March | 2024 | From the Inside Out

Archive for March, 2024

Men’s Worst, God’s Best

Posted in Bible Study, Blessings, Encouragement, God's Grace, God's Salvation, Jesus, Suffering, Uncategorized, tagged bible, Christianity, Faith, God, Hebrews 12:2, Jesus, Jesus' crucifixion, Jesus' Death, Revelation 5:12, Sharing in Christ's glory, Significance of Jesus' Name on March 28, 2024| 24 Comments »

Many of those who haven’t asked Christ into their lives yet will still admit: historical evidence proves Jesus once lived on earth. They’ll agree he was a good man who taught wise principles to live by.

But even they might wonder: Why would God allow his Son to suffer such a cruel death at the hands of hateful men?

Welsh pastor and author Selwyn Hughes provided this insightful answer: what seemed to be the worst thing that could happen to Jesus—crucifixion—turned out to be the best thing for him [1].

That sounds ludicrous at first reading until we consider what Christ has enjoyed since returning to heaven, and what he’s looking forward to in the future–all because he fulfilled his mission at the cross.

As he suffered for us, Jesus kept in mind the joys set before him (Hebrews 12:2):

Sitting in the ultimate place of honor in the universe, at the right hand of the Majesty on high (Hebrews 1:3b).

Angels acclaiming him, saying, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth, wisdom and strength, honor, glory and praise” (Revelation 5:12).

God appointing him to be head over everything for the good of the church (Ephesians 1:22 GNT).

Being given authority and sovereign power that will last into eternity (Daniel 7:14).

All kings bowing before him one day, and all nations serving him (Psalm 72:11 NLT).

All nations and people of every language worshiping him (Daniel 7:14).

Being given the name above every name (Philippians 2:9).

And why is that last fact significant? Jesus is the One and only Son of God, the only Redeemer and Savior, the only Christ and Anointed One of God. “His rank, his titles, his dignity, are above all others” [2].

Perhaps no one has explained the significance of Jesus’ name(s) more eloquently than theologian Charles Spurgeon:

Jesus’ name is “the sum total of all delights. It is the music with which the bells of heaven ring; a song in a word; an ocean for comprehension; although a drop for brevity, a matchless oratorio in two syllables; a gathering up of the hallelujahs of eternity in five letters” [3].
Charles Spurgeon

But Jesus doesn’t want to enjoy these accolades and privileges alone. Max Lucado wrote:

Jesus desires for us to be one with him, continually availing ourselves of all he has to offer.

Even more astonishing? Because of what Christ accomplished on the cross, we who’ve accepted Jesus into our lives get to share in his power and wealth, wisdom and strength, honor and glory!

For example:

The immeasurable and surpassing greatness of God’s spiritual POWER is in us who believe (Ephesians 1:19 AMP).

He supplies spiritual RICHES and blessings that cannot be fully understood or measured (Ephesians 3:8-9).

Christ’s word with all its WISDOM lives within us so we can experience his joy (Colossians 3:16; John 15:10-11).

We’re equipped for anything and equal to anything, through Christ who infuses us with inner STRENGTH (Philippians 4:13 AMP).

As beloved children adopted into God’s family through Christ, we are precious in his sight (Isaiah 43:4). He’s crowned us with HONOR and GLORY (Psalm 8:5; Romans 2:10), including the honor of representing Jesus in this world, and the glory of his character at work within us [4].

On this eve of Good Friday, we’d do well to remember:

We can pick up our own cross, inspired by Jesus’ example, empowered by God’s Spirit within us, and encouraged by the glorious outcome yet to be [5].

The worst circumstances we might face will become God’s best in our lives too.

[1] Every Day Light, 285.

[2] Barnes’ Notes on the Bible at www.biblehub.org

[3] Morning by Morning, 41.

[4] See also 2 Corinthians 5:17, 20

[5] To “pick up our cross” means trusting in God even when suffering comes our way, putting aside our self-will and embracing God’s will instead.

Photo credits: http://www.freebibleimages.com; http://www.canva.com (2); http://www.quotefancy.com; http://www.canva.com; http://www.pexels.com.

Read Full Post »

HELP!

Posted in Bible Study, God's Faithfulness, God's Goodness, God's Provision, Uncategorized, Waiting on God, tagged 2 Chronicles 14:11, ants, ants storing food for winter, Isaiah 41:13, Psalm 121:1-2, Psalm 54:4, Psalm 72:12, Waiting on God on March 21, 2024| 42 Comments »

Addison Ant and other members of his colony twittered with worry. They hadn’t been able to collect enough food for winter due to a summer drought. How could they possibly survive?

