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[And] let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. ¹⁰So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. — Galatians 6:9-10 “Have a good day.” “I’m good.” “It’s all good.” We say we are good  a lot in our everyday conversations. Typically it’s in response to questions from people we don’t have enough time or relationship with to answer deeply. But in urging the Galatian church to do   good  to one another, Paul is going deep into what it means to be Christians together.  Theologically, we are not  good, that’s why we need Jesus. But once He saves us, He commands us to  do good  out of the overflow of His power at work within us. In Galatians 6, Paul is telling the Galatians about the good deeds they must do–not to earn eternal life–but because they have eternal life. This could sound contradictory to something Jesus said in Luke 6:33: “And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.” But consider the context. Jesus is talking about the sort of doing good that either costs us nothing or gets us something. He’s describing the buddy-buddy benefits that come with blessing someone you already like out of your excess. He goes on to say, “But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful” (6:35-36). Paul is affirming what Jesus commands. He says do good to everyone, but especially  those in the church. Doing good to one another in the church is costly and sacrificial. It makes claims on our time, attention, and resources. It requires something of us toward people who sit beside us in the pew. Even those we don’t “click” with and those we wouldn’t seek out for friendship are precious fellow heirs of the kingdom with us. These are the ones Christ died to save. For His sake, we are to show kindness to these very ones, and make efforts to do good to them. It includes bearing with one another (Colossians 3:13), working in order to have enough for your own family and something extra to share with those in need (Ephesians 4:28), listening patiently when a fellow member describes relational hardships, physical suffering, or temptations to sin, and praying with them for restoration, healing, and deliverance (James 5:16). This can take various forms in a week of faithful “one anothering”: making a meal for a church member who had a baby or is going in for surgery, donating to the church adoption or benevolence funds, opening your home for a Bible study or small group meeting, volunteering in the nursery or children’s ministry, lending your car to someone, or babysitting for overwhelmed young parents. Doing good means meeting practical needs — physical and spiritual — at some personal cost, because you love the person you’re serving. This isn’t the emotional love that acts because you feel like it, but the obedient love that acts because you want to obey God’s command to love. This is the love that is evidence to the world that we belong to Christ (John 13:35). We know we won’t always feel like doing good because Paul urges us not to grow weary and not to give up doing it. By God’s grace, feelings of affection for the person you’re serving often do flow as you seek to serve them in love. But it’s still loving to serve, even when you don’t feel like it. When we push through weariness, Paul says, “in due season we will reap.” In the age to come, certainly, we will be rewarded for our good deeds done as unto the Lord. But even in this life, we see the benefits of loving the brothers (and sisters). A church whose members serve one another in love is a community marked by sweet fellowship, growing friendships, and perseverance in the faith as we exhort and encourage one another to walk in a manner worthy of the gospel. It is a glimpse of the coming kingdom. God is good and does good (Psalm 119:68). When we do good, we bear the family resemblance, and God gets the glory.  For Reflection Paul defines our doing good, not by our giftings or inclinations, but merely by having the opportunity. What opportunities have you had this week to do good? Have you taken them? What need can you meet in the life of a fellow church member today? Ask God to make you more aware of the needs around you and to empower you to fill them. Candice Watters  is the editor of Fighter Verses. She and her husband Steve direct Kids Camp (VBS) — most recently God Always Wins — for their church in Louisville, KY. Together they authored Start Your Family: Inspiration for Having Babies .  The Watterses are the parents of four young adults.

