Supported!

Supported!

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

1 Corinthians 10:13 KJV

Context:

Oh, the beauty of corporate worship. The joy of seeing God move in the midst of a crowd. How pleasant it is for brethren to come together and experience the flow of the Spirit. This was obvious in the early part of today's extract. The people of Israel experienced the great power of God: the Red Sea parted for their sakes; mighty provisions were made, great things were done in their lives as they journeyed, yet at some point, judgment for sin and rebellion was pronounced.

I must be careful about focusing on corporate worship at the expense of a personal walk with God. Israel saw God at work in the desert, yet, at the slightest difficulty, it was always about a return to Egypt. They kept an eye on how beautiful the past was, and could not see what God was seeking to do in the present. We can be like that sometimes too, so focused on past disappointments or glories that we are unable or unwilling to take our eyes off them and see what God is doing now. God wants me to focus my heart and eyes on him, not on my experiences. These experiences can be so strong that they threaten to take my eyes off God, but if I only know who this God is, and what he has power to do, I will hold on to him very tightly.

Message and Response:

I am reminded that as long as I am in this human body, things will happen to me, both good and the not so good. Life will happen to all men, no matter what the status of their faith is. Trials do not discriminate, neither does death come only to those who do evil. As long as I am human, I will grow old, and if the Lord tarries long enough, I will die the physical death. But as I wait, what should I do? What do I need to know? 

There is nothing strange about the things that God allows to come to you. It is part of the human experience but the difference is who goes with you on that journey. The people of Israel saw God at work in mighty ways, yet their bodies fell in the desert due to disobedience. God, who is the omniscient One, knows what is ahead, and he makes provision for all I need to succeed. If I do not take advantage of the provision, can I turn around and blame God for how my life turned out? 

The assurance is that of a pharmacist, who prescribes medication as is appropriate for every experience. He knows what the diagnosis is, as well as the root cause and consequences, and so he is able to apply the cure as appropriate. I need to trust his wisdom, timing and workmanship. I cannot look at my own experiences and think that no other person has them. It is either someone somewhere is just getting out of a similar situation, or another person is being prepared for that same experience. 

The assurance is that if he allows it, it is because its ability to hurt me eternally has been removed. It does not say that it will not come, but just that it will not overwhelm me. God's path of blessing lies in the midst of some pain, discomfort and pleasure all rolled together. He will bless, and he will also test. He will promote, but can also keep away from the public eye until he has dealt with impurities. 

My experiences are not peculiar to me, but my walk with God is. My experiences define not just my humanity but also the groundwork for God's grace to be manifest. If he brings it, it is because he knows I can bear it. When he brings it, I must take it back to the God who promised to be with me at all times. I have help, the kind that is good for all time. I have support, the kind that can hold me up in the face of the most distressing circumstances. I can smile at the storms simply because I have the presence of God in and with me. Nothing else will do the work that only God can do. Friends, bank account balances, circle of friends and network are all good, and may provide a support system, but at the end of the day, the cord that binds them all together, so that they can function to bring out the best in us, is God. Do you have him? Does he have all of you? His time of favour is here.