Today Tim taught us about "The God Who Will Not Quit" (download to receive a blessing for your soul). We learned that the believers in Philippi were experiencing sin from within their hearts, sins committed against them from within the church and sins against them through persecution from outside the church. Tim spoke of the Philippians as showing signs of wear and tear. But Paul was commissioned by God to encourage them in their faith. What better way to encourage the tired and weary in faith than to turn their gaze upward to the One who gave them their faith? This God doesn't quit. Phil. 1:6. We learned of the reality of the work of God in us, and the comprehensiveness of the work. God never runs out of resources. He has all the love, all the grace and power to complete His work. Though it may seem like our faith is weakening and we are tempted to quit, God doesn't quit. God finishes the work. We must not look at our efforts, our circumstances, or our feelings. We are not keeping ourselves. It is our God.
So what does this have to do with spiritual lamaze? Many of you may not even know about lamaze childbirth classes. In my day, every pregnant woman went to these classes to prepare for a natural childbirth. One of the main principles of this approach to childbirth is to have a focal point. When the laboring woman fixing her eyes on that focal point she is less focused on the labor pains.
I've had six labors and deliveries and I can vouch for the effectiveness of this. Though some may say I must not have had much pain because I actually enjoyed labor and delivery I can tell you now I HAD PAIN. So, what did I focus on? I focused on my husband's eyes. He looked me squarely in the face and I looked squarely back at him. He didn't need to do anything else. I just needed to stare into his eyes. He was my focal point. I needed to focus on the one who loved me and had pledged his life to me.
When you are experiencing the pains of life what is your focal point? When you are aware of the sin in your own life (anger towards a husband or children, a complaining spirit at work or with school, impatience, etc.), where do you turn? When you are experiencing relational stresses and strains (disappointment or disagreement with people in the church), who do you look to? When you are receiving scorn and ridicule from unbelievers (an unsaved spouse, parents, classmates, coworkers) who is your source of help and strength?
Because God provided the payment to redeem us - the price of His Son's blood - God will not waste that investment. He is going to keep us to the very end - the day of Christ - when His work in us will be completed and God will say "It is very, very, very good". We are very precious to Him and He will not let us go. He will not quit on us. Let's keep our eyes riveted on Him at all times.
"Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in His wonderful face.
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace." Helen Lemmel
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