Longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven.
"For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For indeed in this house we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven, inasmuch as we, having put it on, will not be found naked. For indeed while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed but to be clothed, so that what is mortal will be swallowed up by life." (2 Cor. 5:1-4)
Do you ever feel weary of being trapped in this sinful body? Do you ever tire of your sins toward God and His people? Do you tire of dealing with the emotional pain caused by the sins of others toward you? And, even more so, your own sinful responses to the sins of others toward you? At times I feel weary. Today I do. I want so much to be completely focused on the glory of Christ but am so distracted by worldly things. Emotions, interactions, daily work to be done, dirt, weeds, physical and emotional pain, sleeplessness, allergies, you know...life. I so long to be clothed with that heavenly dwelling and to be undistractedly bowing before the throne of God in focused outpouring of worship. A mind clear of all thoughts except, "How majestic is the Lord Jesus Christ!" How glorious will that be!
Living in this flesh is difficult at times for a lover of Christ. Though our trials are far less severe than those of Paul, sometimes we feel torn the way he did, whether to stay here and minister or to go on to be with Christ. Of course, we don't have a choice in the matter because only God determines how long we'll sojourn here on the earth, but we may at times long to be in heaven with Him.
"For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose. But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better; yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake." (Phil. 1:21-24)
But, eventhough Paul was deeply more afflicted and tried than I, he was exceedingly more focused on the things of Christ than I could ever be. Oh how I long to be like Paul in that way but am completely unable. The more I try to keep my mind focused on Christ, the more I seem to be distracted by the things of this world. Why is that? Certainly, I cannot choose to be undistracted and focused...that must be granted by God. I can't even choose what comes into my mind. Things just pop up there. Only God can clear my mind. Come Lord, clear my mind. Fill my thinking with Yourself!
"And He has said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.'" (2 Cor. 12:9)
I am certainly full of weakness! But, even more than I am full of weakness, God is full of power! Come Lord and manifest Your power in me to make me a vessel which is useful for Your kingdom. Certainly my life is not more difficult than anyone else's, especially that of Paul who has written, "Five times I received from the Jews 39 lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. I have been on frequent journeys...I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure..." (2 Cor. 11:24-27) Lord, You encourage me through the Scriptures and You show me grace unending. Thank You for Your word. Thank you for rebuke, reproof, encouragement.
"...Behold, now is 'the acceptable time,' behold, now is 'the day of salvation'---giving no cause for offense in anything, so that the ministry will not be discredited, but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God, in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses, in beatings, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in genuine love, in the word of truth, in the power of God..." (2 Cor. 6:2b-7a)
Today, God says to me in His word that I should not grow weary or lose heart! If you struggle this way, I pray that you are blessed by these passages which are such encouragement and rebuke to me.
"Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary." (Galations 6:9)
"Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumberance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." (Hebrews 12:1-3)
"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you." (Philippians 4:4-9)
Truly, feeding on the Word of God is the only way we as Christians can stay encouraged, focused, and fruitful in this dark world full of sin, distraction, and temptation. Praise God for His Word! Praise God for giving us an appetite for His Word! It is only by His grace that we crave and hunger for His Word daily!
Do you ever feel weary of being trapped in this sinful body? Do you ever tire of your sins toward God and His people? Do you tire of dealing with the emotional pain caused by the sins of others toward you? And, even more so, your own sinful responses to the sins of others toward you? At times I feel weary. Today I do. I want so much to be completely focused on the glory of Christ but am so distracted by worldly things. Emotions, interactions, daily work to be done, dirt, weeds, physical and emotional pain, sleeplessness, allergies, you know...life. I so long to be clothed with that heavenly dwelling and to be undistractedly bowing before the throne of God in focused outpouring of worship. A mind clear of all thoughts except, "How majestic is the Lord Jesus Christ!" How glorious will that be!
Living in this flesh is difficult at times for a lover of Christ. Though our trials are far less severe than those of Paul, sometimes we feel torn the way he did, whether to stay here and minister or to go on to be with Christ. Of course, we don't have a choice in the matter because only God determines how long we'll sojourn here on the earth, but we may at times long to be in heaven with Him.
"For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose. But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better; yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake." (Phil. 1:21-24)
But, eventhough Paul was deeply more afflicted and tried than I, he was exceedingly more focused on the things of Christ than I could ever be. Oh how I long to be like Paul in that way but am completely unable. The more I try to keep my mind focused on Christ, the more I seem to be distracted by the things of this world. Why is that? Certainly, I cannot choose to be undistracted and focused...that must be granted by God. I can't even choose what comes into my mind. Things just pop up there. Only God can clear my mind. Come Lord, clear my mind. Fill my thinking with Yourself!
"And He has said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.'" (2 Cor. 12:9)
I am certainly full of weakness! But, even more than I am full of weakness, God is full of power! Come Lord and manifest Your power in me to make me a vessel which is useful for Your kingdom. Certainly my life is not more difficult than anyone else's, especially that of Paul who has written, "Five times I received from the Jews 39 lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. I have been on frequent journeys...I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure..." (2 Cor. 11:24-27) Lord, You encourage me through the Scriptures and You show me grace unending. Thank You for Your word. Thank you for rebuke, reproof, encouragement.
"...Behold, now is 'the acceptable time,' behold, now is 'the day of salvation'---giving no cause for offense in anything, so that the ministry will not be discredited, but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God, in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses, in beatings, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in genuine love, in the word of truth, in the power of God..." (2 Cor. 6:2b-7a)
Today, God says to me in His word that I should not grow weary or lose heart! If you struggle this way, I pray that you are blessed by these passages which are such encouragement and rebuke to me.
"Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary." (Galations 6:9)
"Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumberance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." (Hebrews 12:1-3)
"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you." (Philippians 4:4-9)
Truly, feeding on the Word of God is the only way we as Christians can stay encouraged, focused, and fruitful in this dark world full of sin, distraction, and temptation. Praise God for His Word! Praise God for giving us an appetite for His Word! It is only by His grace that we crave and hunger for His Word daily!
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