avail. She followed after Jesus, desperately trying to touch his robe in hope of healing. Like the blind beggar and lame man, she truly wanted to be healed.

What a contrast they are to the man who lay by the pool at Bethesda for thirty-eight years. Sick people congregated there every day in hope of a miraculous healing. It was said that an angel of the Lord would come from time to time and stir up the water. Whoever was first to step in that water would be healed instantly. When Jesus came to the pool, he saw the man and asked if he wanted to be healed. It’s odd that the answer wasn’t a resounding “Yes!” Instead, the man complained that he had no one to put him in the water when it rippled.

The sick man by the pool blamed others for his lack of healing; no one would take him to the edge of the pool. Was there no one in thirty-eight years who might have helped the sick man if he’d only asked? Had he been abandoned or had he gotten so comfortable in his misery that he hadn’t requested help? Did he really want to be healed or had he found it easier to be an invalid? Fortunately, Jesus saw and took pity on him, commanded him to pick up his mat and walk. The man obeyed and was healed. If he’d replied, “I can’t; I’m too sick!” he would probably have lain there for the rest of his years.

Some of us may need physical healing; others may need spiritual or emotional healing. Sickness and disease are part and parcel of our imperfect world. No matter how much faith we have or how many doctors or counselors we visit, not every illness will be cured. There is no promise that we’ll stay healthy and death is inevitable. When we need healing, however, we can’t lay helpless by a pool waiting for a miraculous and effortless cure. Healing takes work. That means prayer along with such things as regular medication, physical therapy, a 12-step program, counseling, an exercise regimen or special diet, healthier habits, hospitalization, a support group, or even a simple change in attitude. We can, however, do all of that and still not be healed. Cures are never guaranteed but, if we’re unwilling to put forth some effort, it’s a guarantee that we’ll never be able to stand up, pick up our mats and walk.

The wish for healing has always been half of health. [Seneca]

When Jesus saw him and knew he had been ill for a long time, he asked him, “Would you like to get well?” “I can’t, sir,” the sick man said, “for I have no one to put me into the pool when the water bubbles up. Someone else always gets there ahead of me.” Jesus told him, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk!” Instantly, the man was healed! [John 5:6-9a (NLT)]

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June 13, 2015

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Bible Stories, God's Promises, Obedience, Salvation: A New You, Trusting God

TRUTH IN ADVERTISING

“Take nothing for your journey,” he instructed them. “Don’t take a walking stick, a traveler’s bag, food, money, or even a change of clothes. … Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.” [Luke 9:3,23 (NLT         

Our Lady Cathedral, AntwerpVarious other translations of these verses from Luke say the follower of Christ is to “stop thinking about,” “lose sight of,” “deny,” or “disown” himself and give up his interests and the things he wants. Many translations are far less poetic when mentioning the taking up of one’s cross. The Expanded Bible, for instance, say followers must “be willing to give up their lives” and the Complete Jewish Bible bluntly refers to the cross as an “execution-stake.” It’s bad enough that Jesus told us to take nothing when we follow him. He then tells us that we won’t be staying at the Hilton nor having room service. In fact, there might not even be a bed at the Motel 6 with coffee and stale rolls in the morning. Moreover, since we’re to deny ourselves the things we want, there may be no bed at all and it’s quite possible we’ll go hungry. We have to learn to rely on God rather than ourselves. Finally, there’s that that whole “taking up the cross” thing meaning a loss of one’s life-style or, even worse, the possible loss of one’s life! It seems to me that Jesus needed to consult with a better advertising agency if He was going to get followers. There would be plenty of Christians if He, like most politicians, offered us a care-free life, one of effortless comfort and ease, instead of telling us how difficult it would be. Jesus, however, laid it all on the line. A follower of Christ must rely on God’s provision, not his own; God-dependence must replace independence and obedience must replace self-determination. Long-standing habits, desires and attitudes must be renounced and the old self crucified so we can be made new in Christ. Our old lives have to be left behind if we’re going to journey with Jesus. Indeed, his early followers and even some Christians today face the actual loss of life for their belief. Jesus certainly didn’t make Christianity sound very easy. Why would anyone follow him? Then again, when we consider the benefits, why would anyone not?

