We'll Understand it Better By and By

Jesus answered and said to him, "What I do you do not realize now, but you will understand hereafter." John 13:9

Our life here on Earth is certainly filled with challenges and struggles. We are tossed on the restless sea of time; some of us seemingly more so than others, but all of us to some extent as we strive to be in the world but not of it. I know I am looking forward to the day when we will understand it better: when God's plan for my life becomes clear to me; when I can look back and see His hand at work in all the unfolding events over time.

Paul reminds us that it will be worth the wait!

For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. II Corinthians 4:17-18

And there is the hard part for us in fleshly bodies: keeping our eyes on eternal things rather than temporal things. As this hymnwriter reminds us, we don't know the ways that God has chosen to lead us to the Promised Land, but we trust Him to lead us - even though it might be through long and difficult situations. Keeping our eyes on our future home is of paramount importance!

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
Romans 8:18

Our suffering here on Earth is not even worthy to be compared with the glory that will be revealed to us in heaven! That absolutely blows my mind. Think about it with me: whatever you're going through now, as bad as you think it is, the glory that is reserved for you in heaven is SO much greater than the sum of your suffering that you can't even compare them. Praise God for His mercy and grace!

And here's another truth to hang on to: God is using our suffering to sanctify us, to make us more like the image of His Son; to perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish us. He has a purpose in our suffering.

After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. I Peter 5:10

Even though we don't understand it now, we will understand it later. I can't wait to look back on my life and see God's hand at work, using every situation I'm in to make me more holy and molding me according to His perfect plan.

We'll Understand it Better By and By
Words by Charles Tindley

We are tossed and driv’n on the restless sea of time;
Somber skies and howling tempests oft succeed a bright sunshine;
In that land of perfect day, when the mists have rolled away,
We will understand it better by and by.

Refrain
By and by, when the morning comes,
When the saints of God are gathered home,
We’ll tell the story how we’ve overcome,
For we’ll understand it better by and by.

We are often destitute of the things that life demands,
Want of food and want of shelter, thirsty hills and barren lands;
We are trusting in the Lord, and according to God’s Word,
We will understand it better by and by.

Trials dark on every hand, and we cannot understand
All the ways that God could lead us to that blessed promised land;
But He guides us with His eye, and we’ll follow till we die,
For we’ll understand it better by and by.

Temptations, hidden snares often take us unawares,
And our hearts are made to bleed for a thoughtless word or deed;
And we wonder why the test when we try to do our best,
But we’ll understand it better by and by.

I am Praying for You

This morning, students all around the country and around the world are meeting together outside of their schools, around the flagpoles, to pray. For the 20th year, students will gather together and pray for their friends, teachers, administrators, and for a revival across our country.

They will pray for their friends who need a Savior. They will pray for their friends who need to secure their eternal future. They will pray for their friends who need to look forward to their resplendant glory in heaven. They are praying that the gospel message will travel beyond their friends that many more might come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

They are obeying Jesus' command to pray for those who mistreat them, an experience I'm sure is common in today's high schools.

"But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you." Luke 6:27-28

As they gather to pray this morning, let's us pray for them. As they follow Paul's exhortation to offer petitions, let's pray that the students at the pole will be bold in proclaiming the gospel today, and everyday, through their words and actions.

With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel. Ephesians 6:18-19

Let's pray that the students will grow in their faith and that the Holy Spirit would increase their knowledge, that their living out the gospel message would be effective in their schools.

And I pray that the fellowship of your faith may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing which is in you for Christ's sake. Philemon 1:6

Let's pray that the students will be rooted and grounded in love, and able to comprehend the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that they may be filled up to all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:17-19)

It is a powerful thing to know that you are prayed for; when someone tells me they've been praying for me, I am incredibly moved and humbled. Join me today in lifting up these students as they lift up each other through the gift that God has given us, communication directly with Him through His Son Jesus Christ.

