Devotions

Today our society is broken. We have out-of-control schools, confused leaders, collapsing banking systems, widespread unemployment, unmanageable social programs, and a complete breakdown of moral values. And to top it off, the earth could be standing on the brink of a nuclear catastrophe. In short, things seem to be spinning out of control.

How can believers possibly stand firm and steadfast in the midst of all this chaos? The author of Hebrews answers us: We must see Jesus in all that is happening in our lives (see Hebrews 2:9).

Some may wonder, “How could the Lord be in any of this? So many things in my life feel out of control.” Let me give you an example from Scripture. I am talking about a man whose world was turned upside down by chaos, shaking the very foundations of his faith. Yet, in the midst of it all he saw the Lord.

In his hour of great trial, the apostle Stephen stood unmoved as a mob of Christ-haters surrounded him armed with stones and ready to put him to death. Stephen knew he had only a matter of minutes to live — yet he was filled with peace and calm. What was the secret of this man’s endurance?

In that very moment, Stephen testified, “Look! I see the heavens opened and [Jesus] standing at the right hand of God” (Acts 7:56). He kept his eyes focused on Jesus alone. He could face a cruel death knowing Jesus was with him in it all.

I am convinced that the example of Stephen holds something of great importance for all who love and serve the Lord. It is this: When we truly see Jesus in the midst of our afflictions and hardships, we will always hear him tell us, “Fear not!”

Few Christians doubt that Jesus is their source but they don’t always have confidence and assurance he’ll give them what they need. Here are a few wonderful reminders of the Lord’s concern for you.

He knows all about your personal needs. “For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask him” (Matthew 6:8).

“My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). You are being promised, “In Christ are all the riches of glory. In Jesus God has given you everything you need for life and godliness.”

God truly cares for you and he is touched by your need. “Casting all your care upon him, for he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7). The Greek meaning here is, “You matter to him.” This may be difficult to comprehend in the midst of your long affliction. But even now God is taking a great interest in every matter touching your life: your job, family, children, relationships, health.

“Do not cast not away your confidence, which has great reward” (Hebrews 10:35). God says, “Hold on to your confidence, because I am a rewarder.” Simply put: “It pays to hold on.” “But without faith it is impossible to please him, for he who comes to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him” (Hebrews 11:6).

Do you truly want to bring Christ pleasure? Then give him your total confidence. Hold on and don’t waver. And remember his promise to you:

“The just shall live by faith; but if anyone draws back, my soul shall has no pleasure in him. But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul” (Hebrews 10:38–39).

If we’re honest, we’ll admit we often put our confidence in others during our hour of great need. We look to pastors, counselors, friends, spouses for answers. We spend hours, days, even weeks trying to figure out how our problem can be solved. And if a solution isn’t quick in coming, we keep manipulating, working every angle, until all our human resources are exhausted.

Thank God for all the help we get from others, but we are not to look for an angel to appear or a ship to come in. Paul states, “[We] rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh” (Philippians 3:3). It is for our soul’s sake that God waits until we look beyond human resources and seek him alone for help. He does use people in our lives, but we are to let him orchestrate it.

“It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man” (Psalm 118:8). “Do not trust in a friend; do not put your confidence in a companion. . . . Therefore I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me” (Micah 7:5, 7).

Paul knew all about the powerlessness of the flesh. He admitted he was not clever. His critics called his preaching contemptible, his presence base — in short, they said he was boring. But Paul had no problem with such criticism because he didn’t trust his flesh. He knew that Jesus hadn’t fought his battles with cleverness, ability or charisma but with all confidence in the Father (see 1 Corinthians 1:27-29).

There is a glorious promise in Hebrews 3:14 for all who hold firmly to their confidence in Jesus: “We have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end.” This means that when we maintain an unwavering confidence in the Lord, he becomes our only true source of supply. We need look nowhere else.

Deep despair and anguish can come at Jesus from those he cares for most.

Mary and Martha had cast away their confidence in him after their brother, Lazarus, fell sick and died (see John 11:20-21). Jairus’ household had cast away their confidence, as well. They all accused Jesus of being too late and uncaring (see Mark 5:35).

Still, all it took was one word from him, “Rise!” and everything changed in an instant. That’s all it ever takes with the Lord. He speaks one word and suddenly everything is transformed. Satan must loosen his grip, death flees, life springs up, and heaven’s promises break out on all sides.

Beloved, no matter what you’re going through, all the Lord has to do is speak a single word and devils are sent scattering. Creation trembles. Suddenly, the answer you’ve sought is upon you. So, you wonder why the Lord has not answered you yet. Why does your suffering go on? Why does it look so hopeless for some of God’s holiest people?

All I know is that in such crises, God’s people either grow in confidence or draw back and cast away their confidence. “If anyone draws back, my soul has no pleasure in him. But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul” (Hebrews 10:38–39).

The Lord is determined to strip us of all confidence in the flesh, leaving us with total confidence in him.

If you need the power of God in your life, Jesus has a special word for you. Just before he ascended to heaven, Christ knew his disciples needed power to do the works of his kingdom on earth. So he instructed them, “Behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high” (Luke 24:49-50).

The instruction was simple: “Stay in the city.” But note that he uses a qualifier: until. Jesus was saying, “Your lives will remain the same until the Holy Spirit comes upon you with power.”

This is true for a lot of Christians I know. They sense their life isn’t going quite according to God’s design. They are dissatisfied, wanting more in their marriage, their work, their walk with Christ, their witness for him. Jesus is promising them, “God desires those changes for you, but such things only happen through the power of the Spirit. Until he comes, things will remain the same.”

Luke wrote this scene in his gospel, and he repeats it in the book of Acts: “While staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, ‘you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now’” (Acts 1:4-5).

Jesus’ message in both passages is clear: “Wait on the Holy Spirit! Don’t rush, clamor or panic. You can’t will your way to accomplishing the works of the kingdom. Wait in faith, and you’ll be endued with power from on high.” Indeed, it happened just as he promised. On the day of Pentecost, the disciples were filled with a powerful anointing from God such as the world had never seen. And two thousand years later, the world has never been the same.