While you wait, the Spirit will be there with what you need.
Message Magazine’s Online Devotional for Tuesday, November 18, 2014
Based Upon Matthew 17
When trials come, what is a surefire way to experience relief?
There have been many times throughout Bible history, when God revealed Himself, in order to bring comfort to His people. When Hagar was distraught because her mistress, Sarah had her removed from Abraham’s house, the Lord blessed her son Ishmael. When the people of God had suffered affliction many years at the hands of their Egyptian captors, God appeared to Moses in the burning bush. When the three Hebrew boys were cast alive into a fiery furnace, Jesus came and air-conditioned the place. When King Uzziah died, God gave Isaiah a vision of heavenly worship with God exalted above all others. When Zechariah faced perplexity, God revealed that all that we do must be accomplished through His Spirit, not our own strength. God never leaves His people comfortless. We must learn to watch and wait, as He prepares us for deliverance.
Jesus had revealed the stark reality of His impending death to His disciples. Of course, this was quite distressing, not to mention, unbelievable. How could the One sent from God, who demonstrated authority over all principalities and powers, be about to suffer an ignominious death at the hands of sinners? But, He rebuked their unbelief, and forecasted one of the most incredible miracles ever. A few of them would see Jesus in His glory, as a foretaste of the Second Coming! Then it happened: “And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.” (Matthew 17:1–2). There were events in their spiritual lives that shortly followed, that would severely test the disciples’ faith. Had they embraced the revelation Jesus had given of Himself, and lived in that reality by faith, victory would have been a certainty.
The simple lesson for today is that trials will come, without doubt. But, we must be patient through affliction, and be ready to receive the revelation of Jesus Christ. He will not leave us comfortless. And having received this blessing of God’s presence, we can face any other trial, if we continue in Him by faith. This seems like a good deal to me