I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. ²My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the humble hear and be glad. ³Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together! —Psalm 34:1-3 As David begins Psalm 34, he does more than merely pen the first verse to a worship song—he shows us something significant about the contagious nature of worship. All the Time David begins by telling us that worship doesn’t have an “off” switch. He says he will bless the Lord “at all times” and praise will be in his mouth “continually." His worship doesn't depend on his circumstances. Lest we forget, this isn’t glib talk from someone who’s never seen suffering. This is David, who experienced the constant stress of being hunted by Saul, the grief of losing his newborn child, and the betrayal by his son. Yet David’s worship didn't waver. How was that possible? Because his worship was based on the changeless certainty of God’s supremacy, not the changing circumstances of his situation. The secret to “all-the-time” worship is having an “all-the-time” God. We can continually worship, because God is continually worthy and continually with us. He is good all the time. What Makes Humble People Happy David’s “all-the-time” praising of our “all-the-time” God falls on the ears of humble people in verse 2. As others overhear David’s worship, it makes them happy. But why? Why does hearing someone else boast in God make them happy? And what’s the connection to their humility? The answer lies in the object of the boasting. When people boast about themselves, it’s extremely off-putting. But David isn't boasting about himself. He’s boasting about the greatness and goodness of his God. David's life is one loud, long, unbroken hallelujah. When the humble hear this hallelujah, David says it causes them to rejoice. These are people who know they are not the main point, they are not the subject of David's boasting—the Lord is! All of us enjoy hearing praise for whatever we think praiseworthy. The problem is that, in our pride, many of us believe we are that which is praiseworthy. The humble know better. They rejoice when they hear others boast about the infinitely praiseworthy God. All Together Now that David’s “all-the-time” worship has spilled over into the happiness of the humble, he invites them to join him in worshipping “all together” in verse 3. He says, "magnify the Lord with me. " He wants them to join him in exalting God's name "together.” David’s worship is contagious. When we continually point to the greatness of God, no matter our circumstances, other humble saints hear it and are strengthened and made happy by the reminder of His goodness. With the joy of their salvation restored, they will want to join in the “all-the-time” worship. This is contagious worship—constantly spreading from one humble, happy saint to another. When “all-the-time” worship from one saint meets the ears of another, the result is humble, happy worship all together. For Reflection What makes it hard to bless the Lord at all times ? Ask God to focus your worship on His supremacy more than on your situation. When you hear others boast in the Lord, does it make you glad? Why or why not? Rejoice this week as you hear the worship of others. Who will you invite to worship with you this week? Ask God to cause your joy in Him to spill over into the lives of others. Dan Weller  is Lead Pastor of Chapelwood Baptist Church in Indianapolis, IN. Prior to Chapelwood, Dan served as a pastoral resident at College Park Church and graduated from Bethlehem Seminary. He also serves on the Board of Indianapolis Theological Seminary. Dan is married to Emily and they have two beautiful daughters.

[And] let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. ¹⁰So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. —Galatians 6:9-10 Weariness and fatigue are frequent, common realities, especially in these troubled times. We are told in this week’s verses to not grow weary. Why? Because there will be fruit that comes from our efforts: “we will reap if we do not give up.” But How? But how do we not give up? Look to Jesus for motivation (Hebrews 12:1-3). He loved and served others (Matthew 20:28; Mark 10:45). He is not only our example, but He has given us His Spirit to enable and empower us for the good He calls us to do (Galatians 5:22-23). Too often we act without consulting Him (prayer) or relying on (trusting in) Him (Psalm 20:7). We lack power to endure when we trust in our own strength. But if we look to Christ, He will guide and refresh us by His Word. He will grant us rest when we wait on Him and strength for the season of harvest (Isaiah 40:28-31). What To Do God’s call on our lives is to take the opportunities He gives us to do good and to show kindness and love (Romans 12:9-18). And it is often the small things that matter far more than we would expect: sending an encouraging email, text, or card providing a meal for someone going through a tough time visiting a neighbor or isolated friend patiently listening when a friend is discouraged Showing love to others reflects what Jesus did. It is what He calls us to do—loving our neighbors as we love ourselves (Romans 13:9-10, Matthew 7:12, Galatians 6:2). We are called to do good in many ways (Psalm 125:4, Psalm 34:14, 1 Peter 3:11, Luke 6:7, Micah 6:8). But let us always remember that doing good works can never earn favor with God. Salvation is a free gift because of the work done by Jesus on the cross. He took the punishment we deserved so we could live the life He wants to give us—full of abundance and good. We only need to trust Him for the salvation He offers. Then the good we do is the fruit of the life we now have in Him (Ephesians 2:8-10). So we are to work heartily for the Lord (Colossians 3:23-24), and be encouraged! He has promised the work we do in His name will not be in vain (1 Corinthians 15:58). Moreover, because God is able to provide us with all we need, we will be able to “abound in every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8). He will reward us with hearts full of joy and praises that glorify Him (Hebrews 13:16). For Reflection Pray for God to open your eyes to the opportunities around you to do good to others. Plan time in your schedule to connect with people and meet some real needs. Think through who might need encouragement or a helping hand, and make arrangements to do what you can. Plead with God to use you effectively in the lives of others for their good and His glory (Matthew 5:16, 1 Peter 2:12).

