We live in the midst of our circumstances whether emotional, physical, or spiritual. We can see and feel them or the results of them through our God given senses. God gives us more than our senses; He has given us His word, the Bible. God gave His law to Israel, through Moses; it declared to them the utter sinfulness of sin (Romans 3:19-20; 7:7, 13). It made clear their circumstances, as sinners. 

Our circumstances seem like the ultimate reality! In Matthew 14:13-21 Jesus makes clear His power over the circumstances of this world when He feeds 5, 000 men (plus women and children) with two fish and five loaves of bread. A few hours later, He invites Peter to step out of his fearful circumstance of human effort and bids him: “Come,” (14:29). Peter gets out of the boat and walks on the stormy sea, until he puts his focus on his circumstances, instead of the Lord!

Jesus Christ makes gives us awareness of our sin and our need for Him, but He also bids us come to Him!

28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”  ( Matthew 11:28-30 NIV)

Bible class by Lou David Allen

Did the never-ending pancakes at IHOP, ever end? Regardless of the pancakes, what about the never-ending questions? Parents know the questions I mean. Mom, Mom, Mom, Mama, Mama, Mother, M-o-t-h-e-r, or Dad, Dad, Dad, Daddy, Daddy, D-a-d-d-y . . . when will I get ever get to, when will we ever get, when are you ever going to . . .? You know the drill. 

Sometimes the child needs to learn that . . .

–           Everything that captures your attention is not your concern.

–           There is value in patience – HUMILITY!

–           Enthusiasm does not have to lead you into disrespect.

–           There are some things that you DO NOT know, because part of being a child (the one not in charge) is learning to trust the One who is ultimately in charge!

The circumstances (death, disease, divorce, unanswered prayers, and tragedy) of our lives promote many questions. Questions that if we let them can take our focus away from Christ and place it on our world and our comfort in this world.

So, what do we have to help us move beyond these questions? Yes, the word of God; it moves us beyond the circumstances of life by giving us faith in the One whose powerful promises are true, Jesus Christ!

 3 After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

6 So when they met together, they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”

7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:1–8, NIV)

 The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law. (Deuteronomy 29:29, NIV)

 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrew 12:2, NIV)

 Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you. The LORD is my helper I will not be afraid. What can man (or this world) do to me? (Hebrews 13:5-6, NIV)

 

Hebrews 9:11-14

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

11 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say,not of this creation; 12 and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.13 For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

Message by brother Ron Brown of Chinese Agape Foundation.

18 For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things.

20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body (Php 3:18-21).

But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed (1 Pet 4:13).

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears,a we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 3 Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure (1 Jn 3:1-3).

a Or when it is made known