CONSIDER HIM THAT ENDURED

Sometimes our trials in this life can be overwhelming, but God’s Word always brings us comfort…

Hebrews 12:3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

Albert Barnes Commentary:

For consider him – Attentively reflect on his example that you may be able to bear your trials in a proper manner.

That endured such contradiction of sinners – Such opposition.  The idea is, that we are to pursue the path of duty and follow the dictates of conscience, let the world say what they will about it. In doing this we cannot find a better example than the Saviour. No opposition of sinners ever turned him from the way which he regarded as right; no ridicule ever caused him to abandon any of his plans; no argument, or expression of scorn, ever caused him for a moment to deviate from his course.

Lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds – The meaning is, that there is great danger of being disheartened and wearied out by the opposition which you meet with. But with the bright example of one who was never disheartened, and who never became weary in doing the will of God, you may persevere. The best means of leading a faithful Christian life amidst the opposition which we may encounter, is to keep the eye steadily fixed on the Saviour.

Jesus Paid It All

Jesus Christ, The Only Way To Heaven

Like Jehoshaphat, we may be precious in the Lord’s sight, although our schemes end in disappointment.

1 Kings 22:48 Jehoshaphat made ships of Tharshish to go to Ophir for gold: but they went not; for the ships were broken at Eziongeber.

Spurgeon:

Solomon’s ships had returned in safety but Jehoshaphat’s vessels never reached the land of gold.

Providence prospers one, and frustrates the desires of another, in the same business and at the same spot—yet the Great Ruler is as good and wise at one time as another.

May we have grace today, in the remembrance of this text, to bless the Lord for ships broken at Eziongeber, as well as for vessels freighted with temporal blessings.

Let us not envy the more successful, nor murmur at our losses as though we were singularly and specially tried.

Like Jehoshaphat, we may be precious in the Lord’s sight, although our schemes end in disappointment.

WHEN MAN’S HELP AND HOPE MOST FAIL…

“But such is the admirable working of the Lord,

where man’s help and hope most fail,

there he most showeth his strength and helpeth, ….”  

Foxe’s Book of Martyrs 

Jeremiah 3:27 Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?

Jeremiah 32:17 Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee:

A few examples …

Red Sea divided

Exodus 14:21-22 And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left. 

Sarah conceived in old age

Genesis 18:11-14 Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women. Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also? And the LORD said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old? Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.

Genesis 21:1-2 And the LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as he had spoken. For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.

Lazarus raised from the dead

John 11:43-44 And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with grave clothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.

Apostles supernaturally released from prison

Acts 5:17-20 Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation, And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison. But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said, Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.

Peter supernaturally released from prison

Acts 12:7 And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands. 

Acts 12:10 When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him.

Woman with issue of blood healed

Mark 5:25-29 And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment. For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole. And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague. 

Bartimaeus received sight

Mark 10:46-47 And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging. And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me. 

Mark 10:51-52 And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight. And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.

Widow’s son raised from the dead

Luke 7:11-14 And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people. Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her. And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother.

Centurion’s servant healed

Matthew 8:5-13 And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.

CONSIDER THE LILIES

As I was reviewing some of my old posts I came across “Consider The Lilies” written in May of 2007. I was encouraged and comforted as I read, so I’m reposting it hoping that it will encourage someone else today. Be blessed.

PEACEMAKERS

Matthew 6:28-30 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 

When winter comes all the lovely flowers of the garden are gone. Certain plants and bushes are cut down to the ground, while others shed all their beautiful leaves and flowers and look like wooden skeletons throughout the entire winter. They look dead and gone forever.

But then Spring comes and this incredible miracle happens. The lilies that seemed to be gone forever sprout again and we behold their beauty for yet…

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A PRECIOUS PROMISE

Be encouraged brothers and sisters in Christ.  The Lord has given us a wonderful promise.

Matthew 28:20 … lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Benson Commentary:

… exceeding great and precious promise he ushers in…

“I am with you;

I, the eternal Son of God;

I, who have the angels at my command, and make the devils tremble by my frown;

I, who in your sight have caused the storms to cease, the blind to see, the lame to walk, the dead to rise, only with the word of my mouth;

I, who have all power in heaven and earth committed to me — am with you;

not, I will be with you, but, I am with you, and that alway,

all the days, or every day:

Wheresoever you are, and whensoever you do any thing toward the executing of the commission which I have given you, I am with you in the doing of it,

and that too to the very end of the world:

that is, so long as I have a church upon earth, which shall be till my coming again to judge the world, all this while I promise to be with you, and consequently as long as the world shall last.”

Barnes Commentary:

Lo, I am with you – That is, by my Spirit, my providence, my attending counsel and guidance. I will strengthen, assist, and direct you. This also proves that Christ is divine. If he is a mere man, or a creature, though of the highest order, how could he promise to be “with” his disciples “always,” or at all? They would be scattered far and wide. His disciples would greatly increase. If he was “with them” always, he was God; for no finite creature could thus be present with many people scattered in different parts of the world.

Pulpit Commentary:

Amen.  … expresses what every pious reader must say in his heart, “So be it, O Lord; be with us unto the end; guide and strengthen us in life, and bring us safely through the valley of the shadow of death, to thy blessed presence, where is the fulness of joy forevermore!”