Bible Ballistics: BBs #539   Help Or Relief???

 

Several years ago, I heard a pastor share about people who came to him for counsel; what he said was so true.  He said that “while some people truly come for help, most people only come for relief”, and it’s as true today as it was the first time I heard it.  Many people today simply want ‘relief’ from their present circumstances—they don’t want to change themselves, or find out what God has for them, or what scripture says about the life of a believer and follower of Jesus, or how we are to live and interact with those around us.  Yet God is ever ready to help those who will come to Him desiring Him and His truth, and not just seeking His blessings.

“This people draweth nigh unto me

with their mouth,

and honoureth me with their lips;

but their heart is far from me.”   Matthew 15:8

God wants us to know Him, and He will draw near to us when we draw near to Him.  It’s why Jesus came—that we might know Him and be one with God through The Son—Jesus Christ our Lord!  As Jesus prayed just before He faced the cross for you and me:

“And now I am no more in the world,

but these are in the world,

and I come to thee. Holy Father,

keep through thine own name

those whom thou hast given me,

that they may be one,

as we are……

20 Neither pray I for these alone,

 but for them also which shall believe

on me

through their word;

21 That they all may be one;

as thou, Father, art in me,

and I in thee,

that they also may be one

in us:

that the world may believe

that thou hast sent me.

22 And the glory which thou gavest me

I have given them;

that they may be one,

even as we are one:

23 I in them,

and thou in me,

that they may be made perfect

in one;

and that the world may know

that thou hast sent me,

and hast loved them,

as thou hast loved me.”    John 17:11 & 20-23

Oh, to be walking in oneness with my Lord!  It is the prayer of my heart for myself and for you. It’s not an easy walk—but it is a joyous one.  And as we submit to our Father and His Son Jesus, He will lead and direct our every step.

“But he giveth more grace.

Wherefore he saith,

God resisteth the proud,

but giveth grace unto the humble.

7 Submit yourselves therefore

to God.

Resist the devil,

and he will flee from you.

8 Draw nigh to God,

and he will draw nigh to you.

Cleanse your hands,

ye sinners;

and purifyyour hearts,

ye double minded.

9 Be afflicted,

and mourn,

and weep:

let your laughter

be turned to mourning,

and your joy

to heaviness.

10 Humble yourselves

in the sight of the Lord,

and he shall lift you up.”   James 4:6-10

As long as we are content in our sin, and have justified it in our own minds, we will never seek God’s face!  This is why James was/is calling us to be “afflicted”—over our sin; that rather than gloat in our “liberty” we are to weep over our hard hearts and “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord”!  And while that is easy to say, it is not an easy thing to accomplish, for we are growing used to the dark, rather than basking in HIS light!  The Apostle John has much to say about this in his first letter (spend some time in 1 John to see what he says about “the light”)!  Even as the author of Hebrews reminds us—we have One who is ever interceding for us!  Thank YOU, Jesus!  We can truly find “help” in Him, not just relief for a moment!

“God is our refuge and strength,

a very present help

in trouble.

2 Therefore will not we fear,

though the earth

be removed,

 and though the mountains

be carried into the midst of the sea;

3 Though the waters thereof

roar and be troubled,

though the mountains shake

with the swelling thereof. Selah.”    Psalm 46:1-3

We truly can find help in our Lord Jesus–always!

“Wherefore he is able also to save them

to the uttermost

that come unto God

by him,

 seeing he ever liveth

to make intercession for them.”    Hebrews 7:25

And because HE is “able also to save”, we don’t have to fear our circumstances, and continually be seeking ‘relief’, but we can “stand fast in the evil day”!

“What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.”    Psalm 56:3

“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear;

but of power,

and of love,

and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7

May you find help today in HIS “power….and love…and… …sound mind”!  And sound mind simply means right thinking!  As Paul said to the Philippians:

“And the peace of God,

which passeth all understanding,

shall keep your hearts

and minds

through Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brethren,

whatsoever things are true,

whatsoever things are honest,

whatsoever things are just,

whatsoever things are pure,

whatsoever things are lovely,

whatsoever things are of good report;

if there be any virtue,

and if there be any praise,

think on these things.”    Philippians 4:7-8

Amen and Amen—“think on these things”!