The patron saint of mediocrity ∙∙

The patron saint of mediocrity ∙∙

But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for the light makes everything visible. – Ephesians 5:13-14

John 3:19-21

 19 God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil.

 20 All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed.

 21 But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.”

Einstein was able to discover and extract secrets from the Father’s intelligently designed, created universe. From within the intricately crafted cosmos, Einstein discerned and extracted concealed truth from the structured tapestry of the universe. Einstein propelled modern physics forward with quantum leaps powered by his extraordinary insights.

Albert Einstein possessed a profound connection to Mozart, greatly admiring the composer’s work. Einstein sensed that Mozart had discovered and extracted his music in a very similar fashion. “Mozart’s music is so pure and beautiful that I see it as a reflection of the inner beauty of the universe” (Einstein). Einstein suggested that, whereas Beethoven “created” his music, Mozart’s music “seemed to have been ever-present in the universe, waiting to be discovered by the master” (Einstein).

The ethereal beauty yet sublime simplicity of Mozart’s music is depicted in the 1984 film Amadeus. In the movie, Antonio Salieri is Mozart’s antagonist. Salieri was a man of modest musical talent. But he could recognize the magnificent, unmatched talent of Mozart. Salieri adored Mozart’s music but hated Mozart himself due to his seething envy and resentment.

Salieri glances at some of Mozart’s complete handwritten, original compositions. He recognizes the sublime genius and beauty of his music. The autographs were written in one sitting without edits or errors. Salieri exclaims, “Music, finished as no music is ever finished. Displace one note, and there would be diminishment. Displace one phrase, and the structure would fall.”

Under the guise of faux friendship, Salieri “assists” Mozart in writing the composer’s final work, the Requiem Mass in D minor. Salieri desperately desires to be the equal of Mozart in the composition of music but recognizes he could never be. He acknowledges his own mediocrity. Salieri dubs himself “The Patron Saint of Mediocrity.”

The Lord Jesus Christ perceives mediocrity as a manifestation of evil, albeit with a specific aspect in mind. His focus is not on mere lack of skill or capability, as individuals naturally possess varying degrees of proficiency across different areas. Every person has a continuum of skill sets. Some of their skills are excellent, others not so much. The mediocrity that Christ deems as evil encompasses a particular kind of inadequacy or insufficiency which individuals are fully aware of yet consciously choose to deny or disregard.

Rather than working to overcome their weaknesses and improve their skills, they hide their inadequacy and incompetence and put up a false face. The hallmark of this type of mediocrity is resentment. These folks resent the capability, skill, and talent of others that engender their success and achievement. In the presence of greatness, the mediocre experience internal tremors as they fear the potential exposure of their limitations. So, it was with the religious leaders at the time of the Lord Jesus Christ.

John 3:19-20

 19 God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil.

 20 All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed.

REFLECT & PRAY

“Mediocrity knows nothing higher than itself, but talent instantly recognizes genius” (Arthur Conan Doyle).

Father the idea of living in paltry mediocrity should be appalling to the children of the King. Convict our hearts regarding this form of evil.

INSIGHT

Two different Greek words are translated as evil in John 3:19-20. In John 3:19, the Greek term translated as evil is poneros. The semantic domain of poneros covers a broad spectrum of evil. It has the connotation of being wicked, malicious, bad, harmful, morally wrong, corrupt, vicious, or degenerate.The English word pornography is derived from this term.

In John 3:20, the Greek term translated as evil is phaulos. Phaulos does not connote something which is overtly evil or wicked. But instead, it consists of something far more subtle yet insidious: paltry mediocrity. The English word paltry is derived from phaulos. It can be translated as mediocre, insignificant, meager, worthless, good–for–nothing, depraved, or base. That which is mediocre is relatively inferior in quality, ordinary, substandard, or inadequate.

The religious leaders avoided the light because they did not want their mediocrity revealed. They refused to consider or even recognize their own inadequacies. Perhaps they had become numb or blind to them. The Lord Jesus Christ called them blind guides. They were blindly leading the people astray.

Light exposes the thoughts and deeds of darkness. One tiny candlelight illumines the darkest darkness. The world hated the Lord Jesus Christ because He accused it of doing evil (John 7:7).

People living in darkness learn to love the darkness. That is all they know. When the true light of the world comes, they reject it. They avoid the piercing light of exposure and humiliation at all costs.

The Greek word translated as exposed is elegcho. Elegcho means to scrutinize or examine carefully, bring to light, convince, convince, or bring someone to the point of recognizing wrongdoing.

