But You Have Each Other
Good evening sisters!
Oftentimes when we give hard truths to people who do not have any other believers physically close to them, we hear 'But you have each other'. I know they don't mean it maliciously but in a way, it's an excuse to be weak in their flesh. Let's see what God's Word says about that:
Many people look at us and see what they want to see...a married couple serving the Lord, traveling around preaching the gospel and seeing sites while we do it. In a general sense, that's what we do but there's much more behind the scenes that we don't share because we don't like to point out the negative or be seen as complainers. God has been working on us for over a decade to equip us to do this and has changed our hearts and desires to fit this life. Brother Jim and I have always had a nature of appreciating challenges both physical and mental and God has used that in this life of ours which is much of both. It's not an easy life, and in fact to be honest with you, it would be much easier and life would be more enjoyable if we were in a house (instead of bending over in a cargo van) tending a garden / cooking and baking from scratch (instead of relying on a grocery store) relaxing in a recliner (instead of getting a back ache sitting on a bucket or a metal box as we do) by the wood stove (instead having to start the generator in the morning to run a little low watt heater), sitting in the backyard by the garden and pond (instead of a parking lot where cars drive right next to you and semi's almost run you over), taking long hot showers (instead of looking for a private place and using a gallon jug), drying my hair in the sun and breeze (instead of hiding in the van in front of the fan) drinking well water (instead of city and bottled water), walking in the forest or by a lake shore (instead of standing on busy streets, breathing in exhaust and dealing with people who hate the gospel message), fishing in the lake (instead of fishing for men out in the public day after day), enjoying the sound of crickets at night (instead of the garbage blower guys, street sweepers and cart collector noise), having the moonlight shine through the windows (instead of the parking lot lights glaring in our eyes), having the safety of a stable home (instead of the unknown of your next destination in a strange city), being able to lead a peaceful, quiet life for the Lord (instead of creating thousands of enemies because you publicly stand boldly for the truth), have someplace quiet and private to go (instead of always being in the public)....etc....
Our life is one of little comfort and being stretched outside our comfort zone day after day, all for the glory of God. There are many times we are weakened but God gives us what we need, when we need it, to persevere through, with peace, joy and strength on the other side. Brother Jim said not long ago that we have had to kill so much flesh that we're almost dead! :-)
We wouldn't change our life for anything and have gladly given up all the above mentioned things, for the service of God and His glory, regardless of what our flesh would rather do.
Most of the time we hear of the negative aspects of people's lives but we are to be thankful that God has called us where we are and that the hope of eternal life awaits us if we endure. We need to endure where we are called (married, single, married to believer, married to unbeliever), and through whatever God calls us through. You are in the situation you are in because God has called you in it, He has you right where He wants you at this point. When you are born again, you see the hope of eternal life that awaits you through the blood of Christ who shed it for you, so would you begin complaining about how hard it will be to Him? Would you be telling Him your woes of suffering for Him? Would you be commenting how people stare at you because you biblically dress and headcover? Or tell Him how people will hate you when you stand for truth or how much it will hurt when your family turns on you? No, you would joyfully follow Him and kill that flesh. That's what we should be doing today because He is with us, we have the Holy Spirit to comfort and strengthen us. We continuously hear how hard it is to 'give up' something for God and that tends to be the central point of their conversation when instead it should be what He has done and what is offered before us, being thankful for the opportunity to serve Him. What we have to do for Him is nothing compared to what He's done for us.
Within this statement 'But you have each other' is also jealousy, envy and comparing ourselves. This is sinful.
(Read 2 Corinthians 10:12)
I can no more long for (envy) what many of you sisters have (a home and all the above described situations I said my flesh would rather have) any more than you can long for (envy) what I or another sister has. That's covetousness which is sinful and called idolatry.
We must rejoice in our situation and glorify God in it as that is our living witness whether we like it or not. In fact as I write this, brother Jim and I are getting ready to attend one of the biggest sports events of the year where many thousands of people will be. Our flesh would rather be elsewhere but the Spirit is willing that we be out in the world, shining the light of truth to the dead in hopes to wake up some that slumber or to the condemnation of those who choose to sleep. Speaking of that, here's a piece from an article a brother in the Lord wrote for encouragement to the saints. (He understands the battle that goes on when the Word and Truth is preached in the World.)
We will all give an account to the Father and be rewarded for the deeds we have done. Let us be joyous where we are called, being faithful each day in the deeds we are to do and enduring through this life until we are called home. Here's another piece from that article that encourages us for this battle ahead...
As we head out this weekend to encounter the unknown, I lay my trust at the feet of our Father.
Will you do the same? Will you let go of the life you have been redeemed from and grasp the life ahead that God has given you? Will you run forward in obedience, or will you sit and long for what is not yours?
March on sisters.