[And] let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. ¹⁰So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. —Galatians 6:9-10 When I grow tired of something, it helps to remind myself of the importance and reward of the task. It’s like an internal pep talk to remind myself, “this is so worth the effort.” Many years ago, when my husband and I biked through Europe for 4 months with our bikes laden with heavy packs, it was looking forward to seeing the next long-awaited town that motivated us through challenges like flat tires, long mountain ascents, heavy rains, sweltering heat, headwinds, or biting cold. These days as a parent, it is the desire to see my children grow to be joyful God-honoring adults that prompts me to take the time to train and encourage when it would be easier to do so many other things. Likewise in Galatians, Paul spurs believers to persevere in good works by reminding them of the reason for their work: “for in due season you will reap. ” Believers, our work is not in vain because we will reap! Paul explains this well in 1 Corinthians 15, where he builds a case for our assurance of future reaping. “For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?’ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:53-56). Because Christ suffered and died for our sins and because his punishment satisfied the law, therefore death has no sting, therefore we have victory through Jesus Christ, and therefore we can look forward to immortal, imperishable bodies raised in power and glory. Paul’s conclusion is glorious: “Therefore, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58). It is on this bedrock foundation of truth that Paul stands when he says, “let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap.” Friends, if you are weary or losing momentum in your walk with the Lord, remember that God’s promise of reaping means your labor is not in vain.” As if that weren’t enough, Paul elaborates to the Ephesian believers on another more fundamental reason that we should persevere and not grow weary of doing good. It is because we were created for such works. "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). So doing God-honoring, Spirit-empowered work is at the core of who we are as believers. That truth is compelling. A believer balking at doing the work of the Lord is akin to a fish not wanting to swim. Abounding in good works should be our very nature; we were made for this. So when we grow weary in this race, let us take these truths and set our eyes ahead on the joy that awaits. “… let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted” (Hebrews 12:1b-3). For Reflection What opportunities for Christ-exalting work has God put in your path this week? How would you gauge your enthusiasm and zeal for the Lord and His work this week? In your weary, fainthearted moments, ask yourself whether you're looking to Jesus or to your circumstance? Are your good works are an overflow of your relationship with God or are they your efforts to earn the praise of others?

