Devotions this week based on the Message: “Hope Comes with Victory!”
Where is God?
It seems hard to reconcile sometimes what we see in our country and communities when it seems like the forces that are removing God from the public sphere are stronger than those that are trying to bring his message to hearts.
It’s hard to reconcile evil when it shows up daily in our news feed and experienced in our personal lives.
It’s easy to blame God for all that is happening. And perhaps it’s natural and in some ways an acknowledgment of the authority and leadership of God.
That is…if God is truly in control, why does he allow all the evil and injustice and persecution against his people to exist?
After all, the saying goes: “Everything rises and falls with leadership.”
There’s much to unpack in those statements, however if we are going to see victory in life and the power of the message of Jesus prevail over evil, we must trust our leader.
Here’s the truth:
Ephesians 1: 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
Jesus is ruling over everything for the benefit of his church.
So while I don’t always understand what God is up to, a statement of truth like this forces me to ask a different question.
Instead of “God where are you?” it’s “God where are you?”
Wait that’s the same question. Perceptive! However one is asked with a heart of doubt and implies, “God I don’t think you are here.” The second is asked with a heart of faith and implies, “God I know you are here, reveal to me how you are showing up.”
In some of the greatest challenges of history, God showed up and his kingdom prospered and prevailed. The Roman government did everything they could to kill off Christianity – it thrives to this day and the Roman empire is gone. The pandemics of the ages gave Christians the opportunity to care (Black Plague; Spanish Flu; Covid; etc. Racial unrest gives the Gospel to unify hearts around the value of every person and the healing forgiveness we need. I could go on. In every struggle, hardship, difficulty and dare I say evil, is an opportunity for the power of the Gospel to show up in a powerful way.
Why? Because Jesus IS the leader. And every leader will see and take advantage of every opportunity for the win of the Gospel.
And we get to share in that victory as members of HIS body, the church.
So don’t despair. Here’s the truth:
1 Corinthians 15:56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:56-58)
Enjoy living today and each day in the victory Jesus gives to you!
Apply: What situation in your life are you blaming God for being absent? What does he reveal to you if you consider he was present or is using an awful experience for your blessing and benefit?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for ruling over all things for my benefit as a member of your church. Amen.