God Is Enough

I just finished reading Ann Swindell’s new book Still Waiting, in which she draws encouragement from the story of the bleeding woman in Mark chapter 5. The woman suffered for twelve years through no fault of her own, but was healed when she took the risk to touch Jesus’ robe in the midst of a crowd. As I read Ann’s book, I was starting to think to myself, “That’s all fine when you’re facing a trial, but what if you’re dealing with a temptation instead?” (Though if you read it, you’ll know that Ann’s own story deals with both trial and temptation.)

Interestingly, there is a parallel Scripture that is not evident in many English translations. In Mark 5:34 Jesus tells the woman, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace…” In Luke 7:50 Jesus tells a sinful woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” The Greek word translated “made well” or “healed” is the same word used for “saved.” So whether our need is for physical or emotional healing or deliverance from sin, the answer to our needs is faith in God.

Ann writes:

“Jesus offers us resolution for our struggle. It may not be immediate and complete resolution in this moment, but it is full and complete resolution for our sin and separation from God… Soon the Great Physician will come, and he will reset every broken bone. He will heal every pain and restore every brokenness. He will renew our strength and wipe away every tear. He will fulfill all of our longings through his wonderful grace. He will make us whole” (198-200).

James chapter 1 mentions two things that require steadfastness—trials and temptations. If we remain steadfast in trials and temptations our faith is strengthened, otherwise we may fall away. And whether something is a trial or a temptation, our ability to persevere is highly dependent on remembering who God is and learning to rely on Him. James reminds us that trials and temptations are closely related because they come from the fallen state of this world, and only God can provide all that we need in the midst of this brokenness.

I ran across this quote from Hannah Whitall Smith as published in God Is Enough:

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 

“The greatest lesson a soul has to learn is that God, and God alone, is enough for all its needs. This is the lesson that all God’s dealings with us are meant to teach, and this is the crowning discovery of our entire Christian life. God is enough. 

No soul can really be at rest until it has given up dependence on everything else and has been forced to depend on the Lord alone. As long as our expectation is from other things, nothing but disappointment awaits us.”

Whatever trial or temptation may be at hand today, God is enough. He gives only good gifts, even though they may not be exactly what we desire at the moment. “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change” (James 1:17 ESV). We can come to Him in faith that He knows everything and will do what is best.

“Any my God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:10).

© 2017 Dawn Rutan. Unless otherwise indicated all images are copyright free from pixabay.com.

At the Foot of the Cross

Today I joined with the group of churches that carry a cross from Mint Hill Baptist to the town center, stopping for Scripture readings along the way. As there were hundreds of people participating, there were many conversations taking place all around us as we walked along. The friend I was with asked, “Do you suppose this is what it was like?”

As I was thinking about it later, I imagine that both Palm Sunday and Good Friday were filled with people who didn't really know what was going on. There were bystanders watching as Jesus passed who had no idea who He was and just went about their business for the day. There were other people who were curious enough to follow the crowd in hopes of seeing or hearing something interesting. There were many who had false ideas about who Jesus was—some wanting to kill Him, others wanting something from Him. And there were a small number who would come to faith in Jesus as their Savior and Lord.

I was reminded of a camp I worked at while on summer ministries. One night the youth enacted the crucifixion (though greatly sanitized). The mother of the teen who played Jesus was there, and she said later it was all she could do to keep from running up to get her son off the cross. The cross takes on new meaning when you know the person hanging there.

For those who drove past us today and for those who walked with us, I’m sure there were a wide range of thoughts and beliefs, from annoyance to skepticism to curiosity to faith to overwhelming gratitude for the One who took our place.

“But God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” -Romans 5:8

© 2017 Dawn Rutan.  

Not Done Yet

I’ve been listening to Christmas music recently. (Doesn’t everyone do that at Easter?) I was reminded again the “Joy to the World” was not written as a Christmas song. It really refers much more to the Second Coming of Christ when He comes in victory than of His incarnation in humility. It’s curious how we have one set of songs for Christmas, another set for Easter, and others for the Second Coming, and very few that span the gap. (“In Christ Alone” does that better than most.) We spend weeks or months preparing for Christmas celebrations complete with pageants, carols, and presents. Preparations for Easter are usually a little shorter. And many Christians have given no thought at all to His Second Coming despite the fact that it could happen today.

Jesus came in relative obscurity. A few shepherds and wise men were the only witnesses to His early life. His death was public—in the midst of the Passover crowd in Jerusalem. His resurrection, though initially revealed to just a few, was eventually witnessed by more than 500 (1 Cor. 15:6). However, the Second Coming of Jesus will be seen by all. “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first” (1 Thess. 4:16 ESV).

Most of the modern world references (if unknowingly) the birth of Christ every day when we write today’s date. But the birth of Christ has very little meaning apart from His death and resurrection. “And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain” (1 Cor. 15:14). That would more appropriately be the turning point in history. However, even the resurrection has limited meaning apart from the Second Coming. Jesus didn’t rise from the dead in order to take us out of this world, but so that when He comes again we can be part of His new heavens and new earth. “Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power” (1 Cor. 15:24).

As we celebrate this Easter, let us not forget the bigger picture of all God has done and will do through the life, death, resurrection, and return of Jesus Christ.

“Joy to the world, the Lord has come
Let earth receive her King
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And Heaven and nature sing…” 

© 2017 Dawn Rutan. Unless otherwise indicated all images are copyright free from pixabay.com.