“I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” —John 6:35 When was the last time you felt satisfied? Perhaps in the moment after: Eating a nice meal. Drinking your morning cup of coffee. Completing a project. Finally getting to the beach on day one of vacation. These moments are gifts from God. But do they actually satisfy? How long do they last? Only until: Eating too much gives you a poor night’s sleep and you’re hungry again the next day. The coffee wears off by mid-morning and you’re starting to feel cranky. You start to flounder with nothing else to work toward so you turn your attention to the next project. On day five of vacation you get sunburned. But the first day you’re back at the office, you’re planning your next vacation. In John 6:35, Jesus highlights this tension and provides the solution. Bread and drink satisfy for a moment. But Jesus satisfies completely. God knows we want to be satisfied. He built this into us. But we were never meant to be truly satisfied by earthly things. Each hint of satisfaction we get here is meant to point us to a satisfaction that will never end. This is why Jesus fed the five thousand. It was not simply to show that He can feed our bellies. Instead, He wanted to show that He alone can fill the hunger we have for meaning, the thirst for justice, the ache for wholeness. He alone brings abundant life (John 10:10). So, we have two choices. We may act like the crowds in John 6, focusing on what Jesus gives us materially and living our lives for the next meal, the next treat, and the next change in circumstances. Or we may come to the one who always satisfies. In Jesus, we find joy that endures regardless of whether we have plenty or lack everything, are abundantly supplied or in need (Philippians 4:12). We have this joy because we know that, in Him, we have everything we’re actually seeking in our temporary satisfactions: true comfort, true security, true pleasure, true purpose. In Jesus, our bellies may be empty but our hearts are full. And sometimes, God graciously fills our bellies with a nice meal too! For Reflection When was the last time you felt satisfied? How long did that last? What are you most tempted to turn to when you are sad, angry, celebrating? In what ways is Jesus more satisfying than anything? Greg Palys  is a pastor at College Park Church in Indianapolis, IN, primarily overseeing ministry to children and their families. He and Sarah have five children: Ruth, Ezekiel, James, Eden, and Luke.

“I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” —John 6:35 So Jesus says, “I am the bread of life,” and we immediately get excited and start thinking about spiritual fulfillment and contentment in Christ, which are not necessarily wrong, but let’s take a step back and ask, “Why?” Why does Jesus even say at all that he is the bread of life? Look to the context for clues. Where is Jesus? Who is he is talking to? The closest antecedent is somebody identified as “them.” Who are “they?” Read back a few verses. “They,” “them,” “they” again; these are the pronouns until you get back to verse 22 and what do you find? “The crowd that remained on the other side of the sea.” Okay, now you’re getting somewhere, but what’s the big deal with this crowd, and why mention the detail about their having remained on the other side of the sea? Keep reading back in the chapter. We’re looking for mention of a crowd. We find the disciples in a boat and Jesus walking on the water. Very cool and worth some time for investigation, but not what we’re looking for at the moment. Keep going. Ah, there it is. The crowd that remained on the other side of the Sea of Galilee to whom Jesus says, “I am the bread of life,” is the same crowd Jesus fed the day before with the five loaves and two fish. They were the recipients of a blessing delivered via miracle. They were the recipients of divine favor and divine provision. They were the ones who wanted to take Jesus by force and make him king. They were the ones who were letting their full stomachs direct their empty hearts. Finding Jesus absent, they got into boats and went seeking him. And they found him. And they asked him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” What? What kind of question is that? It’s a deference question. It’s one of those, I-really-want-to-ask-you-something-else-but-that-would-be-impolite questions. Jesus gets right to the point, “You are not seeking me because of the power I displayed but because you are hungry again.” Jesus always points us not to the satisfaction we receive from Him but to Himself as the One who satisfies our need. The dialogue continues as Jesus persistently points them to Himself as the One who provides what they need, but this crowd is not that willing to give up their own understanding of their need. He tells them, “Do not labor for food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you.” He gives them the key to receiving this food, “Believe in him whom God has sent.” Then they demand proof that Jesus is the One God sent: “What sign do you give? Our fathers ate the manna in the desert.” Consider what they are doing. They are referencing Moses and claiming that Moses proved he was sent from God by providing manna (bread) for the people. Their idea is that if Moses proved himself by providing bread every day, Jesus should prove himself by providing bread every day. Then Jesus tells them, “The bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” I think they missed the pronoun. They respond, “Sir, give us this bread always.” And then Jesus says it: “I am the bread of life.” The proof is not the bread they ate yesterday on the hillside. The satisfaction of their heart’s desire is the Man standing right in front of them. Everything they need and desire for eternal life is not merely in Christ but is Christ Himself. Jesus says, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” He does not invite them to the results of his power, He invites them to Himself. For Reflection As you spend time memorizing these words of Jesus, ask yourself, in reality, do I pursue Jesus because of what I think he can do for me (e.g., forgiving my sin, saving me from wrath, changing my life, healing, giving direction or wisdom) or do I pursue Him for Himself, for who He is and the relationship I can have with him? Do my prayers and praise focus on what He does or who He is? Am I in love with Jesus' handiwork or with Him?