 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. [Luke 9:24 (NLT

My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. [Galatians 2:20 (NLT)]

 

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June 3, 2015

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Attitudes & Behavior, Bible Stories, Love & Works, Money & Wealth

RESCUE AND REDEEM

Give your love of justice to the king, O God, and righteousness to the king’s son. … He will rescue the poor when they cry to him; he will help the oppressed, who have no one to defend them. He feels pity for the weak and the needy, and he will rescue them. He will redeem them from oppression and violence, for their lives are precious to him. [Psalm 72:1,12-14 (NLT)]

hands-cropWEBIn Psalm 72, David, by now an old man, penned a prayer for Solomon who would soon become king. It may well have been David’s last psalm. In it he asked God to help his son to rule the kingdom justly and compassionately. “Rescue” and “redeem,” “help” and “pity” – these are pretty serious requirements, yet this is what a good king will do for his people. This is what Jesus, our king, did for us. Moreover, this is what we should do for others.

God cares for the poor, the oppressed, the weak and needy. He expects us to care for them, too. We need to consider how we can reach out to these people with God’s love. Like a good king, we can’t ignore their plight. The government we choose helps determine their fate. Do we remember the poor and oppressed, weak and needy when we vote? Do we remember them when we pass by the Salvation Army’s kettles at Christmas time? Do we remember them when we make our offerings at church? Do we remember their needs when we pray? Do we volunteer at a shelter or hospital or charity re-sale shop? Do we support missions with donations of supplies and money? Do we open our checkbooks freely for those who need our financial help? Do we open our hearts? Do we reach out our hands? Jesus was in the rescue and redeem business; are we?

In all their suffering he also suffered, and he personally rescued them. In his love and mercy he redeemed them. He lifted them up and carried them through all the years. [Isaiah 63:9 (NLT)]

Praise the Lord God, the God of Israel, who alone does such wonderful things. Praise his glorious name forever! Let the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen and amen! [Psalm 72:18-19 (NLT)]

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June 1, 2015

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Attitudes & Behavior, Bible Stories, Money & Wealth, Obedience, Thanks & Praise

WE DIDN’T DO IT ON OUR OWN

The Lord sent a prophet to the Israelites. He said, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I brought you up out of slavery in Egypt. I rescued you from the Egyptians and from all who oppressed you. I drove out your enemies and gave you their land. I told you, ‘I am the Lord your God. You must not worship the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you now live.’ But you have not listened to me.” [Judges 6:8-10 (NLT)]

God made it quite clear: the Israelites were not to worship the Amorite gods, yet they fell into a life of disobedience and idolatry. With such a concise and simple prohibition, why did the Israelites fail to obey God? Had they forgotten who freed them and fed them, gave them victory in battle and led them to a “land of milk and honey”? Perhaps they had and they began to think they had accomplished everything on their own. Lack of gratitude can be a dangerous thing. For the Israelites, it meant that they suffered for seven years at the hands of the Midianites; homes, crops and livestock were destroyed and Israel was on the brink of starvation. Let us never make the mistake of worshiping the false gods of self, fame, or fortune. While we enjoy the blessings of this life, we must never forget who made them all possible.

However, if you do not listen to me or obey all these commands, and if you break my covenant by rejecting my decrees, treating my regulations with contempt, and refusing to obey my commands, I will punish you. I will bring sudden terrors upon you—wasting diseases and burning fevers that will cause your eyes to fail and your life to ebb away. You will plant your crops in vain because your enemies will eat them. I will turn against you, and you will be defeated by your enemies. Those who hate you will rule over you, and you will run even when no one is chasing you! [Leviticus 26:14-17 (NLT)]