Genesis
26:19-22 Isaac’s servants dug
in the valley, and found a well of running water there. But the herdsmen
of Gerar quarreled with Isaac’s herdsmen, saying, “The water is ours.”
So he called the name of the well Esek, because they quarreled with him. Then
they dug another well, and they quarreled over that one also. So he
called its name Sitnah. And he moved from there and dug another well, and
they did not quarrel over it. So he called its name Rehoboth, because he
said, “For now the Lord has made room for us, and we shall be
fruitful in the land.”
This
last Sunday, Pastor Kyle continued in his Sermon series based upon the book of
Genesis. He pointed out how we need to make the most out of the bad circumstances
that we find ourselves in throughout life and learn to play out our time with
the cards that we have been dealt. The one thing that we must remember is that
the decisions of mankind do not hinder the decisions of our Lord God. One misconception
is that God’s blessings and provision does not mean that everything is going to
go perfect for us in life. But, God always knows what He is doing and that they
are all “good” in the long run. It is us that do not have that “Big God Picture”.
We need to find contentment in the fact that All-seeing, All-knowing,
All-powerful Creator God has everything under control. Unfortunately, it is a
part of our “fallen” human nature to trust and obey Father God as long as He
doesn’t touch certain people and things in our lives. We need to be “all in”.
1
Corinthians 10:12 “If you think you
are standing strong, be careful not to fall.”
Pastor
Kyle gave us three ways how to deal with life’s lemons. (1) Obey God, even when
it’s inconvenient. My wise Grandma used to says” “If everyone else was walking
off a cliff, would you walk off also? Translation: If everyone is doing what is
“wrong and sinful” in the eyes of the Lord, are you going to turn from the “straight
and narrow path of righteousness” and do that “wrong and sinful” thought, word
or deed also. You’ll find that it is easy to do what is “wrong”, but it takes
strength and endurance to do what is “right”. And in the long run, at the end
of the road, the rewards and the penalties are both eternal. (2) Admit when you’re
wrong. We make the decision, so we need to live with the results and created circumstances.
Do you know that most lies are out of either fear or just because we want to do
“what we want, when we want”? It is always best to “come clean” and admit when
we are wrong and then we can move forward towards the remedy, instead of living
in the lie. (3) Make some lemonade. The old cliché “Bloom where you are planted”
is true. When in a time of suffering, God can still prosper us, if we listen
and move to where He wants us to be. All of us will find ourselves in places
that we do not want to be sometime in our life. God can bless us 100 fold
wherever we are, so make the best out of bad circumstances.
1
Peter 3:10-12 For the Scriptures say, “If you want to enjoy life and see many
happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling
lies. Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain
it. The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and his ears
are open to their prayers. But the Lord turns his face against those
who do evil.”
Pastor
Kyle then gave us a couple very important anecdotes about the lemons of life.
First, a little peace is good for everyone, no matter what it costs.
Relationships are complicated by nature … two people with different
personalities and upbringing finding common ground all the time. We tell
ourselves that we don’t have what we want or where we want to be. Others covet
and take what you have. Nobody wants to live in a constant state of conflict.
Truth be told, they want the Christian’s godly, peaceful blessing in the end. Second,
don’t break mom and dad’s hearts; be Christ to them. Matthew 19:19 says, “Honor your father and mother.” Live
in peace.
We
definitely learn life lessons in the trials of life. We make difficult
decisions because we obey Jesus Christ. Put a smile on your face because Jesus
loves you; loves us enough that he took the sins of the world upon Himself for
us. God hears the faith inside you and I. Make the best of life.
In
Christ, Brian
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