“I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” —John 6:35 A multitude of 5,000 people follow Jesus to a mountain by the Sea of Tiberias “because they saw the signs he was doing on the sick” (John 6:2). There they witness another sign when they are miraculously fed from five barley loaves and two fish. Their hunger is satisfied, and after eating “as much as they wanted” they express that Jesus is “indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world” (vv. 11, 14). The next day, the same people get in boats and follow Jesus to the other side of the sea. But Jesus speaks plainly of their motives in seeking him—not because of the signs that point to Him as the Messiah, but because they desire their “fill of the loaves” (v. 26). The people recall the manna eaten by the Israelites during the 40 years of wandering in the wilderness. Perhaps they think the same type of daily sustenance is coming to them. Jesus explains, “…it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father,” and the “bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world” (vv. 32-33). The people want “this bread always,” but there is a disconnect between their longing and true need (v. 34). Undoubtedly Jesus cares about their physical nourishment, and yet the display of His power is meant to point to His ability to meet a far superior need—the life-giving and soul-satisfying nourishment that is offered through coming to Him and believing in Him as the Son of God. I Am the Bread of Life John 6:35 is the first of seven “I am” statements made by Jesus that are recorded in the Gospel of John. The metaphor is not only an expression of deity, but a theological explanation of God’s plan of salvation. Later in John 6, Jesus states more clearly, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven” and “the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh” (v. 51). Not long after this encounter, Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection would provide a solution to the malnourishment that comes from the utter depravity of sin. This is a striking claim: Trust not in the manna, barley loaves, or fishes. Look to Jesus not merely for what He gives, but who He is. He is the Bread of Life. Come and Believe The human heart naturally craves idolatrous food, and Jesus responds to the grumbling, disbelieving crowd with a blunt statement: “no one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him” (v. 44). While a sobering reality, implicit in this passage is also a comforting reminder of God’s sovereignty over our coming and believing. By His Spirit we are drawn into saving faith in Christ. God invites us to the feast, sets the table, provides more than our fill, and leads us to new appetites and cravings. Never Hunger Nor Thirst The outcome of our feasting is certain—the promise of “eternal life” and the confidence that we “will live forever” (vv. 40, 51). Christ will never “cast out” nor “lose” those who come to Him (vv. 37, 39). We will experience physical hunger and thirst, but Jesus is more than enough to satisfy even the most famished soul. Let us daily feast on the Living Bread and joyfully await His promise to raise us on the last day (v. 40). For Reflection Do you seek Jesus simply for physical bread or worship Him as The Bread of Life? Are you trying to satisfy the cravings of your soul with anything other than Christ? How does the promise of eternity give you hope to pursue Jesus as the object of your ultimate joy and satisfaction?

