Dear Jerry,

I was thinking about you both through what seemed a very short night! I was thinking about what you were both in different ways going through. I could readily identify with Bill’s feelings of turning to God in a time of trouble only to be apparently kicked in the teeth for the trouble. And I know that you too have felt like Jerry.

My problem was how to convey to you something of the answer to how you are feeling. I read and read and tossed and turned and awoke this morning with a very clear idea as to where we must now go in our discussions.

Firstly let’s turn to the Bible

Tough stuff. I’ve been there myself. God gets you right down on the ground. After all he promises to chastise those whom he loves. I remember being punished at school and at home as child. It was horrible and seemed to have no end and sometimes no justice. But it was all done out of love and concern and care that I would grow into a decent human being. Do you think God who loves us so much more will do any less for us? But even in the depth of the despair of this passage something wonderful is found.

What promises are to be found here! "we are not consumed", "his compassions never fail"

Will you wait in faith on the Lord during your time of trouble? Will you realise that God loves you with a compassion that’s knows no end?

Let’s take this a step further.

For Paul this was consequence of following Jesus. There is no lucky rabbits foot approach to Christianity, no way of making life simple, straightforward, pain and challenge free.

So why did Paul do this? What made Paul leave a safe and ultra respectable job and suffer all these things? And ultimately be put to death as a criminal?

Let me quote to you from a book called "The Christian Life" by Sinclair Ferguson.

"What sustained Paul under these pressures? There is only one possible answer. He had a vital knowledge of the character of God, the work of Christ, the nature of God’s ways, and the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit. His life was characterised by the power which the truth released in his experience. This is why his appeals to the early church are so poignant: "Do you not know? he asks; "if only you knew and understood, then your lives would be so different."

That’s the phrase I want to yell out at the top of my voice so often:

"Do you not know? he asks; "if only you knew and understood, then your lives would be so different."

And that’s the rub here! That’s what made the difference to the wretched soul calling out in Lamentations, that’s what allowed Paul to suffer (and on top of that he had this troublesome illness that God would not heal) – He knew! He knew God! He trusted God! Face to face on the Road to Damascus! Down on his knees. Blinded by the sight. Oh yes Paul knew whom he served! And because of that he was able to bear all suffering. Bear all pain. And rejoice in the process, knowing that with God all was well.

It is because of that same experience of God that I can get up everyday and carry on no matter what happens. My Uncle Bill died recently. He finally succumbed to cancer. It had been a long, very long and towards the end pretty dreadful experience. In it all his faith shone through. Even when he was down, his faith was alive and well. He was not afraid to face the final foe and win.

J.B. Philips translated this passage like so:

"With eyes wide open to the mercies of God, I beg you, my brothers, as an act of intelligent worship, to give him your bodies as a living sacrifice, consecrated to him and acceptable by him. Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould, but let God re-mould your minds from within, so that you may prove in practice the plan of God for you is good, meets all his demands and moves towards the goal of true maturity."

Do you see the practical advice?

Use your mind! hand over your life lock stock and barrel to God. Forget about the way the world wants you to be. Break free from that. Let God rebuild your mind from within.

Now that’s a challenge. Isn’t it? To lay down your life humbly before God and offer all that you are to Him.

Then as Paul says:

" you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will."

Ok sounds a lot? Let me just tell you in closing that it works. Wonderfully. It has totally transformed my life. Totally. I wouldn’t take back my old life ever. Look what Paul suffered. Look what the writer of Lamentations suffered. But they knew it was all worthwhile.

And didn’t Jesus suffer. He suffered for us. To set us free. To give us life and hope.

To go forward from here and to grow, really grow and really make progress we have to follow this wonderful advice:

"With eyes wide open to the mercies of God, I beg you, my brothers, as an act of intelligent worship, to give him your bodies as a living sacrifice, consecrated to him and acceptable by him. Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould, but let God re-mould your minds from within, so that you may prove in practice the plan of God for you is good, meets all his demands and moves towards the goal of true maturity."

Blessing to you,

Stuart

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