The Times, They Are A-Changin

My life has been pretty crazy lately. Transition has been the name of the game, and I'm definitely still in the midst of this transition. For the most part transition as always been an energizing and exciting time in my life. This time, however, has definitely come with ups and downs, some much more difficult than others. But taking some time to reflect upon this turbulent time in my life has made me appreciate several things about transition. Here are a few:

1. Being in transition is, well, quite simply, human. We are constantly changing, especially believers in Christ (For we are being sanctified daily. Constantly being transitioned to be more like Christ.). So we shouldn't try to hide from transition/change. We need to embrace it as part of being human. Even into eternity with the Father, we will gain a greater and greater knowledge of God and find more and more joy in Him forever (it will be an ever-increasing transition through all eternity, for since God is infinite, there will always be more of Him to experience and enjoy).

2. God uses intense times of transition to refine us to be more like Him. These intense times of transition often test and try our faith, thus transition is often a form of God's discipline for us (not discipline in the sense of punishment but in the sense of refining us through a painful process). The author of Hebrews gives us great encouragement when facing times of discipline such as intense periods of transition: "He (God) disciplines us for our good, that we might share in his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it." (Hebrews 12:10-11)

3. Another aspect of being human, however, is that we long for consistency and stability, which is why transition can be so difficult and disheartening. For during those intense times of transition, we feel like nothing is constant. We have done everything we can possibly do to control our world in order to make it consistently how we would like it. Thus when we lose control, we lose that consistency that we long for so much. The problem is that we can't find that consistency in ourselves or anything else in this world. The author of Hebrews once again reminds us of the truth that we need to keep close at hand: "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." (Hebrews 13:8) Jesus is to be our rock in this midst of this world of transition. We hope in His unchanging self and His unchanging promises.

This time of transition has stretched my faith, and I encourage you to embrace times of intense transition. For transition is a major part of how God is "working all things for the good of those who love him." Rest in His constancy and the promise of Romans 8:28.

My Prayer for You and Me

It’s that time of year again (at least for all you students out there). Finals are upon us. Studies have worn us down, we are exhausted from a long semester, and we are salivating at the thought of summer break just around the corner. For me, this will be the first time I haven’t taken class since summer after my senior year, and I can’t wait to finish that last final next week. In the midst of all our studies and other pursuits in life, exhaustion can come quickly. I think I’ve felt that more this semester than any other and in just about every way. I must admit with great sadness that at times because of my exhaustion my studies (yes, I mostly study the Bible or about it) have become simply academic tasks to trudge through. My goal is always to understand God more fully in such a way as to make my affections and joy in Him greater. However, often I gain a greater intellectual understanding without drawer nearer to Christ, which in reality is no understanding at all.

Recently, my attention has been drawn to a passage multiple times. In Ephesians 3:14-19, Paul prays an incredible prayer:

“For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”

Paul is praying for a much deeper knowledge of Christ than any sort of mere intellectual study can provide. This is a knowledge of the love of God that grips our hearts. It transforms our passions, and it fills us “with all the fullness of God.” This is knowledge worth pursuing. Knowledge that brings strength and ultimate satisfaction rather than exhaustion. And it is knowledge that God grants us through the Spirit, thus it comes from no academic effort (Praise God!) or merit on our own part. It comes from bowing on our knees before the Father humbly asking for this “strength to comprehend.”

I noticed that in the margin of my Bible I had written, “What a prayer! This should be every pastor’s prayer for his flock.” So true! However, stopping there is dangerous. Not only should we (all Christians) pray this for brothers and sisters in Christ, but we must also pray this for ourselves. If we are to have an effective ministry to others, we must be gripped by the love of Christ. Our time in the Word can’t become simply intellectual pursuit. It must become much more than that: an intimate, affectionate knowledge of the love of God. This must be our prayer for others and most certainly ourselves, too.

Paul’s prayer is my prayer for you and me.

Grace and Peace,

BMoore