Waiting to be Discovered
studies from the New Testament
Life often presents us with overwhelming moments filled with grief, sorrow, and tragedy. During such times, finding solace in the knowledge that God truly cares and empathizes with us is remarkably comforting.
The shortest verse in Scripture, “Jesus wept” (John 11:35) defines much more than the sorrow of Jesus over the death of his friend, Lazarus. My article gives greater insight into the deep groaning of Jesus.
Read my published article here.
The sixth and final part of this holiness series from 1st and 2nd Peter gives insight into how to respond to suffering. Heather Moeckl McGee is sharing her testimony of surviving cancer and how her faith deepened. As much as we try to avoid pain, Peter helps us grasp the connection to deeper faith. as we rejoice THROUGH suffering, follow the example of Jesus IN suffering, and gain the favor and blessing of God FROM suffering.
Holiness changes us to the core. God created us in His image. Much like a baby who grows into an adult, holiness grows the believer to be like God. We won’t be all-knowing, or all-powerful, or unchangeable, His God-traits, but we will grow into HIs communicable attributes of love, forgiveness, and holiness.
I grabbed the wrong suitcase. On a weekend ministry trip, my husband and I with four other students from North Central Bible College ministered in music and preaching at churches in the Midwest. We packed, grabbed suitcases, sound equipment, and headed out. When we arrived at our room, I opened my suitcase to an unpleasant surprise. Instead of my items of clothing, I had grabbed my scrapbook suitcase - pictures, memories, dried flowers, and things from past special events. Oh, no! You can imagine my dilemma. Nothing in that suitcase was essential for looking good on the platform at church.
God chose Moses, a murderer, David, an adulterer, Jonah, a disobedient prophet, Peter, a denier, and Paul, a persecutor of Christians. Each one, though imperfect, was chosen by God and transformed into a powerhouse of faith and maturity. Moses led a nation out of slavery; David was King over Israel. Jonah obeyed and Ninevah repented, and Peter and Paul carried the gospel to their worlds.
We, too, are chosen by God. We are called to be holy. Holiness is counterintuitive to human nature. It’s not identified on a resume or gained with financial success or titles. Holiness is being “set apart” unto God, loving Him more than anything else in this world.
This is the first article in a six-part series on holiness from the books of First and Second Peter. The word holy may seem lofty, unattainable, or restrictive. But God calls us to holiness, “Be holy because I am holy.” Peter’s life gives us an example of how God turns an ordinary person like Peter, with doubts, fears, into a holy Christ-follower with unshakeable, obedient faith. His life and writings give impetus to the truth that we, too, can live a holy life.
The scripture gives us an admonition for “one thing” that is necessary. “One thing” should be the priority in our daily lives. In fact, Jesus, while visiting at the home of his friends, Mary and Martha, teaches them and us what that priority should be. That “one thing” is more important than food, finances or approval. What did Jesus say was the “one thing?”
Death is certain, yet we were created to be an eternal being. Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life, guarantees our perishable, human body will change into a resurrection body that is designed for eternity. The great resurrection chapter of 1 Corinthians 15 confirms because Jesus rose from the dead we have this guarantee that we, too, will rise again.
My daughter-in-law recently lost her grandmother. It’s a traumatic jolt to the family tree. Yes, there is peace and comfort in the home going of an elderly frail, praying, faithful saint, yet tears for the absence of the body and the person loved and with whom life was shared. So what happens when we die?