January 28, 2022If you have been reading my weekly blog for some time, you may remember reading insights from George Worthy, a brother in Christ who sends a daily devotional electronically. On Tuesday, George wrote the following:
“When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, ‘Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?’ So they said, ‘Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am? Simon Peter answered and said, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’ Matthew 16:13-16.
This groundbreaking conversation took place at Caesarea Philippi, which lies today in the modern-day reserve of the Banias in the Golan Heights region of Israel. The city was established by Ptolemaic Greeks, a Hellenistic community where the worship of the god Pan was centered. Reviled by the Jews of Yeshua’s time and considered by them the most idolatrous place in the entire Galilee, to this day it remains a place of nature worship and deep paganism.
Now that tells me that the Lord is not shy about shining His light in dark places, and that includes the ones inside me. Psalm 139 tells me that He is intimately acquainted with all of them – that I can forget about keeping secrets from Him. It seems He rather delights in walking into enemy territory and taking ground. Those areas of my life that I don’t want anyone else to see, (and usually can hide from them) – He wants to visit, speak His word, illuminate and cleanse the place! The places where I’m darkest and weakest are His greatest opportunities to be glorified through repentance, transformation, and healing.”
As we enter the third year of a global pandemic, we can easily be discouraged that we are surrounded by so much sickness and distress. However, we can turn our attention to the Lord and His infallible Word and be encouraged that He is in control of the world and He wants us to trust Him in every area of our life. In his Study Bible, Dr. David Jeremiah writes: “John wrote so that his readers would have abundant joy in their walk with God. In 1 John 1:4-2:2, he warns about three things that will keep Christians from experiencing the full benefits of their birthright in Christ. We forfeit our joy when we …
- Deny the power of sin (1:5-7) – We often claim one thing by our words but are condemned by our lives. Walking in fellowship with Christ results in being continually cleansed from sin. And when we are cleansed from the guilt and stain of sin, we have fullness of joy in the Lord.
- Deny the presence of sin (1:8-9) – The cure for sinfulness is not denying our sin but relying on the faithfulness of God to forgive us on the basis of Christ’s death on the cross. To confess our sin and remain in fellowship with God is the way to maintain the joy of our salvation.
- Deny the practice of sin (1:10-2:2) – The person who denies that he or she has, in fact, sinned is quick to label their actions as anything but sin. Unfortunately, to take such a stance costs both the joy of forgiveness and restoration to the Father.”
If you have recently begun receiving this blog, you may not know that the “aches” in the title “Aches and Praise” refers to burdens to pray for others. Would you please join Karen and me in praying for friends who are going through a very difficult time? If you would like us to pray for you, please write or phone us. May the Lord encourage you as you look to Him!