Today's Truth
We have proved ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, our sincere love, and the power of the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 6:6, NLT).
Friend to Friend
Just as storms in life are certain, so is the provision of God. Life can be messy, and bad things will happen. But every crisis and every storm is also an opportunity to trust God. He calls us to a heavenly perspective when facing challenging times. He calls us to see the storms of life as He sees them - opportunities for His power to be illustrated in human terms. What steps can we take to face the storms of life in a way that honors God?
Step one: Live a pure life.
2 Corinthians 6:6 (NLT) "We have proved ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience."
The apostle Paul was certainly no stranger to storms. In his writings to the church at Corinth, Paul lists several actions we can take to survive and even thrive in those storms. Notice that purity is listed first. Paul is sending a clear message. Integrity and power for daily life are the result of a heart committed to purity. A clean heart unleashes the authority of God in us and through us. Impurity corrodes stability while purity generates a supernatural strength. It is that power and stability that keeps us from falling.
Psalm 51:10 (NASB) "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me."
The Psalmist links a pure heart with a steadfast spirit. "Steadfast" literally means "fixed or unchanging" and defines the kind of strength that can only be found in a right relationship with God. Stability is essential when those blustery winds of life storms are raging. Some storms come to uncover that cherished sin we try so hard to bury. If we refuse to deal with sin in our life, God will urge us toward obedience by allowing the storms to come. But make no mistake - the purpose of the storm is always to purify – and then empower.
Second truth: Seek understanding.
2 Corinthians 6:6 NLT) "We have proved ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience."
Understanding is only as good as its place of origin. Human understanding is limited and tainted while Godly understanding is infinite and unspoiled. Our greatest lessons are learned in the fiercest storms. I know you have heard those words many times – but are they a living reality in your life?
A teacher was asked a question by one of his students who had come across Deuteronomy 6:6 that says, "These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts." The student asked, "Why does it say to put God's commandments upon our hearts instead of in our hearts?" The wise teacher responded, "It is not within man's power to deposit truth directly into his heart. All we can do is place truth on the surface of the heart so that when the heart breaks, it will fall in."
Every circumstance that results in brokenness is designed to produce greater self-control and a fresh perspective. We can face every storm with confidence, knowing that God will redeem it for understanding.
Third truth: Learn to be patient.
2 Corinthians 6:6 (NLT) "We have proved ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience."
I must confess that I am not the epitome of patience. I hate to wait – on anyone or anything – which may very well explain certain storms and trials in my life. James had the same problem, but a much better attitude.
James 1:2 (NIV) "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance."
I tend to consider it pure joy when I can escape trials of many kinds, but James tells us that trials can and should be faced with patience and an attitude of joy. Not joy for the trials but joy in the trials. Don't miss this vital truth. Joy is a deeply rooted confidence that God is in control. Joy is a chosen attitude, and understands that trials are not punishment.
Take a $5.00 bar of steel. If you cut that bar into ordinary horseshoes, it is worth about $10.00. That same $5.00 bar of steel cut into needles is worth $350, but when cut into delicate springs for watches, that same $5.00 bar of steel is worth $250,000.
Trials are a test, a measurement of growth. Patience gives God permission to work. We go to great lengths to avoid trials and shelter ourselves from the storms of life. The result is spiritual immaturity.
God will not build our character without our cooperation, and He will not work in us without our permission. We must surrender, invite Him to work, and then, by faith, patiently embrace that work. Warren Wiersbe writes, "When God permits his children to go through the furnace, He keeps His eye on the clock and His hand on the thermostat."
Let's Pray
Thank You, Father, for Your faithfulness in my life. Sometimes my motives are not pure and are so often self-serving. Right now, please cleanse my heart of all sin. Give me eyes to see the treasure buried at the heart of every trial and help me to choose joy - even when I don't understand what You are doing in my life. Lord, let my life be an illustration of Your strength perfected in my weakness.
In Jesus's name,
Amen.
Part 2
We have proved ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, our sincere love, and the power of the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 6:6, NLT).
Friend to Friend
It would be just fine with me if I never had to go through another storm. However, God is more committed to my character than He is to my comfort. Every storm is an opportunity to grow in Christ and trust Him more.
The Apostle Paul was well acquainted with vicious storms and harsh realities. In his writings to the church at Corinth Paul offers five truths that - when applied - will enable us to stand firm in the storm.
Truth 1: Live a pure life.
Truth 2: Seek understanding.
Truth 3: Learn to be patient.
Truth 4: Practice kindness.
When bad things happen, we cry out in desperation for someone to care. Did you know that more people come to Christ during a crisis than at any other time?
Kindness is simply compassion at work and love in action. We need to constantly refocus our success-targeted eyes, crucify each self-promoting heart motive, and look for the needs around us. I often think we will be amazed when we get to Heaven and find the unlikely, unknown but devoted servants of God exalted above all others – rewarded for their quiet and often unseen acts of kindness.
A preacher once described his mother as a woman of great compassion. One day he came home from school to find her sitting at the table with an elderly, homeless man. She had gone shopping, met the man on the way, and invited him home for a warm meal. During their conversation the visitor said, "I wish there were more people in the world like you." The woman said quickly, "Oh there are! You just have to look for them!" The old man simply shook his head and smiled, "But lady, I didn't need to look for you. You looked for me!"
Needs constantly parade before us, but we don't see them. We are too busy to see the broken lives the Father sends our way. We view them as intrusions or annoying interruptions in our very important schedule. These uninvited and unscheduled guests may very well be divine appointments sent by God.
The warning of Hebrews 13:2 is a haunting one. "Remember to welcome strangers, because some who have done this have welcomed angels without knowing it." How many angels have we missed because we were too busy?
Perhaps we fail to be kind simply because we don't care enough. A little girl ran an errand for her mom. The child was gone far too long and the mother was not happy. When the little girl returned, the mother demanded an explanation. The little girl said that on the way to the store, she had met a friend who was crying because she had broken her doll. "Oh," said the mother, "then you stopped to help her fix her doll?" "Oh, no!" replied the little girl. "I stopped to help her cry!" Sometimes, all we need to do to practice kindness is to offer a listening and caring heart.
Jesus says that if we really love God, we will really love each other. 1 John 4:20 is clear, "If people say, 'I love God,' but hate their brothers or sisters, they are liars. Those who do not love their brothers and sisters, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have never seen." We can be very religious and not care enough.
Kindness does not look for reasons.
Compassion doesn't ask for limitations.
Compassion searches for opportunity.
Let's Pray
Lord, thank You for being with me every step of the way – especially in the storms of life. I praise You for Your sufficiency in my life and for Your love that never fails. I pray that I will learn how to stand firm in the storms ahead and grasp the lesson each storm holds. I want to please You, Father. Change my comfortable heart to an obedient heart, a heart that is always ready to praise and serve You – no matter what!
In Jesus's name,
Amen.
Now it's Your Turn
When you face a difficult situation, where do you turn first for help?
What is your attitude about the storms in your life? How does that attitude need to change?
Examine your life for any sin that is blocking God's power. How can you eliminate that barrier?
How can you best prepare for the storms ahead?
He Is With Us
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