I am Praying for You
Words by Samuel Cluff

I have a Savior, He’s pleading in glory,
A dear, loving Savior though earth friends be few;
And now He is watching in tenderness o’er me;
And oh, that my Savior were your Savior, too.

Refrain
For you I am praying,
For you I am praying,
For you I am praying,
I’m praying for you.

I have a Father; to me He has given
A hope for eternity, blessèd and true;
And soon He will call me to meet Him in Heaven,
But, oh, that He’d let me bring you with me, too!

I have a robe; ’tis resplendent in whiteness,
Awaiting in glory my wondering view;
Oh, when I receive it all shining in brightness,
Dear friend, could I see you receiving one, too!

When Jesus has found you, tell others the story,
That my loving Savior is your Savior, too;
Then pray that your Savior may bring them to glory,
And prayer will be answered—’twas answered for you!

Speak of that Savior, that Father in Heaven,
That harp, crown, and robe which are waiting for you—
That peace you possess, and that rest to be given,
Still praying that Jesus may save them with you.

Let the Holy Ghost Come In

I never tire of reading the book of Acts and seeing how the Holy Spirit was moving in the early church. The book opens with Jesus ascending into heaven. His presence leaves the earth, but He is not gone.

"I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you."
John 14:16-17

He kept His promise about sending another helper.

When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance. Acts 2:1-4

Once the Holy Spirit was upon the church and moving in them, amazing things began to happen. At Pentecost, Peter gives a rousing sermon, explaining through the Scriptures how God sent Jesus to be the Messiah. And look at their response:

Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brethren, what shall we do?" Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself." Acts 2:37-39

The Bible goes on to tell us that on that day, THREE THOUSAND people came to believe in Jesus Christ and were baptized. 3,000!!! These people were redeemed from their inbred sin and relieved from every doubt and fear.

The story gets even better:

So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved. Acts 2:41-47

The devoted themselves to teaching, fellowship and prayer. Everyone KEPT FEELING a sense of awe. I love that the author makes it clear to us that the people kept feeling a sense of awe - not that they felt it once, but that it was continual.

Many wonders and signs were taking place. The power of the Holy Spirit working through God's people cannot be underestimated!

God gave me the Holy Spirit when I, by faith, put my trust in Him and accepted His plan of salvation. But I don't want to take it for granted. I want the fire of God to fill my soul and His power to make me true and brave. I want to see God adding to the numbers of those who were saved, just like in the early church.

Dear Heavenly Father, send a great revival. And start the work in me.

Let the Holy Ghost Come In
Words by R. F. Reynolds

Would you be redeemed from ev’ry inbred sin,
Have the Holy Spirit constantly within?
Make the consecration, trust in God, and then,
Let the Holy Ghost come in.

Refrain
Let the Holy Ghost come in,
Let the Holy Ghost come in,
Make the consecration, trust in God, and then,
Let the Holy Ghost come in.

Would you have the Spirit in your heart to cheer?
Would you be relieved from ev’ry doubt and fear?
Make the consecration, trust in God, and then,
Let the Holy Ghost come in.

Do you want the “fire of God” to fill your soul,
Burn up all the dross, and sanctify the whole?
Make the consecration, trust in God, and then,
Let the Holy Ghost come in.

Do you want the “pow’r” to make you true and brave,
So that you can rescue those that Christ would save?
Make the consecration, trust in God, and then,
Let the Holy Ghost come in.

O Love of God, How Strong and True, Part V

Lift up your eyes on high and see who has created these stars. The One who leads forth their host by number, He calls them all by name; because of the greatness of His might and the strength of His power, not one of them is missing. Isaiah 40:26

Our God is a God of might and strength. And He shows His love for us through that might and strength.

We read Thy power to bless and save,
E’en in the darkness of the grave;
Still more in resurrection light,
We read the fullness of thy might.

God's love for us raised Jesus from the dead that we too might live forever. Jesus, through His resurrection, triumphed over death once and for all so that we do not need to fear death.

He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it.
Isaiah 25:8

It was God's might and strength that raised Jesus from the dead and seated Him at His (God's) right hand in the heavenly places.