"The LORD is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I will hope in him." ²⁵The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. ²⁶It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD. —Lamentations 3:24-26 Perhaps more than any other time in our generation, the world as a whole has been learning what it means to wait. As we hunker down in our homes in the midst of a coronavirus pandemic, we find ourselves waiting for many things: for churches to gather, for businesses to resume, for stimulus checks to arrive, for our favorite restaurants to open, for a vaccine to be developed. Some have waited for test results. Others have waited for reports on the health of a loved one. In some cases, the waiting has resulted in relief and joy. In some cases, the waiting has resulted in pain and sorrow. The hard news of Lamentations is that the people of God must wait for the salvation of the Lord in the midst of suffering. We continue to experience affliction and grief in this life, sometimes in excruciating ways. This was true of certain faithful Israelites who suffered siege and exile. It was also true of rebellious Israelites who needed to respond to such afflictions with repentance and faith. The same is true of the church and the world today. Although Christians have already received forgiveness and reconciliation with God through faith in Christ, we continue to suffer under the curse of God on a sinful world. We are still waiting for a future salvation. As the apostle Paul puts it, we have been saved “in hope.” And “if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience” (Romans 8:24-25). Even for those “children of men” who are currently living in rebellion against the Lord, God does not afflict them “willingly.” He does not delight in affliction and grief in their own right. He desires such suffering to move the world to repentance (Ezekiel 33:11; Luke 13:1-5). The good news of Lamentations is that all who hope in the Lord will certainly experience His future salvation. Our faith-filled waiting is never in vain. The Lord will not cast off forever. Even in this present life, we experience countless ways that the Lord delivers us from affliction and grief: the financial provision, the loved one’s recovery, the passing of a pandemic. We are right to rejoice and to celebrate these expressions of God’s compassion and love in the midst of our suffering. However, our hope is not finally in these present-day, earthly deliverances. If the job is lost, or the loved one dies, or the pandemic rages on, we continue to wait with patience for the steadfast love of the Lord. For even if we succumb to death itself, the Lord promises we will not be cast off forever. Those who are trusting in Christ will yet experience the abundance of His steadfast love when they are raised to everlasting joy in His presence. May we wait for that day with patience and faith in the Lord’s gracious promises! For Reflection Are you sometimes tempted to doubt the Lord’s compassion and steadfast love? What are you currently facing that tempts you in this way? How does Lamentations 3:31-33 acknowledge the reality of such temptations? How does this passage confront these temptations with God’s promises?

[For] the LORD will not cast off forever, ³²for, though he cause grief, he will have compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love; ³³for he does not afflict from his heart or grieve the children of men. (Lamentations 3:31-33) Have you ever been under the charge of an overly strict teacher or a short-fused parent, who seemed a bit too eager to punish the missteps of those in their care? Is that the way you tend to think of God, except on a much grander and terrible scale? Perhaps you picture God sitting on his cosmic throne, delighting to hurl down judgments against your every sin. It is true that God is a righteous judge, who will punish sin. His curse has fallen upon a sinful world. And He does discipline His children. However, the Bible makes clear that God does not delight in such afflictions or grief for their own sake. He does not “afflict from his heart.” This is what the prophet Isaiah refers to as God’s “strange” work (Isaiah 28:21). How then should we understand the affliction and grief this week’s passage says God causes in our lives? For one, as opposed to delighting in suffering for its own sake, God always  has a greater purpose for our suffering. For those who are saved in Christ, He disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness (Hebrews 12:10). For those who are currently living in rebellion against Him, He intends such afflictions to lead them to repentance (Ezekiel 33:11; Luke 13:1-5). Furthermore, those who hope in the Lord can be certain that they will experience God’s future deliverance from such afflictions. The Lord will not cast off forever. Even in this present life, we experience countless ways that the Lord delivers us from affliction and grief: the financial provision, the loved one’s recovery, the restored relationship. We are right to rejoice and to celebrate such expressions of God’s compassion and steadfast love. However, our hope is not finally in present-day, earthly deliverances. If we lose our job, or a loved one dies, or the relationship remains broken, we continue to wait with patience for the steadfast love of the Lord. Even when we succumb to death itself, the Lord promises we will not be cast off forever. Those who are trusting in Christ will yet experience the abundance of His steadfast love when they are raised to everlasting joy in His presence. May we wait for that day with patience and live each day He gives us with sustaining faith in the Lord’s gracious promises! For Reflection Jeremiah writes about God having compassion in the midst of causing grief. How does knowing God’s character change how you receive grief from Him? Make a list of God’s past deliverances in your life and praise Him for his help (see 1 Samuel 7:5-12). In the midst of current hardships, ask Him to remind you of His future grace.  John Kimbell is Pastor of Preaching at Clifton Baptist Church in Louisville, KY, where he has been serving since 2008. He completed his M.Div. and Ph.D. at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. John was introduced to regular Scripture memory through the Fighter Verses memory program at Bethlehem Baptist Church while attending college in Minnesota. John is married to Sarah and they have six children.