“I have an idea,” Addison announced to the ant council. “Let’s ask Farmer Ezra to help! He harvested his winter wheat before the drought began. Perhaps he’ll donate a bit to us .”

Addison instinctively brushed his right antennae with a foreleg and looked expectantly at the group. Some were shaking their heads.

“He doesn’t care about us,” countered one.

“Sure he does,” replied Addison. “Farmer Ezra could have destroyed us by now if he’d wanted, but he hasn’t.” Addison paused. “So who will go with me?”

No one answered.

“Then I’ll go by myself,” he declared.

Late that afternoon, Addison marched up the hill toward the farmhouse, about an hour away. He arrived just as Farmer Ezra returned from milking his cows. Taking a deep breath, Addison shouted as loudly as he could. “Kind sir! Kind sir!”

Farmer Ezra looked about for the source of the small voice. His eyes finally rested on an ant whose whole body was a-quiver. He’d never witnessed such behavior. Farmer Ezra bent down to investigate.

And now that Addison had the farmer’s attention, he began to deliver the speech he’d prepared while walking.

“Please, sir. I’ve come from the ant colony in the southeast corner of the pasture. You may have noticed we never approach your house or cause mischief as other ants do.

“But I have come today because we’ve been unable to gather enough seeds during the drought to carry us through the winter. If you could spare us a few handfuls of wheat grains, then we can survive until spring. I beg you, sir!”

Farmer Ezra heard the desperation in the little ant’s voice. His eyes drifted to the fields where weeks earlier acres and acres of wheat had flourished.

Even after a semi had taken 20,000 tons of wheat to the train, his personal supply of wheatberries was plentiful. He wouldn’t even miss a few handfuls.

Farmer Ezra smiled down upon the ant. “All right. I will help you,” he replied. “Tomorrow morning when I take the cows to pasture, I’ll bring a small sack of wheat for your colony. Then you and your friends can transport the berries down into your tunnels.”

“Oh, kind sir!” Addison Ant’s antennae danced with glee. “I cannot thank you enough. Never will we forget your compassion!”

* * *

No doubt you can guess that Addison typifies us— minute (compared to God), needy, and often helpless.

Farmer Ezra[1] represents our Heavenly Father: all-sufficient, capable, and compassionate.

Note in the verse above the psalmist did not say God will immediately deliver. Though his help frequently comes in the moment, as it did for Addison Ant, sometimes we have to wait [2].

Ah! But even then God provides help–building our confidence, strengthening our faith, and granting peace–as we:

Hope in his promises.

Promises such as Isaiah 41:13:

I am the LORD, your God,

who takes hold of your right hand

and says to you,

Do not fear; I will help you.

Isaiah 41:13 NIV (emphasis added)

Other promises worthy of contemplation include: Psalm 46:1, Isaiah 41:10, and Hebrews 4:16.

Embrace God’s truth.

Like Addison and his fellow ants, we are insufficient in ourselves. But with King David we can affirm:

When King David wrote that verse, he was a hunted man. Yet he didn’t question God’s help, he affirmed and embraced it. We’d do well to do the same.

Lean on God’s record of faithfulness.

Consider how God has proven himself throughout our lives—in his provision, protection, and direction.

Review his help in the past and experience joy.

The Lord has done great things for us,

and we are filled with joy.

Psalm 126:3 NIV

Pray with confidence.

We can pray as King Asa did:

And so, even while we wait for help, God provides help as we:

H ope in his promises
E mbrace his truth
L ean on his record of faithfulness
P ray with confidence in his all-sufficiency

Addison Ant would also have us remember: whatever our trouble, it is minuscule compared to God’s power and resources!

Notes:

[1] Ezra in Hebrew means help, support, assistance, aid, either human or divine

[2] A previous post explores the topic of waiting on God: https://nancyaruegg.com/2021/07/22/are-we-there-yet/

Sources:

Charles Spurgeon, Morning by Morning, 18.

https://dtermination.com/what-do-ants-do-in-the-winter

Photo credits: http://www.rawpixel.com; http://www.freerangestock.com (falkenpost); http://www.flickr.com (Jason and Kris Carter); http://www.canva.com; http://www.pxhere.com; http://www.pexels.com (Valentin Antonucci); http://www.pexels.com (Simon Berger).

