Who are the people chosen by God to do God’s work?

It is easy to think of well-known people like Mother Teresa, John Wesley, Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Billy Graham.

It is easy to think of pastors who lead congregations to do God’s will.

How does God choose people? If you think of Bible people, you will notice that God seems to choose ordinary, everyday people. In the Old Testament, we hear about David and in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, Mary. David was a shepherd, the youngest son — and unlikely candidate for king. Mary was a teenager; her parents were ordinary small-town people. But God chose them, From David’s lineage comes the Christ; from Mary comes the Christ — all with God’s wonderful presence.

God chooses each of us to work toward the coming of the Christ. In this third week of Advent, let us accept the challenge, remembering what the angel told Mary, “The Lord is with you.” Nothing is impossible with God. And as Mary did, we will praise God for choosing us and remember that God has indeed done great things for us.

Let us today, Lord, exalt Your holy name and exult in the ways You reach out to us this Advent season. Let us share the joy with all we meet. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

(EXCERPT FROM “EVERLASTING LIGHT” BY SANDY DIXON)

Imagine yourself to be a pioneer in the 19^th century. You have packed up what belongings you could fit into the covered wagon and have set out from the flatlands of the Midwest with your spouse and children to move west to the wonders and  riches of California. With your horses and other livestock, you have slowly crossed the plains of Kansas and the flats of eastern Colorado. You see the famed Rocky Mountains alarmingly near. Even though the guide is experienced in finding mountain passes, you and your family have no idea how you can get across. If only somehow those valleys and mountains could be made smooth, just like the plains you just crossed.

The prophet cried out that in preparation for the Lord, this is what should happen. The valleys would be evened out, the rough places made smooth. In our frantic lives this Advent, we can look for ways to smooth our own rough places, to even our valleys. And even more, to seek out ways to help others do the same.

As we prepare for Your coming this Advent season, help us seek ways to let go of our frantic-ness that comes with the Christmas season. Help us find ways to make our preparations truly reflect Your coming, God of promise. We rest in the assurance that You are with us, feeding us with Your spiritual nourishment. In Jesus’ name we pray.   Amen.

(EXCERPT FROM “EVERLASTING LIGHT” BY SANDY DIXON)

These people of faith died without receiving all that God has promised, but they never lost their vision of heaven. Some experienced outstanding victories even over the threat of death. But others were severely mistreated, tortured, and even killed. Having a steadfast faith in God does not guarantee a happy, carefree life. On the contrary, our faith almost guarantees us some form of abuse from the world. While we are on earth, we may never see the purpose of our suffering. But we know that God will keep His promises to us. Many Christians become frustrated and defeated because their needs, wants, expectations, and demands are not immediately met when they accept Christ as Saviour. They become impatient and want to quit. Are you discouraged because the achievement of your goal seems far away? Take courage from these heroes of faith, who lived and died without seeing the fruit of their faith on earth and yet continued to believe.

((NLT LIFE APPLICATION STUDY BIBLE))

We live in a world plagued by sickness, war, heartbreak and suffering of every kind. At times it is difficult to reconcile this pain to the nature of our loving, merciful God. How many of us have heard, or asked, the question: “Why, Lord?”

Yet in a broken world, suffering does not have to  mean  defeat.  We  face  adversity

because of sin, but we are saved by Christ’s sacrifice.Suffering may belong to this world and us with it while we live here, but the good news is that we do not belong to this world forever. Jesus saves us in at least three ways by His grace through faith:

1. By His death on the cross we have been saved form the penalty of sin – past

2. By His resurrection we can and are being saved daily from the power of sin – present

3.  By His ascension we will be saved form the presence of sin – future

God’s will is not for our comfort, convenience, safety, security, health, personal rights, prestige, position, authority and power.  But because the will of God is for us to be conformed to the image of His Son, all things work together for our good.