[For] the LORD will not cast off forever, ³²for, though he cause grief, he will have compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love; ³³for he does not afflict from his heart or grieve the children of men. — Lamentations 3:31-33 As I write this, the devastation and death toll from the Nepal earthquake is still not completely known. Last week, I met a young couple with four children, all with disabilities, and the wife lives with chronic physical pain. I learned recently of a couple from my church who has divorced. The pain in this sin-sick world is without end. You might be tempted to conclude that God must not be in control or not be loving because He would not let these things happen, especially to those He has called into saving faith. Don’t believe that statement; it isn’t biblical and it isn’t true. Lamentations 3:32 is just one of many places where God clearly states that He causes hard things in people’s lives. And the other places are equally without equivocation or embarrassment on God’s part: "I form light and create darkness, I make well being and create calamity, I am the LORD, who does all these things" (Isaiah 45:7). And He is loving. For the first 30 years of my life, I happily lived under the "well being" portion of Isaiah 45:7. There had been heartache and hardships, some of which I had termed "severe," but all within reason. My Christianity was basically a lighter version of the prosperity gospel. As long as I behaved myself, God would bless. With the birth of my son and his unexpected multiple disabilities and medical issues, I was confronted for the first time with true suffering. I concluded that God could not be loving, so I rejected God and the people of God, and separated from God’s church with no intention of returning. But that was Satan’s plan for my life, not God’s. There was a great and loving purpose I could not initially see. God was awakening me from the stupor of middle-class American comfort and prosperity. I was addicted to the sins of ease and the approval of others. Even my choice of churches was more about image than it was about being drawn to the beauty of God’s Word being preached and taught. In other words, I was dead and happily on my way to hell until God kindly introduced lifelong disability into my family to show me how proud and sinful I was. Until I was truly desperate and without answers, I had no need of a savior. Thus, when seen rightly through the lens of the Bible, God did not grieve me with a son who will always experience this world in ways that most people find horrifying.  My first assessment of my son’s worth and of God’s love was entirely wrong. Rather, God lovingly gave me a son who bears His image, albeit in a very different physical package, to drive me to my knees and to help me truly see how incredible it is that Jesus came to take the wrath of God for my sin. The suffering that comes with my son’s disabilities remains in this present world, and the God of all comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3-4) provides daily help. He is clearly both in control and loving to provide such a rescue from sin and such persistent help and hope. Christian, do not believe the lie of this culture and our satanic enemies and your own sinful will when suffering comes. Cling to the truth of Lamentations 3:31-33! In your suffering He offers something so much better—more of himself, for eternity. For Reflection In what ways has God shown you the desperate need you have for Him? Can you think of a time when you needed reassurance of God’s faithfulness? What means did God use to reassure you? Look up the words “suffer” or “suffering” in a Bible concordance. Make a list of some of the verses you find (especially in the New Testament letters of the Apostles Peter and Paul) that will equip and strengthen you for times of suffering in your life.