Read Full Post »

Surprise in the Fruit Bowl

Posted in Bible Study, Blessings, Encouragement, Excellence, God, Godly Character, Uncategorized, tagged Christianity, Faith, fruit of the Spirit, Galatians 5:22-23, holy-spirit, Jesus on March 14, 2024| 50 Comments »

Years ago I served as a short-term missionary in Ecuador. One of my first meals there included a fruit I’d eaten many times back home in Illinois, although more often from a can than the produce section.

But that day the golden wedges provided an uber-delightful surprise: more flavor, more sweetness, and less acidity than any I’d enjoyed in the States. It was as if I was eating a different fruit.

That’s because Ecuador grows some of the world’s best pineapple. Their location on the equator and the volcanic soil of the Andes Mountains provides perfect growing conditions. I gained new appreciation for what pineapple could be.

There’s another kind of fruit that many of us are familiar with, but it’s not the kind we eat. It’s the fruit of the Spirit, listed in Galatians 5:22-23. Many of you can probably recite its nine aspects:

What follows are brief thoughts on each. I pray we gain new appreciation for what this fruit can be—perhaps even uncover a surprise or two.

LOVE

If you were asked, what’s a powerful, practical way to express love for others, what would you say? Theologian John Calvin suggested intercession [1]. To pray for a person is to love that person.

Who might you love with a prayer today?

JOY

Scripture tells us to “rejoice always” [2], but that’s hard to do when problems and pain come our way.

Selwyn Hughes offers this perspective: Even though our difficulties may have begun with the devil, by the time they get to us and through us, they will have a divine purpose running through them [3].

Now that we can joyfully celebrate.

PEACE

“The truly thankful person is a truly peaceful person,” asserts Lysa TerKuerst [4]. And Isaiah 26:3 suggests why:

What better way to fix our thoughts than with thanksgiving? And as we affirm God’s blessings, peace will warm our hearts.

PATIENCE

Patience blossoms best in the soil of God’s promises, as we wait for him to intervene. His promises cover every circumstance; our part is to know them and believe, then patiently anticipate their fulfillment.

Are you clinging to a scripture-promise today? Turn it into a prayer of faith, hope, and patience [5].

KINDNESS

We can grow this attribute with one action: meditate on God’s kindness to us [6]. Meditation fosters appreciation; appreciation fosters emulation, and soon we find God’s kindness becoming more a part of who we are.

GOODNESS

This trait often seems out of reach. But instead of trying harder to be good, author Philip Yancey recommends: simply love God. “A person who truly loves God will be inclined to please God” [7].

Also worth remembering, the inclination to always please self results in dissatisfaction and restlessness [8].

FAITHFULNESS

Every year thousands gather to see Old Faithful, even though it’s not the tallest geyser in the world. Why is it so popular? Dependability. You can count on Old Faithful.

What might dependability look like for you today?

GENTLENESS

A list of traits of successful people rarely includes gentleness. Yet this attribute contributes much to prosperity in life. That’s because: “[Gentleness] creates in us a capacity for the closest possible intimacy with God” [9].

It’s the gentle-spirited souls who lean in toward God with yielding hearts to rest in his sovereignty. And then, think of it: God, with all his glorious attributes, comes close (James 4:8).

SELF-CONTROL

“A person without self-control is like a city with broken-down walls”[10]–vulnerable to all sorts of problems.

Better to take the wise course, prayerfully availing ourselves of the Holy Spirit’s help, to develop those habits we know will bring benefit and usefulness.

* * * * * * * * * *

And now, our fruit bowl is full! Did you find any surprises?

I pray this week, you enjoy one or more aspects of this familiar fruit–with fresh appreciation!

[1] https://gracequotes.org/topic/love-others_for/

[2] 1 Thessalonians 5:16

[3] Every Day Light, 124.

[4] Embraced, 256.

[5] A few favorite scripture-promises include: Psalm 32:8; Isaiah 41:10, 31; Romans 8:28; James 1:5.

[6] From a sermon our pastor preached last spring.

[7] Grace Notes, 325.

[8] Ecclesiastes 2:10-26

[9] Albert M. Wells, Jr., Inspiring Quotations Contemporary & Classical, 91.

[10] Proverbs 25:28 NLT

Art & photo credits: http://www.needpix.com; http://www.heartlight.org; http://www.pickpic.com; http://www.flickr.com; http://www.negativespace.com; http://www.deviantart.com (vulcanknight).

