Devotions

^“It was kind of you to share my trouble. And you Philippians yourselves know that . . . when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again. Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. . . . And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory forever and ever” (Philippians 4:14-20).

As Christians, we often think about generosity; we plan generously and give generously to our family, to our spouses, to our friends, to our neighbors, and to our church and other charities. But Paul was talking about this in the context of a secret — a secret that some people don’t know about the power of generosity.

Paul was saying, “I never sought for the gift you have given to me. I have always sought the thing that I see is at work in you when you do give to me.”

Do you see the difference there? He could have said, “That $50 you gave me is going to buy me meals for three weeks. Praise God!”

I’m sure he might have been thankful for that fact, but do you know what was going through his mind? He thought, “Praise God! The gospel is working in you because you’re not self-centered anymore. You’re not living in anxiety, holding on to things for yourself. You’re not even living in division with one another. You are giving to people! You are living your life with an outward focus and doing things that you would never do if the gospel had not become rooted in your heart.”

The Bible clearly warns, “Today, if you can hear his voice, do not harden your heart as they did in the days of provocation” (see Hebrews 3:7-8). In other words, do not ask as Israel once did in her unbelief, “Can God furnish a table in this wilderness?” (see Psalm 78:19).

Do not question the Lord’s integrity or his commitment to you, even though you find yourself constantly battling in your mind. God told you that he would raise you up to be a testimony. He told you that he has allowed certain things in your life but that all things work together for good because you love him and are called according to his purpose.

And now the Lord is calling you to get up. He is calling you to lift your head and sing that song he has put within your heart. You are the Bride of Christ, and God stakes His reputation on keeping you and establishing a testimony of victory inside of you.

Therefore, settle it in your heart today: “He is my glory and the lifter of my head. Even though I might be depressed when I go to bed at night, he is the One who will lift my head in the morning. He is the One who will give me strength to go through another day. If God has planted a dream in my heart, it will become a reality, for he has set before me an open door that no man can close. No matter how many voices rise up against what God has spoken to me, I will not harden my heart in unbelief!”

So do not lose heart in the midst of the secret war you are fighting. Refuse to listen to the lies. Don’t give up! Rather, hear God’s voice calling you today. He will be faithful to supply all you need—strength to get through the day, courage to stand in the marketplace, faith to believe for all your needs.

Carter Conlon joined the pastoral staff of Times Square Church in 1994 at the invitation of the founding pastor, David Wilkerson, and was appointed Senior Pastor in 2001. 

So, you want to be a man or woman of God? If so, you are going to be served a cup of pain. You’ll weep because of something much worse than physical pain. I’m speaking of the pain of being bruised and rejected by friends; the pain of parents when children trample their hearts and become strangers to them; the pain between a husband and wife when walls are built up between them.

Oh, the turmoil that comes, the restless, sleepless nights — knowing that God is real, that you are walking in his Spirit, that you are loving Jesus with all that is in you, and yet you are forced to drink a cup of pain.

We cannot run from this cup. We cannot be fooled into thinking that following Jesus is only happiness. Scripture does say our approach to life should be to “count it all joy” (James 1:2). Yet it also says, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous” (Psalm 34:19).

Peter tried to drive away affliction in his flesh. He wielded a sword at Gethsemane, telling Jesus, in effect, “Master, you don’t have to go through this. I’ll keep them at bay while you make your escape.” Many Christians today have the same attitude. They try to turn away afflictions, saying, “I don’t have to face this. My God is a good God!”

I believe God is faithful. But Jesus tells us we cannot run from our cup of pain. He commanded Peter, “Put up your sword. That is not my Father’s way. Live by your sword and you will die by it.” Then he stated, “Shall I not drink the cup which my Father has given me?” (John 18:11).

When you trust the One who is serving you this cup — when you see his purpose behind your suffering — then you are able to drink it. Don’t be afraid, for your Father holds the cup. You are not drinking death but life!

I have read many biographies of missionaries, ranging from contemporary times to ancient history. You would think these precious people, so used of God, would have stories of constant love, power and joy. Not so. Their stories are marked by heartache, discouragement, even treachery — stories not of adventure but of tears.

If we are genuine in our desire to know the forces that produce godliness, we must go to the Garden of Gethsemane, to Jesus, our example. All the forces that opposed Job were also there at Gethsemane, arrayed against Christ. Likewise, the fierce tempter who sought out David’s heart on the rooftop is the same tempter who sought out Jesus on the temple pinnacle to destroy him. And all the forces of torment that plagued Peter’s soul were also at Gethsemane, battling with our Savior.

To every true man or woman of God there will come a cup of pain. Jesus’ entire ministry had been doing the will of his Father. Indeed, for three years everything he did pointed toward Calvary. Now, at Gethsemane, He cried out in effect, “Oh, God, if it is possible at all, relieve me of this burden. It’s too heavy for me. I would rather let it pass.”

I don’t know what your cup of pain may be. Some Christians have prayed for years to be delivered from theirs. Make no mistake, I believe in healing. Yet I also believe in healing afflictions. David testified, “Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now I keep your word” (Psalm 119:67).

We cannot let ourselves think that every pain or trial is an attack of the devil. Nor can we think that these trials mean we have sin in our lives and that God is judging us. David tells us differently. If he had not been afflicted, he would not have sought the Lord. 

I am amazed at our Lord’s loving response to grief. As I read the Bible, I see that nothing stirs the heart of God more than the soul that is overcome with grief.

Grief is defined as “deep sorrow” or “sadness caused by extreme distress.” Isaiah tells us the Lord himself is acquainted with this most wrenching emotion: “He is despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief” (Isaiah 53:3).

We see a powerful example of God’s loving response to grief in Mark 5, where we read of Jesus’ encounter with Jairus, a synagogue ruler.

As president of the synagogue in Capernaum, Jairus was part of a religious system that had rejected Jesus. We don’t know what Jairus personally thought about Christ, but we do know he had witnessed his healing power. It was most likely in Jairus’ synagogue that Christ healed a man’s withered hand. And Jairus was probably among the crowds when Jesus cast out evil spirits and heard them cry, “You are the Son of God” (Mark 3:11).

We find that grief had come to the ruler’s house. His twelve-year-old daughter lay in bed, sick “at the point of death” (Mark 5:23).

Grief alone had driven Jairus to Jesus. The fact is, we serve a Savior who responds lovingly to our every hurt, pain and grief. We all have done what Jairus did. In times past we have forgotten the Lord, neglected him, perhaps even rejected him. Yet the question our God is most concerned with is this: “Where are you with me right now? In your present grief, will you call on me?”

Dear saint, Jesus is present with you in your battle. You can press in and touch him and experience the resurrecting, healing power of Christ, just as Jairus did. He is walking beside you through it all and he has a plan to bring you out of death and into life. Fear not — only believe!