If You Falter in Times of Trouble, How Small is Your Strength!
Proverbs 24:10-12
If you falter in times of trouble, how small is your strength! Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter. If you say, “But we knew nothing about this,” does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who guards your life know it? Will he not repay each person according to what he has done?
Camelback Mountain in Phoenix
A few weeks ago, four of us climbed Camelback on a double date. You might be asking, “was it fun”? NO, it was grueling, hot (about 108°); exhausting and we ran out of water! Sounds fun, huh? About half way up, I realized this was not a “hike” as I was told, but a mountain climb- listed as a “DIFFICULT CLIMB” on the map and signs at the bottom. Unfortunately, I took the word of those who climbed with me and only read the sign once we returned to the bottom- I was flat beaten down by that hump back mountain. Is that how you feel about your Christianity? I am not bitter, but I was shocked how easily I was led astray (by Luke- not to mention any names) because of the lack of taking personal responsibility for the trip. I faltered in times of trouble and showed the extent of my “small strength”. Learning from this, I felt the need to share 5 points to have “great strength” in your walk with God:
Helen Sullivan, Millie
Lavine, Brittney Taylor and Kelsey Campbell right before Millie’s baptism.
1. Conform your life to Jesus Romans 12:2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will. Conforming ourselves to something is difficult for us as Americans- we are taught, almost from birth, to be independent and to “be your own man/woman”. The thought of “becoming” like someone else and imitating their heart and faith seems the opposite of so much that we have been raised to believe, even still, so many people live as victims. When trekking up Camelback- I “failed” as a “victim” and did not truly take responsibility for the climb. The scriptures do not talk about those we imitate as scapegoats- but as those we respect because they have lives worthy of imitation. As disciples, we need to have deep convictions to conform to Jesus through imitating others stronger and more mature than us! The call is not to blindly follow without taking responsibility- but to become a student of Jesus. Those in the world have no idea where they are going or where they will end up, yet we are subjected to “learning” from them- in universities, churches or TV. Remember: Luke 6:40 A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher. Who are you becoming like? Conform to Jesus (in others) and become like Him.
2. Lay down your life as a living sacrifice Romans 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-this is your spiritual act of worship. Are you daily laying down your life for God and for others? At the Jubilee, Andrew Smellie showed from the Scriptures that we are priests of the new covenant and that our “acts of worship” are just as important as that of the temple priests under the Levitical priesthood. We are now priests of the gospel and are called to serve God with all our hearts. The call to purity and righteousness has the same intensity as it did for the priests- that is a radical call and takes nothing less than personal sacrifice. A priest could never enter the temple- far from God, unclean or impure. Disciples too, are called to this standard in order to offer “spiritual acts of worship" to God. A living sacrifice has to “lay down its life”; by self-denial (Luke 9:23-24) and willingly offer themselves. Interestingly, on the climb I was tempted to be selfish as it got hotter and more difficult. On one occasion when we stopped for few minutes (so I wouldn’t fall over dead), I literally prayed for the physical strength to go on, to not complain and to remain giving. It was encouraging to see my heart change and the date was awesome!
Millie is baptized by Kelsey and Brittney!
3. Instant gratification is a cheap substitute Colossians 2:20-23 Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: "Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!" These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence. I thought climbing the mountain would be a quick thrill. Near the top, Helen and I got off the trail somehow and saw something moving in between the rocks. We suddenly realized that it was a rattlesnake! My quick thrill turned into the “fight or flight”; mentality. The same happens when we are not prepared spiritually. We can so easily “get off the trail" and get trapped in sin, complacency and guilt. This turns to running for our lives for survival or fighting God’s plan. If you find yourself “off the trail"- repent quickly (2 Corinthians 7:10-12), get open and ask for help (Matthew 26:38). Then, pray your heart out (Nehemiah 1:4-11)! So many, get “mean and angry" with themselves- swearing on oath to “never do that again". There no power in this- only worldly sorrow and no “value in restraining sensual indulgence”;. Instead, we are called to turn our hearts to God in weakness and to die with Christ to our past. We are to “set our hearts and minds on Christ”; Colossians 3:1-5. This path may seem longer, but there are no short cuts in our walk with God.
4. Make every effort Luke 13:22-24 Then Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem. Someone asked him, "Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?" He said to them,” ;Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. Many people climb this mountain daily- but there is really only one trail. On the left is a cliff and on the right is a towering wall of rock. Two different couples were climbing up around the same time as us. One couple, very out of shape and unprepared worked together and slowly made their way to the top. The other couple, equally unprepared- just gave up, never saw the top and was still climbing down when we passed. There was much complaining and frustration (to put it mildly) passing that way. They could have made it if they had given every effort. So often, disciples give up and give in to this bitter heart. Jesus tells us to “make every effort" because that is what it will take. Discipleship is not possible with half our hearts- it takes everything we have (Luke 14:33). There will be tough times and so we are called to “make every effort".
Steepest part of the climb
5. Barriers make you better 1 Thessalonians 2:1-2 You know, brothers, that our visit to you was not a failure. We had previously suffered and been insulted in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in spite of strong opposition. Believe it or not, the toughest part of the climb was the steepest and was also the most fun! We had to take chances and push ourselves here. It was exciting- living on the edge. The same is true in Christianity- the more willing to live by faith and take some chances we are, the more fulfilling it is. In Thessalonica- Paul laid his life on the line with the others brothers in order to preach there. Many were saved and a church was started in that great city because of the willingness to die for the gospel. Acts 17:6 These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also-KJV- is what the city officials in Thessalonica shouted about Paul and his companions. Will you let the barriers and opposition stop you or will those around you cry out- “they are turning the world upside down"! Taking the first letter from each point: Conform your life to Jesus, Lay down your life as a living sacrifice, Instant gratification is a cheap substitute, Make every effort and Barriers make you better spells- CLIMB. When we fully depend on God we can say, “great is our strength". Let us each give all our hearts to climb the heights with God as we turn the world upside down!
He stoops down to make us great,
Matt Sullivan
