Being Put to the Test

No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it.

I Corinthians 10:13 (NRSV)

This was one of the verses in the second lesson on Sunday, March 7th. I underlined it. I've been carrying it around in my back pocket ever since until I got around to writing a blog post on it. This verse spoke right to me in church that day. I've been having a tough time of things lately, and this was a nice reminder that God won't give me anything that I can't handle. When you're struggling to see daylight, it's hard to get out one step at a time. Instead it's easier just to ignore your problems. Sure, they often get worse, but if you ignore them, it doesn't matter, right? The funny thing is, even if you ignore them, God doesn't give you anything you can't handle. No matter how bad things are, you can get through them. One step at a time. One day at a time. God is always there beside you - and that's a good reminder to have.

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It's All in the Timing

For he says, “At an acceptable time I have listened to you, and on a day of salvation I have helped you.” See, now is the acceptable time; see, now is the day of salvation!

2 Corinthians 6:2

I was in the Ash Wednesday service at Peace Lutheran in Charlottesville this week. The past week had been pretty stressful because I had some pretty major things hanging over my head. I had gotten them done earlier in the day and I felt tons better. As I listened to these words in the service, they spoke to me. I remembered someone saying that sometimes God's time is waiting for us to be ready. I felt like that was what happened to me. I had to be ready to take a step on my own, and that was what made the time right for things to work out. In the same way we are not meant to be a passive people, but to act out our faith on a daily basis.

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Do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with your God

He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of
you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

Micah 6:8 (NRSV)

This verse was a verse that my pastor, Bob Humphrey, preached on for a number of weeks earlier this year during Lent. It popped up in my random Bible verse app today, and I thought it was a good one for today.

Why does God require these things of us? What struck me when I read this today is that when we do these things we are less likely to sin. Especially that last part - walk humbly with your God. When you are walking with God, aware of His presence, you are less likely to do the things you know you shouldn't. Sin likes darkness, and when we are walking in the light, it pushes back the sinful desires we have.

So I encourage you today to walk humbly with your God.

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A Prayer for the ELCA National Youth Gathering

For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.

Ephesians 2:10

I am praying tonight for all those who go to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's National Youth Gathering. 32,000+ youth and adults descending on the city of New Orleans for a week of fellowship, worship and service. I am sad that I cannot be with all my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, but I am there with them in spirit. I pray that they will enjoy their time there and the opportunities the trip provides; and that they will serve joyously in the tasks they are given, so that the people of New Orleans will see Christ shining in them.

Amen

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And be thankful.

¹⁵And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. ^{16 16}Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God.

Colossians 3:15-16

Today I was thinking about being thankful. I was reading the warm-fuzzies I got at Kairos, and I was thinking how thankful I am for the encouragement I get from youth and adults in my ministry. You'd be surprised how often you have no idea if anything you're doing is making a difference! I picked this passage because it relates to what I've been talking about this week - teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom. I also though it was appropriate for Sunday, as it talked about singing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs to God with grattitude in your heart.

I really love the artfulness of these verses as well. They paint a vivid picture with words. "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts." I imagine peace ruling me like a sovereign. A kind monarch that has my best interests at heart and is always serene, wise and free with his guidance.

"to which indeed you were called in the one body." Like a siren call, peace calls to us to become one in Christ. Like a body at rest in physics, we rotate around Christ until we come to rest peacfully in Him as one body.

"And be thankful." This to me is the centerpiece around which these verses rotate. Be thankful. For everything around you - the air, the sky, the grass, the birds, your house, your fellow Christians, the list goes on and on... Be thankful.

"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly." Don't just let the word dwell in you, but let it do so richly. Like the deliciousness of rich chocolate, let it make your whole self better. And those around you will taste that richness through your words and deeds.

"teach and admonish one another in all wisdom;" In both teaching and correcting our fellow Christians, we should do so with wisdom. We should think before we speak and seek to build each other up always.

"with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God." Don't just sing songs in church, or where ever, but sing them with gusto! Sing them at the top of your lungs! Revel in the sounds of otehrs singing around you. Enjoy not only your own singing, but the chorus of those around you, and do it with a joyous, grateful heart.

For those of you preparing to leave for National Youth Gathering, I pray that you will have thankful hearts for the experience you are about to have, and that you will sing praise to God with gratefulness, and that you will be lights shining in the world for all those you serve this week.

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