Our Finest Hour - Part 1

This week, Michael writes how God works in mysterious ways. Isaiah 55 says, as the heavens are higher than the earth, so much higher are his thoughts than our thoughts and his ways than our ways. 

God teaches four important life lessons. The first lesson is, Life is hard. Jesus said, in this world you will have tribulation. But be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. The second is, It’s not about you. Our purpose is that despite the tribulation, we would be to the praise of the glory of God’s grace. Third is, I’m not in control, God is in control. Therefore, trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding... In all thy ways acknowledge him and he will direct thy paths. He’s called us to empty ourselves of ourselves in service to Him. This is the essence of the abundant life. The fourth lesson is, We are finite being; we’re all going to physically die. To live unto Christ is to die unto self.

This is our finest hour. Our lives are a calling to be remarkable, uncommon, and extraordinary for the kingdom of Heaven. We are the elect of God, a peculiar people, a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, separated from a sinful world of darkness to spread the light of the gospel of truth in Jesus Christ. Our finest hour is the precious occasion where we can praise and glorify God and not ourselves. Our finest hour is our opportunity to empty ourselves in service to our Lord by serving others the Bread of Life – Jesus, the Savior of the world. 

According to James 1:2-4, count it all joy when you encounter trials. For the testing of your faith works patience. Then when patience has completed her work you will be perfect and entire wanting nothing.

In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prayed three times, Father, if there be any other way, let this cup (of pain, suffering, humiliation, and death for the sins of the world – past, present, and future) pass from me. Then Jesus concluded his prayer, “nevertheless, not my will but thine be done.” This is the definition of prayer: to align my heart with God’s heart. Jesus often slipped away from the crowd and separated himself to pray in the wilderness with his inner circle of Peter, James, and John. William Wilberforce said, “there are seasons where we need to get away and join our hearts with the Lord. These precious moments of prayer are the golden bonds that transcend this earth and unite us with heaven’s purpose.” When Jesus walked out of the Garden of Gethsemane in John 18:4 he was ready to do His Father’s will. He said to Peter in verse 11, “shall I not drink the cup that my Father has given me?”

Jesus, God incarnate, experienced all things like ordinary men yet without sin. His actions proved His words, “I always do my Father’s will.” Jesus gladly submitted to do His Father’s will. He was convinced of His Father’s loving kindness and tender mercy. Jesus knew by experience God’s answer to Paul’s prayer in 2 Corinthians 12:9 “My strength is made perfect in thy weakness. My grace is sufficient for thee.”

According to Romans 12:1-2, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

Let's continue Michael's message on "our finest hour" in the next post.
In Christ, Brian