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. Ephesians 1:18-23

And how's this for love? God tells us, through His word, that His strength and might are available to US! The same power that brought Jesus back to life after His crucifixion is shown "toward us who believe." That strength and might is at work in our lives, just as it was at work to raise Jesus from the dead! That is almost too much for me to comprehend. And look what else God has to say to encourage us:

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Ephesians 6:10

Be strong! Call on the strength of His might! You do not have to rely on your own strength - lean on your Heavenly Father and let His strength and might uphold, support and embolden you to live for Him and rejoice in His love.


O Love of God, How Strong and True
Words by Horatio Bonar

O love of God, how strong and true!
Eternal, and yet ever new;
Uncomprehended and unbought,
Beyond all knowledge and all thought.

O love of God, how deep and great!
Far deeper than man’s deepest hate;
Self fed, self kindled, like the light,
Changeless, eternal, infinite.

O heavenly love, how precious still,
In days of weariness and ill,
In nights of pain and helplessness,
To heal, to comfort, and to bless!

O wide embracing, wondrous love!
We read thee in the sky above,
We read thee in the earth below,
In seas that swell, and streams that flow.

We read thee best in Him who came
To bear for us the cross of shame;
Sent by the Father from on high,
Our life to live, our death to die.

We read thy power to bless and save,
E’en in the darkness of the grave;
Still more in resurrection light,
We read the fullness of thy might.

O love of God, our shield and stay
Through all the perils of our way!
Eternal love, in thee we rest
Forever safe, forever blest.

O Love of God, How Strong and True, Part IV

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16

We read Thee best in Him who came
To bear for us the cross of shame;
Sent by the Father from on high,
Our life to live, our death to die.

Indeed, we read God's love best by His amazing act of sending His only son to die in our place.

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

God sent His son to live on earth and die the death we deserved to die because of our sinfulness. Jesus was a sinless man who paid the price once and for all for our sin. We couldn't have done it on our own.

There is nothing we can do to make ourselves clean, whole, pure and righteous. We must believe by faith in Christ alone who gave His life to ensure our forgiveness and salvation.

God's love was sent to us through His son Jesus so that we might live forever through Him. His endless love covers our wretchedness and reconciles us to Him, hallelujah!

By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. I John 4:9-10

O Love of God, How Strong and True
Words by Horatio Bonar

O love of God, how strong and true!
Eternal, and yet ever new;
Uncomprehended and unbought,
Beyond all knowledge and all thought.

O love of God, how deep and great!
Far deeper than man’s deepest hate;
Self fed, self kindled, like the light,
Changeless, eternal, infinite.

O heavenly love, how precious still,
In days of weariness and ill,
In nights of pain and helplessness,
To heal, to comfort, and to bless!

O wide embracing, wondrous love!
We read thee in the sky above,
We read thee in the earth below,
In seas that swell, and streams that flow.

We read thee best in Him who came
To bear for us the cross of shame;
Sent by the Father from on high,
Our life to live, our death to die.

We read thy power to bless and save,
E’en in the darkness of the grave;
Still more in resurrection light,
We read the fullness of thy might.

O love of God, our shield and stay
Through all the perils of our way!
Eternal love, in thee we rest
Forever safe, forever blest.

O Love of God, How Strong and True, Part III

He who made the Pleiades and Orion and changes deep darkness into morning, who also darkens day into night, who calls for the waters of the sea and pours them out on the surface of the earth, the LORD is His name. Amos 5:8

Another way we see the love of God is through His creation. It is obvious that God loves His people, in that He would provide for us such beauty and wonder in nature. The changing seasons, the diversity of plants and animals, the beauty of falling water, the excitement of a thunderstorm: all of these things show us the power and glory of God's creation, and His love for us.

O wide embracing, wondrous love!
We read thee in the sky above,
We read thee in the earth below,
In seas that swell, and streams that flow.