Read Full Post »

Antidotes for What Ails You

Posted in Blessings, Encouragement, Faith, God's Faithfulness, God's Power, God's Provision, Perseverance, Renewing the Mind, Uncategorized, tagged anxiety, comfort, Discouragement, Faith, Hope, Isaiah 41:13, Psalm 145:14, Psalm 147:3, Psalm 94:19, Spiritual Strength on March 7, 2024| 29 Comments »

We’ve all had days when discouragement, inadequacy, hurt, or fear want to plague our spirits. And we find our own weak efforts do little to ease the distress.

BUT!

Praise God he provides the antidote for every malady of the soul.

What follows is a list of ways he accomplishes that healing and binding [1]. I pray these declarations may be just the antidote to strengthen your inner being:

When we worry; he reassures.

When I worried about many things,

your assuring words soothed my soul.

—Psalm 94:19 GWT

When we stress, he soothes.

“Would you drown your cares? Then go, plunge yourself in the Godhead’s deepest sea; be lost in His immensity; and you shall come forth as from a couch of rest, refreshed and invigorated.

“I know nothing which can so comfort the soul; so calm the swelling billows of sorrow and grief; so speak peace to the winds of trial, as a devout musing upon the subject of the Godhead.”

—Charles Spurgeon

When we stagger; he steadies.

Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you;

he will never let the righteous be shaken.

—Psalm 55:22 NIV

When we struggle; he strengthens.

“With the goodness of God to desire our highest welfare, the wisdom of God to plan it, and the power of God to achieve it, what do we lack?” — A. W. Tozer [2]

When we falter; he lifts up.

The Lord upholds all who fall

and lifts up all who are bowed down.

—Psalm 145:14

When we fail; he forgives.

“With [God], each day—each moment—is a clean slate” — Aliza Latta [3].

When we forget; he reminds.

For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand;

it is I who say to you,

“Fear not, I am the one who helps you.”

—Isaiah 41:13 ESV

When we doubt; he affirms.

Dismantle doubts with declarations of truth from God’s Word, truths that remind us: his character is flawless, his actions are righteous, his power is unlimited, his love is unfailing, his faithfulness unending [4].

When we regret; he forgets.

I will forgive their sins and will

no longer remember their wrongs.”

—Hebrews 8:12 GNT

When we hunger; he fills.

Blessed [joyful, nourished by God’s goodness]

are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness

[those who actively seek right standing with God],

for they will be [completely] satisfied.

—Matthew 5:6 AMP

When we’re bent; he repairs.

“God is mercifully shaping our lives into what is useful and beautiful” — Eugene Peterson [5].

When we desire wrongly; he directs rightly.

For it is God who is working in you,

enabling you both to desire

and to work out his good purpose.

—Philippians 2:13 HCSB

When we’re uncertain; he guides.

“Happy are those who place their hands in that of the Great Guide. He will bring them all the way and when he has brought them home to glory and has opened their eyes to see the way by which he has led them, what a song of gratitude will they sing unto God! Lord, lead your poor blind child this day, for I know not my way” — Charles Spurgeon [6].

When we’re discouraged; he inspires

He would have us know: “Nothing under My control can ever be out of control. Everything you need I know about in every detail. Remember, I am able to supply, to guide, to start, to stop, to sustain, to change, to correct in My time and for My purposes” [7] .

Again and again he provides the antidote for every need of our souls.

Our part is simply to receive.

[1] “Binding” in Psalm 147:3 intimates holding together while an injury heals. God often allows time in combination with his antidotes to accomplish healing, fostering inner strength and perseverance in the process (James 1:2-4).

[2] Knowledge of the Holy, 70.

[3] www.incourage.com, 1-19-19

[4] Exodus 32:4; Psalm 145:17; Job 36:22-23; Psalm 117:1-2; 100:5

[5] Run with the Horses, 79.

[6] Faith’s Checkbook, March 23.

[7] Based on statements made by Chuck Swindoll in Intimacy with the Almighty, 73.

Photo credits: http://www.negativespace.com; http://www.dailyverses.net; http://www.heartlight.org; http://www.dailyverses.net; http://www.pexels.com; http://www.canva.com.

Read Full Post »

From the Inside Out

Impressions Becoming Expressions

Archive for March, 2024

HELP!

Surprise in the Fruit Bowl

Antidotes for What Ails You

Nancy Ruegg

Follow Blog via Email

Recent Posts

Blogs I Follow

Categories

Archives