Love to you in Christ Jesus,
Sister Deb
Oftentimes when we give hard truths to people who do not have any other believers physically close to them, we hear 'But you have each other'. I know they don't mean it maliciously but in a way, it's an excuse to be weak in their flesh. Let's see what God's Word says about that:
For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
2 Corinthians 12:8-10Many people look at us and see what they want to see...a married couple serving the Lord, traveling around preaching the gospel and seeing sites while we do it. In a general sense, that's what we do but there's much more behind the scenes that we don't share because we don't like to point out the negative or be seen as complainers. God has been working on us for over a decade to equip us to do this and has changed our hearts and desires to fit this life. Brother Jim and I have always had a nature of appreciating challenges both physical and mental and God has used that in this life of ours which is much of both. It's not an easy life, and in fact to be honest with you, it would be much easier and life would be more enjoyable if we were in a house (instead of bending over in a cargo van) tending a garden / cooking and baking from scratch (instead of relying on a grocery store) relaxing in a recliner (instead of getting a back ache sitting on a bucket or a metal box as we do) by the wood stove (instead having to start the generator in the morning to run a little low watt heater), sitting in the backyard by the garden and pond (instead of a parking lot where cars drive right next to you and semi's almost run you over), taking long hot showers (instead of looking for a private place and using a gallon jug), drying my hair in the sun and breeze (instead of hiding in the van in front of the fan) drinking well water (instead of city and bottled water), walking in the forest or by a lake shore (instead of standing on busy streets, breathing in exhaust and dealing with people who hate the gospel message), fishing in the lake (instead of fishing for men out in the public day after day), enjoying the sound of crickets at night (instead of the garbage blower guys, street sweepers and cart collector noise), having the moonlight shine through the windows (instead of the parking lot lights glaring in our eyes), having the safety of a stable home (instead of the unknown of your next destination in a strange city), being able to lead a peaceful, quiet life for the Lord (instead of creating thousands of enemies because you publicly stand boldly for the truth), have someplace quiet and private to go (instead of always being in the public)....etc....
Our life is one of little comfort and being stretched outside our comfort zone day after day, all for the glory of God. There are many times we are weakened but God gives us what we need, when we need it, to persevere through, with peace, joy and strength on the other side. Brother Jim said not long ago that we have had to kill so much flesh that we're almost dead! :-)
We wouldn't change our life for anything and have gladly given up all the above mentioned things, for the service of God and His glory, regardless of what our flesh would rather do.
Most of the time we hear of the negative aspects of people's lives but we are to be thankful that God has called us where we are and that the hope of eternal life awaits us if we endure. We need to endure where we are called (married, single, married to believer, married to unbeliever), and through whatever God calls us through. You are in the situation you are in because God has called you in it, He has you right where He wants you at this point. When you are born again, you see the hope of eternal life that awaits you through the blood of Christ who shed it for you, so would you begin complaining about how hard it will be to Him? Would you be telling Him your woes of suffering for Him? Would you be commenting how people stare at you because you biblically dress and headcover? Or tell Him how people will hate you when you stand for truth or how much it will hurt when your family turns on you? No, you would joyfully follow Him and kill that flesh. That's what we should be doing today because He is with us, we have the Holy Spirit to comfort and strengthen us. We continuously hear how hard it is to 'give up' something for God and that tends to be the central point of their conversation when instead it should be what He has done and what is offered before us, being thankful for the opportunity to serve Him. What we have to do for Him is nothing compared to what He's done for us.
Within this statement 'But you have each other' is also jealousy, envy and comparing ourselves. This is sinful.
(Read 2 Corinthians 10:12)
I can no more long for (envy) what many of you sisters have (a home and all the above described situations I said my flesh would rather have) any more than you can long for (envy) what I or another sister has. That's covetousness which is sinful and called idolatry.
Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.
Colossians 3:5-7We must rejoice in our situation and glorify God in it as that is our living witness whether we like it or not. In fact as I write this, brother Jim and I are getting ready to attend one of the biggest sports events of the year where many thousands of people will be. Our flesh would rather be elsewhere but the Spirit is willing that we be out in the world, shining the light of truth to the dead in hopes to wake up some that slumber or to the condemnation of those who choose to sleep. Speaking of that, here's a piece from an article a brother in the Lord wrote for encouragement to the saints. (He understands the battle that goes on when the Word and Truth is preached in the World.)
We will all give an account to the Father and be rewarded for the deeds we have done. Let us be joyous where we are called, being faithful each day in the deeds we are to do and enduring through this life until we are called home. Here's another piece from that article that encourages us for this battle ahead...
As we head out this weekend to encounter the unknown, I lay my trust at the feet of our Father.
Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
Romans 13:10-13March on sisters.
Love to you in Christ Jesus,
Sister Deb
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