The best is yet to come!

Sometimes you hear the expression, "It's for the best." What is the person saying, trying to convey to you? Is it that whatever the circumstance, or circumstances, that have occurred there will be a better outcome for you ahead?

 Often in life we are faced with trials and testings. It could be health problems, or financial stress, or relationship break downs, or employer/employee conflicts. Maybe there is psychological or verbal abuse. Sometimes these trials can go on for years. It is not easy when you are going through a particular trial; that seemingly goes on and on, to think "It's for the best."

 As Christians we can turn to the Holy Scriptures for encouragement. Let's look at Romans 8:28, "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose."

 Do you agree with the apostle Paul? It was his experience and those that were with him to say, "...we know that all things work together for good..." Note, he does not say that all things that have happened to him were good experiences. What he does say is that all his experiences good and bad are working together for his good. It is often in the bad experiences that we learn to appreciate the goodness of our God.

 Do you love God? If you do then you will personally know the truth of Paul's words, "...that all things work together for good..."

 Let's look at 2 Corinthians 4:17, "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding weight of glory." Paul is measuring our trials in the light of eternity! Our "light affliction" as he puts it, is being outweighed by God piling up more and more glory to our account. The best is yet to come!

 Have you got economic problems? Let's see what the apostle Peter has to say in his 1st epistle, 1 Peter 1:3, 4, "(3) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, (4) to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you." You don't need money in heaven. You have an inheritance, guaranteed and reserved in heaven; which will last for eternity! The best is yet to come!

 Are you at present going through a testing time? Let's look at 1 Corinthians 10:13, " No temptation [testing] has overtaken you except as is common to man; but God is faithful; who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make a way of escape, that you may be able to bear it."

 The Greek word used for temptation, peirasmos, has the thought of testing or trial. We often perceive the word temptation to be something evil or wrong. God does not tempt any person to do evil! I will repeat this; God does not tempt any person to do evil.

 Please note, God will not allow us to be tested more than we can bear. He always provides a way to end or exit the trial we are going through. Sometimes, He does not end the particular trial immediately; but makes it bearable for us until He concludes that particular testing.

1 Peter 5:6, 7, "(6) Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, (7) casting all your care on Him, for He cares for you." The best is yet to come!

 So what have we learned from this? Testings and trials are common to all mankind. Christians are not exempt from testings and trials; however God will not allow them to be overwhelmed by their trials. What is the worst thing that can happen? Death is man's greatest fear. Yet death for a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ means, "...to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord [in heaven]." (2 Corinthians 5:8).

 The best is yet to come!

 Jon Peasey

Biblical Perspectives blog www.jon-peasey.blogspot.com

Ebooks author page https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/JRPeasey

 [All Scriptures quoted are from the New King James version; unless otherwise noted. Words enclosed in [ ] are inserted for clarity. Words in bold type emphasise a point. You may notice some verses are quoted with ... at the beginning, ending or elsewhere in a verse. Only the relevant part or parts of the verse, that relate directly to the current subject matter is quoted.]

 [If you have any questions or comments you are invited to contact me via the comments section below.]

 

 

 

 

Worship

The word worship has different degrees of meaning to different people. Yet in those degrees of difference there seems to be a common purpose. That purpose is to show profound respect and devotion to either God, or a human being or some object of devotion.

Collins Concise Dictionary defines the word worship as:

1. To show profound religious devotion and respect to adore or venerate (God or any person or thing considered divine).

2. To be devoted to and full of admiration for.

3. To have or express feelings of profound adoration.

4. To attend services for worship.

5. Religious adoration and devotion.

6. The formal expression of religious adoration, rites, prayers etc.

7. Admiring love or devotion.

What does the word worship convey to you? For me it is the out flowing from a heart full of appreciation for the goodness, grace, mercy; and above all, the love of God to me personally. Whilst my personal worship gives the true and living God joy and satisfaction; He derives much more joy and satisfaction from redeemed men and women gathered together for the express purpose of worshipping Him.

1 Chronicles 16:29 tells us, "Give to the Lord the glory due to his name; bring an offering, and come before Him. Oh, worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness." These words "...worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness." are also found in Psalm 29:2 and Psalm 96:9.

Let us take note of the points of interest in 1 Chronicles 16:29.

1. Give to the Lord the glory due to His name.

2. Bring an offering.

3. Come before Him.

4. Worship the Lord.

5. The beauty of holiness.

In point 1 we need to recognise who the Lord is; the pre-eminence of His name and the glory due to His name and person. In point 2 we are told to bring an offering to the Lord. In point3 we are told to come before Him. In point 4 we are told to worship Him. In point 5 we are told this worship is to be in the beauty of holiness.

This worship is not from afar; this worship is close and very personal. You may be wondering what sort of an offering modern day believers can bring to the Lord. Let's look at Hebrews 13:15, "Therefore by Him [Jesus Christ] let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name."  Here is an offering we can all make!

Praise and worship are intertwined. Praise is a sacrifice of self. When we are praising God our thoughts are turned away from ourselves to the glory and beauty of our God. This praise flows forth in worship of our God.

"...in the beauty of holiness." This holiness is not something we confer on ourselves. This holiness is not conferred on us by other men or women. This holiness is conferred on us the moment we are saved. 1 Corinthians 6:11, "...But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God." These three actions encompass holiness. We are clean in God's sight, we are set apart for God [sanctified] and we are made just in God's eyes. Thus we can "worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness."

Jon Peasey

Biblical Perspectives blog www.jon-peasey.blogspot.com

Ebooks author page https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/JRPeasey

[All Scriptures quoted are from the New King James version; unless otherwise noted. Words enclosed in [ ] are inserted for clarity. Words in bold type emphasise a point. You may notice some verses are quoted with ... at the beginning, ending or elsewhere in a verse. Only the relevant part or parts of the verse, that relate directly to the current subject matter is quoted.]

[If you have any questions or comments you are invited to contact me via the comments section below.]