I stand corrected

I was walking the dog and praying.  I realized that it had been a week already and I had not sent out an email on the things of God.  Time flies so quick.  I wondered how we even manage. 

And then He put the following on my verses on my heart.

“But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men [to] edification, and exhortation (paraklēsis), and comfort.” 1 Corinthians 14:3

“All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction (epanorthōsis), for instruction in righteousness:” 2 Timothy 3:16

When I speak about 1 Corinthians 14:3 I say that to me it translates into saying that those who speak on behalf of God (prophesy) reflect his direction, correction, and affection. 

He knows that is how I read it… and so that is why He used it to speak to my heart.

As Christians we do not stand if we do not stand corrected.

Because correction in the kingdom of God is not like the correction men express.

It is not about telling you that you are wrong, that you screwed up, that you need to do something different.  It is not about shining a light on your weakness.

It is about sharing your strength.

We are co-labourers, and co-heirs with Christ. 

“Co” means together.

We are not simply told what we have done wrong and left to go our own…

We are not simply propped up and left to stand on our own…

“lo, I am with you alway, [even] unto the end of the world.” Matt 28:20

We are co-rrected… We are lifted to stand… and held up by His strength.

We are co-rrected… We are not only told what we must do… but we are shown what we must do.

Christ is our strength.  He is our example.  He doesn’t tell us what we must do and leave us… He does it through us.

God’s co-rrection is necessary for a Christian stand at all.

Because we were never meant to stand alone.

God doesn’t bring correction He offers correction.  He says, “I love you.  There is somewhere I want you to go… something I want you to do… someone I want you to be… And I will be there with you, always.”

Be for your brothers in Christ what Christ is for you… one who is willing to take the walk with you.

SDG

When you are at the breaking point

Have you ever been there? … at the point where you begin to wonder, “What is God thinking?”

At that point where everything seems to be against you… the point when finding something positive in the situation is hard?

You begin to hear only the negative…

Everything people say seems to be a personal attack… or a put-down.

You wonder if He is even watching.  You want to echo David’s sentiments of “God, are you just going to stand there?” (Psalm35:17) 

You want to yell, “COME ON LORD… DO SOMETHING!!!!”

I’ve been there.  Truth be told… I’m standing there right now.  I’m standing in the place of “How long?”

“Lord, how long wilt thou look on?” Psalm 35:17

 “O LORD, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! [even] cry out unto thee [of] violence, and thou wilt not save!” Hab 1:2

“O LORD God of hosts, how long wilt thou be angry against the prayer of thy people?” Psalm 80:4

“My soul is also sore vexed: but thou, O LORD, how long?” Psalm 6:3

“How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever?

how long wilt thou hide thy face from me?

How long shall I take counsel in my soul, [having] sorrow in my heart daily?

how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?” Psalm 13:1-2

 

When you have lost a lot… and stand to lose more… you always wonder… when will it all end?

But God is not gone.  And He is not standing doing nothing.  He is there.  And He has perfect perspective.

When we are in troubled times we tend to look at the height of the waves… and forget that He controls the sea.

When we are in a place of financial desolation we tend to focus on what we want… and forget that there is a brook and ravens that will provide what we need.

When we have heard the Word of God promise to deliver we tend to look at the calendar… and forget that He is not bound by time.

“How long?” is such a man-made term.

To God…how long… is in the past.

It is finished.

If you are going through a rough time, a time of uncertainty, a time of “how long” … I think it is good to hear that it will be at just the right time.

“And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem,” Luke 9:51

When the time is come that the promise He gave you should be received… He WILL steadfastly set His face to you as well.

SDG

Time under load

I used to be in to weight lifting… a long… long time ago.   Was pretty good too if I do say so myself.  And I will… for demonstration purposes of course.  Not to drop any little facts like I was able to bench press 275 pounds when I only weighed 135.  (That’s more than 2Xs my weight)… that would be arrogant.  And not realty serve any purpose that to try and convince myself that in some lateral universe I can still do that.

Where was I?

Oh yeah, I remember.  One of the techniques for increased success in weightlifting is to change up your routine.  It keeps your muscles from getting used to what is expected and not growing.  Like when you have a job that requires you are on your feet all day… walking… getting up and down from your chair… and yet, with all that exercise you still gain weight.

But I was recently exposed to a new term… “time under load.”  In short it is this… the amount of weight doesn’t matter as long as your hold it long enough to reach to maximum time under load before failure (reaching the limit, when the muscle gives out)

It is the ultimate trick of the muscle… but there is a tremendous benefit.  One that became obvious to me when I saw a clip from the Olympics where a power-lifter dislocated his wrist.

If you use a light enough weight for a long enough time only the muscle will fail.  You don’t risk bones breaking or tendons or muscles tearing because they need a maximum peak load in a short time frame. 

“but God [is] faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted (tested) above that ye are able;” 1 Corinthians 10:15

I’ll cut to the chase… all other obvious weightlifting analogies aside… if you have ever wondered why God would allow things to go on longer than you think they should… if you questioned the “hard times” or asked “Why!?!?!?!”…   

“How long oh Lord, will You have me carrying this?!?!?!”…

consider this…

Time under load.

He is strengthening you… without breaking you. (And I am not talking about a “broken spirit”… I’m talking about a broken heart. )

And me.

I’ve been under a load lately.  About two years now.  At first it didn’t seem that heavy.  So I could handle it.

But as time went on I could feel my “muscles” shake.  And I get the whole “give it to the Lord” thing… but let’s be honest… some things He has us “take up” daily.

Because He wants us stronger.

When we say, “Whatever it takes Lord!”… and we mean it… He does bring “whatever.”

I also learned this… that it is too easy to look at what someone else is carrying and say, “that doesn’t seem so bad.”  You never know how long they have been or will be carrying it.

Chances are… like with me… long enough to strengthen without breaking.

Hang in there… if you are in a time when your encouragement has moved more toward discouragement… if the things that you have you don’t want and the things that you do want you do don’t have… if there are old friends who don’t talk to you and making new ones doesn’t seem like a good idea… If the whole “church thing” seems to get you more hurt than help…

Just remember… time under load.

He will strengthen you.

Carry on.

SDG