[And] you were dead in the trespasses and sins ²in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— ³among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the flesh and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. —Ephesians 2:1-3 I see five truths in these verses. First, we were dead in our sins. We should attend carefully to what Paul says here. He does not merely say that sin made us a little bit sick or even that it made us very sick. No, we were dead because of our trespasses and sins. As sons and daughters of Adam we are born into the world with no spiritual inclination, no desire to seek God. Second, we see that sin has a sociological dimension. The world refers here to the environment in which we live—human society with all its influence upon us. The culture and environment that we are raised in has a great influence upon us. What Paul speaks of here can be identified as peer pressure. We all have a desire to be liked and admired by our peers. So, we are shaped and influenced by our culture which is also opposed to God. Third, sin has a spiritual dimension. What I have in mind by spiritual dimension here is the reference to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience. This is clearly a reference to Satan. The evil in human hearts is not only explained in terms of the power of the world and its pressure on us. We also learn that there are spiritual forces that we cannot see, which rule over us. Fourth, sin has a psychological dimension. We have already seen that as sinners we were under the control of the world and the devil. Now we see that we were also enslaved to the flesh. When Paul refers to the flesh , he is not speaking only of bodily sins like gluttony, drunkenness, or sexual sin. The flesh represents who we were in Adam. The flesh represents the old person that dominates who we were before we came to know Jesus Christ. We should also see that the world, flesh, and the devil work together to keep us in bondage to sin. They are not separated into neat little compartments. Sin reigns over unbelievers sociologically, spiritually, and psychologically. Another way to put it is that we sin because of our environment, because of an outside power, and because of our inward desires. Fifth, we are sinners from our birth. This is clear from Ephesians 2:3. When Paul says by nature , he refers to what we were from birth, the way we were when we were born into the world. All human beings enter the world as children of wrath, as those deserving God’s wrath because they are sinners. What we need then is a miracle. We need someone to rescue us from ourselves. We need someone to raise us from the dead, and only God in Jesus Christ can do this for us. For Reflection What are the five truths about human beings in these verses? Are people born into this world with goodness in their hearts? What is the solution for spiritual death?

[And] you were dead in the trespasses and sins ²in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— ³among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the flesh and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. —Ephesians 2:1-3 When I realize just how much I need Jesus, He becomes that much more precious to me! Paul demonstrates the treasure that Jesus Christ is by illustrating our total desperation for Him. This passage in Ephesians answers the question: “How much do I need Jesus?” In this context, Paul has just finished expressing his thankfulness for Christ’s work in the church at Ephesus. He has proclaimed the sovereignty of Jesus over all things and ends by declaring the sovereignty of Jesus that is manifested in the church, His body, which is now the fullness of Christ. In chapter two, Paul then demonstrates the work of Christ in the church, beginning with our memory verses for this week. He shows just how desperate each one of us is for Jesus. What is my spiritual condition apart from Christ? I am dead in my trespasses and sins. How dead am I apart from Christ? According to Paul in this passage, there are at least five ways that I am dead apart from Jesus. Dead in my actions —"in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked." My actions led to death. This is perhaps the most easily observable symptom of deadness. Dead in my authority sources and influences —"following the prince of the power of the air.” The influence of Satan is pervasive and seductive. Apart from Christ, I am following Satan toward death. Dead in my community —“the sons of disobedience . . .among whom we all once lived.” I become like those I surround myself with. Apart from Christ, I will choose to surround myself with those who, like me, are rebels toward God. Dead in my desires and mind —“in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind.” Not only do I act in rebellion toward God, the source of those actions is also corrupted. There is a problem upstream. I don’t desire as I should. I don’t think as I should. My thoughts and desires lead me to death. Dead to God — “ and were by nature children of wrath like the rest of mankind." Apart from Christ, I have no hope of experiencing the joys of knowing God. My soul is spiritually dead and destined for an eternity separated from the source of life. The thing that stands out here is the completeness of this deadness that ought to lead me to a desperation for Jesus. I need Jesus not just because my actions lead to death, but my influences, my community, my desires, my thoughts, and my soul all need to be redeemed. How much do I need Jesus? More than I could ever comprehend. May you see your desperation for Jesus, and may it lead you to treasuring Him more! For Reflection Spurgeon said, “He who doubts human depravity had better begin to study himself.” How have you seen your own need for Jesus? How does Jesus redeem and regenerate each of the five areas of deadness that Paul illustrates? Why does seeing our desperation for Jesus help us treasure Jesus? How can you treasure Him more today?