The real issue is not what happens to us, but how we respond. The choice is ours:

1.  Negative Response – a response of unbelief characterized by:

a)  Blaming someone else (Galatians 5:15; Romans 12:14, 17-19)

b)  Indulging in self-pity (1 Peter 4:12; Hebrews 12;3-13)

c)   Fostering unforgiveness – bitterness, resentment, hostility,

withdrawal (Hebrews 12:15; Matthew 6:14-15; Mark 11:24-25)

d)   Fighting against suffering – attacking others, self-justification

(James 3:13-18; Matthew 5:44; 2 Timothy 2:24-25)

2.  Positive response – a response of faith characterized by:

a)   Affirming that God loves us (Romans 8:1, 31-39)

b)   Remembering that Jesus understands (Isaiah 53:1-12:

Hebrews 4:15, 5:1-9; 12:2-4)

c)   Affirming that God can use all things for good (Romans 8:28)

d)   Specifically giving thanks (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

e)   As a step of faith, considering it joy (James 1:2-4)

f)    Exulting in tribulation (Romans 5:3)

We cannot escape suffering, but we can choose to respond in faith. Christ is our hope, our salvation, our comfort and our refuge. The choice is ours.                                                                        (JIM GREEN)

There are several things we learn from the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the furnace:

1: A PARTNERSHIP LEADING UP TO THE FIRE

How these men must have been an encouragement to each other in such difficult circumstances! I could never have come as far as I have without the love and support of so many partners in life and ministry. It is the midst of “fiery trials” that you become most aware of your need and most grateful to God for His provision.

2: THE PRESENCE OF GOD WITH THEM IN THE FIRE

God was with them in the fire by His angel. He used the fire to set them free from their bonds. He did not allow the fire to do them any harm. God is always with us. Even in the difficult times. He is in control. He is using the “fire” of suffering to set us free not from physical bonds, but from the bonds of sin: pride, prejudice, and self will. Thus suffering always has as its one great purpose: to make us more like Christ.

3: THE PERSISTENCE OF THE THREE MEN IN THE FIRE

It is easy to trust and obey God when it feels good to do so. The most inspiring thing about the actions of these three young men was that they steadfastly refused to deny God even when stripped of all pleasurable feeling. It is when we do what God requires even when it does not feel good, even when there is no outward sign of God’s blessing, even when we may feel forsaken – as was Christ on the cross – it is when we trust God in these circumstances that we prove the genuineness of our faith.

4: THE PASSING NATURE OF THE FIRE

The fire did not last forever. Our time of trial will not last forever. It may seem long, but God is working in it. Be patient. Pray. Don’t let Satan use it to his advantage. Even if the “fire” lasts a lifetime it is still not forever. We need to learn to view things from the perspective of eternity.

5: THE PERFECTIONS OF GOD ARE SHOWN BY THE FIRE

In the lives of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, God was able to bring good out of their situation.

I have cerebral palsy. I wouldn’t have chosen it. I can’t change it. And neither has God chosen to. I can testify however that God has brought good out of my cerebral palsy in the past. Now that I have been diagnosed with leukaemia. I pray that God will use that too. Again, I believe with all my heart that God is able to deliver me out of this “fiery furnace”. I am praying for this. But even if He does not I hold fast to the truths I have long believed. God is our loving heavenly Father. We can trust Him to only lead us through those things which are necessary to make us the people we need to be – whether in this life or the next.

(DAVID BURGE)

Human beings have a fundamental need to feel safe and secure. But anytime we base our sense of security on the things of this world, we can expect disappointment. This is especially true when it comes to our finances. We are living in very uncertain times of high unemployment and diminishing retirement accounts. Our money can quickly fly away no matter how   carefully   we   plan   and guard it. At times like this, we need to remember our eternal future.

Isn’t it wonderful to know that believers have an inheritance in heaven that never depreciates and cannot be stolen? It was given to us when we placed our hope in Christ and will never be taken away because it’s reserved and protected for us in heaven. Someday, when we see Jesus face to face, we will enjoy all the riches of God’s grace and receive the fullness of our inheritance.

But did you know that every day we live on this earth, we have an opportunity to build up that inheritance by investing in the things the Lord values and credits to our account? That’s what Jesus was talking about when He said, “Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven” (Matt. 6:20). Whenever we live righteously in obedience to God, we’re adding to our inheritance

Are you more concerned with investments in this life than with everlasting riches? It’s easy to let daily demands and responsibilities overshadow the importance of building our eternal inheritance. Take time each day to refocus your mind and heart. Then start sending up some heavenly treasures.

(IN TOUCH MINISTRIES, INC.)