HELP! I Need Somebody HELP! Not Just Anybody...
Today is my last day of physical therapy.
I am happy for two reasons:
1. I feel better enough to get a small (not strenuous) workout in.
2. It's the last one. I've loved my PT gals, but I've got it from here.
That phrase "I've got it from here" is tricky. Do I have it from here?
I know one thing for sure: I can never say that about following the Lord or studying my Bible.
Once we start this life of faith, we are in it in perpetuity. There is no "I got it from here."
We might think we do, but once we begin to rely on the Lord for our guidance, healing, provision, comfort, correction, and love, we simply can't go it alone anymore.
And even when we try to strike out "on our own", we quickly realize how difficult life is without God.
Don't misunderstand me.
Life is difficult with God, too, but at least with God, we are assured of a helper — an advocate — that will be right there when we cry "HELP!"
Through our faith in His resurrected Son — Jesus Christ — God actively provides the following for believers:
SPIRITUAL NEED
John 14:6 NKJV
“Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.'”
God provides the way to eternal life through His Son, Jesus Christ.
Romans 10:9 NKJV
“...that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”
God offers salvation to those who believe.
2 Corinthians 5:18 NKJV
“Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation...”
God reconciles believers to Himself through Jesus. Through this reconciliation, we are given the mission — the "ministry" — to see that others are reconciled to God, as well.
2 Corinthians 1:22 NKJV
“...who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.”
God seals believers with the Holy Spirit. What God has sealed, no man (or woman) can rip open. In other words, we are His for all of eternity.
1 Corinthians 10:13 NKJV
“No temptation has overtaken you except such 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 the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”
God provides grace and a way out of temptation. The more we study His Word and get to know His character, the more we will recognize His voice and accept His provided escape route.
1 Peter 5:10 NKJV
“But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.”
God calls believers to eternal glory...after a bit of suffering.
Jesus is our example. Jesus suffered on the cross for our benefit and understanding of suffering. Through Jesus' anguish, we learn to trust the Lord, that it will all be worth it in the end. We are promised eternity with the Lord as our reward for persevering.
2 Timothy 1:9 NKJV
“...who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began..."
We are not saved by our works. God saves and calls us according to His purpose alone.
John 6:35 NKJV
“And Jesus said to them, 'I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.'"
Jesus alone fills the soul's deepest hunger and thirst.
PHYSICAL NEED
Philippians 4:19 NKJV
“And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
God supplies all our material needs according to His riches.
Matthew 6:31-32 NKJV
“Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'"
God provides our food, drink, and clothing. Stop worrying about these things.
Matthew 6:26 NKJV
“Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?"
If God provides for the birds, He will certainly provide for us because of His deep love for us. And He knows our physical needs before we do.
Deuteronomy 29:5 NKJV
“And I have led you forty years in the wilderness. Your clothes have not worn out on you, and your sandals have not worn out on your feet.”
God sustained Israel for 40 years in the desert. How else can we explain that their clothes and sandals never wore out?
EMOTIONAL NEED
Philippians 4:7 NKJV
“...and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
God gives us His peace that guards our hearts and minds.
Romans 5:1 NKJV
“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ..."
Paul assures us that we are given a peace with God that frees us from condemnation.
2 Corinthians 1:4 NKJV
“...who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God."
As we learned in yesterday's Bible study, God comforts in all troubles, so that we will pass on that comfort.
Matthew 11:29-30 NKJV
“'Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.'”
God gives rest to the weary and burdened. Don't ignore rest time. It is a gift from God.
Psalm 23:4 NKJV
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”
God walks beside us in our darkest times.
Psalm 34:18 NKJV
“The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit.”
God stays close to us when we are brokenhearted and humbled in repentance of our sins.
1 Peter 5:7 NKJV
“...casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”
God receives all of our anxiety because He cares so deeply for us.
Isaiah 41:10 NKJV
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am Your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand."
God strengthens, helps, and upholds us with His hand and righteousness.
OVERALL NEED (we didn't know we had)
Jeremiah 29:11-14a NKJV
“'For I know the thoughts that I think toward you,' says the Lord, 'thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you,' says the Lord..."
God will provide only His best for us.
Bottom line: He is simply ON OUR SIDE.
Mush
REASONABLE DOUBT
Day 11
Have you ever asked yourself these questions? "Who am I?" "Where do I fit in?" "What difference can I make?" You may not ask these questions out loud, but you may wonder: "What am I good at?" "Who are my true friends?" "What do I want to do with my life?" The answers are so important, you don't want to skip out on asking these questions. But where do you look, and who do you ask, to find true answers? We can start by looking to Jesus, who the Bible calls the Word of God, and looking to the Spirit of God, who Jesus called the Spirit of Truth. And we can also look to God's words, written down for us in Scripture. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says all Scripture is "God-breathed," meaning God gives each word of those Scriptures life, which means we can trust it to reveal God's heart, character, and mission. In all of these ways, God gives us answers, even when we have more questions than we can count.
So when you still have questions, look to God's words.
ASSIGNED SCRIPTURE READING:
Luke 24:44-53 NKJV
THE SCRIPTURES OPENED
“Then He said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.” And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And you are witnesses of these things. Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”
THE ASCENSION
And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven. And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God. Amen.”
PRAYER:
Dear Heavenly Father,
We need You. The world needs you. Reveal Yourself to those searching. Guide us to those who are or will be receptive to hearing the Word and receiving salvation. Let our actions speak the truth of what You have put in our hearts. In Jesus' name, Amen.