You alone are the LORD. You have made the heavens, the heaven of heavens with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to all of them and the heavenly host bows down before You. Nehemiah 9:6

God made our beautiful world and everything in it for our enjoyment and use.

When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained; what is man that You take thought of him, and the son of man that You care for him? Yet You have made him a little lower than God, and You crown him with glory and majesty! You make him to rule over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet, all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, the birds of the heavens and the fish of the sea, whatever passes through the paths of the seas.
Psalm 8:3-8

What is your response to the King of the Universe who created this world out of His amazing love for us?

Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all it contains; let the field exult, and all that is in it. Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy. Psalm 96:11-12

Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; sing praises to our God on the lyre, who covers the heavens with clouds, who provides rain for the earth, who makes grass to grow on the mountains. He gives to the beast its food, and to the young ravens which cry. Psalm 147:7-9

O Love of God, How Strong and True
Words by Horatio Bonar

O love of God, how strong and true!
Eternal, and yet ever new;
Uncomprehended and unbought,
Beyond all knowledge and all thought.

O love of God, how deep and great!
Far deeper than man’s deepest hate;
Self fed, self kindled, like the light,
Changeless, eternal, infinite.

O heavenly love, how precious still,
In days of weariness and ill,
In nights of pain and helplessness,
To heal, to comfort, and to bless!

O wide embracing, wondrous love!
We read thee in the sky above,
We read thee in the earth below,
In seas that swell, and streams that flow.

We read thee best in Him who came
To bear for us the cross of shame;
Sent by the Father from on high,
Our life to live, our death to die.

We read thy power to bless and save,
E’en in the darkness of the grave;
Still more in resurrection light,
We read the fullness of thy might.

O love of God, our shield and stay
Through all the perils of our way!
Eternal love, in thee we rest
Forever safe, forever blest.

O Love of God, How Strong and True, Part II

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace, comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word. II Thess. 2:16-17

I think God's love is most precious to us in our trials. In the days of weariness and ill, His love heals, comforts and blesses us.

O heavenly love, how precious still,
In days of weariness and ill,
In nights of pain and helplessness,
To heal, to comfort, and to bless!

He has given us His promise that He will not leave us or forsake us, even when we walk through the valley of the shadow of death. We are His children, and He has redeemed us; He is our protector and our deliverer even when we are overcome with pain and helplessness.

But now, thus says the LORD, your Creator, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel, "Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine! When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you. For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior." Isaiah 43:1-3

When we are in the midst of difficult or painful situations, it is so encouraging to remember that we will never be separated from God's love in Christ Jesus. Because of the great love with which He loves us, we can trust in His plan for us and know that He is working through our pain and suffering to sanctify us and glorify Himself.

Ultimately, our trials and our pain here on earth remind us that this sinful world is not our home. We must keep our eyes on Jesus as we wait for Him to call us to Himself through His mercy.

But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life. Jude 1:20-21

When you are facing the painful trials of this world, keep yourself in the love of God. Be encouraged by His word and His promises, and most of all, look forward to our home in heaven where no tears will be shed.

O Love of God, How Strong and True
Words by Horatio Bonar

O love of God, how strong and true!
Eternal, and yet ever new;
Uncomprehended and unbought,
Beyond all knowledge and all thought.

O love of God, how deep and great!
Far deeper than man’s deepest hate;
Self fed, self kindled, like the light,
Changeless, eternal, infinite.

O heavenly love, how precious still,
In days of weariness and ill,
In nights of pain and helplessness,
To heal, to comfort, and to bless!

O wide embracing, wondrous love!
We read thee in the sky above,
We read thee in the earth below,
In seas that swell, and streams that flow.

We read thee best in Him who came
To bear for us the cross of shame;
Sent by the Father from on high,
Our life to live, our death to die.

We read thy power to bless and save,
E’en in the darkness of the grave;
Still more in resurrection light,
We read the fullness of thy might.

O love of God, our shield and stay
Through all the perils of our way!
Eternal love, in thee we rest
Forever safe, forever blest.