Thlipis

The Greek word, thlipis, is the word used for tribulation, anguish, affliction, trouble, burden or the like. It's like the squeezing of the olive for oil or the grape for juice.  But personally, I prefer not to be squeezed.  I don't like it.  It doesn't feel good.  Such American sentiment!  Yes, I'm soft and spoiled.  I've come to know that more than ever in my older age.  As I look back on the past and see people who went through much tribulation to secure my present freedoms, I am ashamed!

And as a believer in Jesus Christ, seeing what He secured for me at a high cost, gives me more cause for shame.  As believers, we should find joy in our tribulations because they contribute to present blessing and ultimate glory.  Our joy ultimately comes from the certain hope of the glory of God.  And our joy is always, ever in Christ, not circumstances.

When we trust in God's goodness, faithfulness and provision, He fills us with all joy and peace in believing.  To live in anguish over the past, anxiety concerning the present or apprehension about the future is to fail to appropriate that peace.  God has forgiven the past, provided for the present and guaranteed the future, leaving nothing to legitimately disrupt the believer's peace.

Salvation is anchored in the past because God made peace with God for all those who trust in Him.  (Romans 5:1)  It is anchored in the present because by Christ's continual intercession, every believer now stands securely in God's grace.  (Romans 5:2)  And salvation is anchored in the future because God gives all His children the unchangeable promise that one day they will be clothed with the glory of His own Son.  (Romans 5:2-5)

How can the believer continue to live in anxiety with that hope?  And why would the unbeliever continue on the hopeless path to hell when, while he still breathes the breath of life, he could bow in reverential awe to the God of all Creation and be saved by the power of the Spirit through the blood of Jesus Christ?  Let our squeezing be done by God and for His glory,  and let us rest in His sovereign plan.

[Most of the above was taken from John MacArthur's book, Saved Without A Doubt and his commentary on the book of John.]

Straight and Clear Roads

My morning walk is a wonderful jumpstart to each day.  It's an exercise for body and spirit.  I have a favorite route that I've walked for years.  And on that route, I have a favorite section.  As I walked this morning and came to that particular section, I felt the energetic excitement as I approached it.  I thought, "why do I love this part the most?"  In my head I began to formulate the answers.  It's about half a mile of straight road.  You can see the end of it.  It's my half-way point.  There are no homes ie. no cars pulling out of driveways, no barking dogs, not as much traffic, no mailboxes to dodge, or other people walking.  There is a clear and vast view of the sky that accentuates the bigness of the One True God to whom I am praying.  This accelerates my excitement in conversation with Him as to His power.

As I thought about these things, I transferred the picture to the Christian life.  We tend to walk more energetically in our spiritual life when we have clear pictures or purpose.  But when problems hit, we tend to allow them to affect our walk.  We falter when the road becomes winding and we don't know what's around the next turn.  We move slower under the pressure because we can't see an end to the problem; it seems to go on forever.  There are so many hindrances of every shape and size that affect our responses.  Fear, anxiety, busyness, obstacles and the problems of others can obstruct our view of purpose and cause us to lose focus.  We forget the power we have because we fail to appropriate the means God has provided.

We must gird up our loins, buckle down, stretch our spiritual muscles and "run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith".   (Hebrews 12:2)  Our walk will have ups and downs, twists and turns but we do not walk alone.  He will give us what we need to endure the hard and revel in the easy.  We must not lose ground with hardship and must not become prideful with smooth sailing.  Either way is a giving in to the enemy.  Run with perseverance and beware of the "roaring lion".  God gives us the guidance and protection in both instances.  May your morning walks be glorious with the Light of the glory of His power.  "Call to Me and I will answer you and show you great and might things you do not know."  (Jeremiah 33:3)  Do not fail to appropriate the means God has provided to us as believers.