Yesterday, after church the Kentucky and Tennessee members of my family got together for Sunday lunch at a point almost exactly halfway between the two home bases.  Not everyone could make it, but there were sufficient numbers to call it a quorum; a mini family reunion.

It was a wonderful time to visit and meet new additions to the family and long distant members that were in each home base for various reasons.  It was just nice to be with family.

Like most families, we had been hit with our share of health issues as we grow older.  This morning I was reflecting on the days when we were all a bit taller and a bit more likely to be bulletproof.  But as I reflected on those things I read a verse for the day from K – Love and as always it caused me to pause.

Lamentations

The verse was in lamentations, and it was near the end of chapter 3.  I read it, and I went to the beginning of the chapter just to see the heading and to read the whole chapter.  Lamentations is a book filled with emotions from the saddest to the most hopeful and thankful and this chapter heading in my translation was “Great is Your Faithfulness,” and the verse was verses 32.

Lamentations 3:32 (ESV)

³² but, though he cause grief, he will have compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love;

I read that verse, and I just thought about my family this morning, and then about others around me in my life and still others, and as I meditated on this passage I came to this realization that how you deal with struggles depends on which side of the comma you place your focus.

Reflections

Just thinking about this short verse sent me down this path that I did not expect this morning.  It is believed that Jeremiah wrote the book of Lamentations after Jerusalem fell.  In places, it is graphic in detail of the loss, but in Chapter 3 he reminds us that there is hope.  No matter how dark and foreboding things may appear there is always hope.

As I pondered the first half of verse 32, ” but, though he cause grief,”  I was thankful the verse did not stop there.  Instead, it went on to “ he will have compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love;”

Of course, there are bad things that happen.  But ultimately the Love of God never ends.  It is with us always; even in the midst of our greatest difficulty.  Even in the midst of Jeremiah’s lament he never lost sight of that.

Lamentations 3:22-26 (ESV)

²² The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;

his mercies never come to an end;

²³ they are new every morning;

great is your faithfulness.

²⁴ “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,

“therefore I will hope in him.”

²⁵ The Lord is good to those who wait for him,

to the soul who seeks him.

²⁶ It is good that one should wait quietly

for the salvation of the Lord.

As I considered these things, my thoughts turned to Paul in the New Testament.  I love how Jesus used him to spread His Word and how Paul never reflected his strife in his writing though it was significant.

Acts

The first place I thought of was in Acts 9.  Paul was a zealot.  He was headed to Damascus to persecute the Christians there, and Jesus stopped him, blinded him and changed him from Saul to Paul.  One verse that sticks with me from that moment in Paul’s life is Jesus speaking with Ananias.

 Acts 9:15-16 (ESV)

¹⁵ But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. ¹⁶ For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.”

He was a chosen instrument that would share the Gospel, but it would not be an easy task.  It would be one filled with suffering.  But in spite of that Paul did not falter.  He hung on to his Hope in Jesus.

Reflections

We all have challenges.  We all have some heartache.  Some worse than others but that does not diminish the significance of one versus another, they are simply different.  I like what Paul said about it in Romans 8.

Romans 8:18 (ESV)

¹⁸ For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

When I read this passage the difficulties and struggles of this world fade away and are replaced with the hope that I have in Jesus.  Again, it comes down to which side of the comma I want to focus; the struggle or the hope.  It takes me to one of my favorite passages in Hebrews.

Hebrews

One of my favorite passages in the Bible runs from the end of Hebrews 10 to the beginning of Romans 11.  It is all about hope and faith.

Hebrews 10:35 – 11:3 (ESV)

³⁵ Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. ³⁶ For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. ³⁷ For,

“Yet a little while,

and the coming one will come and will not delay;

³⁸ but my righteous one shall live by faith,

and if he shrinks back,

my soul has no pleasure in him.”

³⁹ But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.

By Faith

¹ Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. ² For by it the people of old received their commendation. ³ By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.

I read this passage, and I am comforted.  Chapter eleven goes on to list the great men of the faith, and God reminds me that these men were normal people.  They had no special power except for hope and faith.  They trusted in God even when they wavered or were challenged.  They held on to their hope and faith.

As strong as these people were we have been offered the same gift as them.  All we need to do is reach out for it.  I like what Paul says in Romans 5.

Romans 5

He reminds us of the peace we can have with God through faith in Him.  Paul explains our salvation in Romans and in chapter 5 he reminds us of this glorious gift.

Romans 5:2-11 (ESV Strong’s)

² Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. ³ Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, ⁴ and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, ⁵ and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

⁶ For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. ⁷ For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— ⁸ but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. ⁹ Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. ¹⁰ For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. ¹¹ More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

It is hard to even elaborate on this passage.  I read it over and over, and all I can think is, “Thank you, Lord.”  What more is there to say.  I read this, and I know how Isaiah felt in that moment.

Isaiah 6:5 (ESV)

⁵ And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!”

I have not had a vision like that, but I see God’s glory in every page of His Word, and in spite of my nature He died that I might live.  He did not place hot coals on my lips to cleanse my lips but died for me that I might be washed in His blood.

Closing Thoughts

I am overwhelmed with thanksgiving when I consider all that God has done and continues to do for me… for all of us that believe in Him.  I cannot help but desire that everyone know this hope and joy that I have in Christ Jesus.

I know that I once was as blind as Saul on the road to Damascus.  My eyes could see, but my heart and soul saw no further than my own selfish needs.  My pride was all that mattered.  But praise God that He opened my eyes and placed His Words in my heart.

I like this passage of Titus.

Titus 2:11-14 (ESV Strong’s)

¹¹ For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, ¹² training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, ¹³ waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, ¹⁴ who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

I am filled with hope in Christ Jesus when I consider all this and thankful that He was gracious and saved me from myself.

Prayer

Father thank you for all that you do in this world.  Strengthen me that I might share Your Word with all those around me.  I know Lord that Your Word is powerful and never comes back empty.  Praise be to you in Jesus name, Amen.