What differentiates the children of the King from those who are not? “The difference between the believer and the unbeliever does not lie in the guilt or innocence of either; it lies in the different attitudes they take toward the ‘light.’ The unbeliever shrinks from the light because it exposes his sin; the believer willingly comes to the light so that his real motives may be revealed” (Tenney, EBC).

When a light is turned on in a dark room where cockroaches are present, the roaches scurry into the darkness to hide from and avoid the light. The life, words, and actions of the Lord Jesus Christ are the light of the world. They expose the evil and mediocrity of people. Their darkened souls are unmasked and laid bare. They are threatened. It is very difficult to admit their limitations. It is hard for anyone to acknowledge and accept that others might outshine them.

The fallen world is enveloped in profound darkness. It is a very dark place. Darkness is a spiritual reality, a kingdom under the domination of the enemy of our souls. Within this realm, mediocrity and degenerate wickedness emerge as the two prevailing forces, propelling the shadows deeper and perpetuating the darkness surrounding us.

“The men who followed Him were unique in their generation. They turned the world upside down because their hearts had been turned right side up. The world has never been the same” (Billy Graham).

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© Dr. H 2023

We need only ask ∙

We need only ask ∙

Show me the right path, O LORD; point out the road for me to follow. – Psalms 25:4

Psalms 143:4-11 

 4 I am losing all hope; I am paralyzed with fear.

 5 I remember the days of old. I ponder all your great works and think about what you have done.

 6 I lift my hands to you in prayer. I thirst for you as parched land thirsts for rain.

 7 Come quickly, LORD, and answer me, for my depression deepens. Don’t turn away from me, or I will die.

 8 Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting you. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to you.

 10 Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing.

 11 For the glory of your name, O LORD, preserve my life. Because of your faithfulness, bring me out of this distress.

Who has not gotten lost sometimes? Being lost and feeling helpless is a scary experience, no matter how old you are. However, knowing what to do when you get lost can have a major effect on whether the incident is empowering or traumatic. The best advice, particularly for children, is to have a safety plan. Your safety plan defines what to do if and when you get lost.

Children are advised to take the following steps when separated from the adults in their life.

1. STOP!

2. Stand tall and strong if it is safe to stay where you are. Otherwise, go to the nearest place that is safe.

3. Look around for your adults. Most of the time, when children think they are lost from their adults, they are actually close by. Take a minute to stop and look; you may find them again.

4. If you cannot see the adults you came with, yell out the names you use to call them.

5. If that doesn’t work, ask a woman with children for help. Statistically, a woman with children is least likely to harm a lost child (kidpower.org).

Feeling lost looks different for everyone. When David felt lost spiritually and emotionally, his spirit was overwhelmed. He experienced a sense of emptiness, panic, and even desolation. He appeals to the Father for help. David was a man after God’s heart. He models an excellent safety plan for the rest of us when we encounter similar dilemmas.

REFLECT & PRAY

May my repeated prayer be, teach me to do your will, for you are my God (Psalms 143:10).

Father I often have felt lost and separated from You. I know that that can never be. But being human, I feel that way anyway. Thank You are always there. I need only to ask.

INSIGHT

David’s core priority is to please the Father, to discover His will, and do it. It is not about self-fulfillment but instead about completing the Father’s plan for his life. He needs more than direction. He needs to be shepherded. He entrusts himself totally to the Father. And he desires that the Father will do work within him.

Psalms 143:4-6

 4 I am losing all hope; I am paralyzed with fear.

 5 I remember the days of old. I ponder all your great works and think about what you have done.

 6 I lift my hands to you in prayer. I thirst for you as parched land thirsts for rain.

Amid these dire circumstances, David is paralyzed with fear and has lost all hope. But remarkably, his mind begins to drift towards thoughts of his heavenly Father. He recalls and ponders who the Father is and all He has done. He reminisces. Repeatedly the Father has saved the people of Israel from grave situations. David’s thinking is straightforward. His un-verbalized thoughts are, “Father if You have done it before, You can do it again.” In total dependence upon the Father’s character and essence, David boldly lifts his heart and soul to Him during his great distress. He is confident that the Father will intervene.

Psalms 143:7 Come quickly, LORD, and answer me, for my depression deepens. Don’t turn away from me, or I will die.

David emphasizes how serious the situation is. His despondency and despair are escalating. He is about to drop off the cliff. He beseeches the Father, fearing that he might spiral down to death itself.

Psalms 143:8 Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting you. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to you.

David totally entrusts himself to the Father. He places his life in His Father’s hands.

Psalms 143: 10-11

 10 Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing.

 11 For the glory of your name, O LORD, preserve my life. Because of your faithfulness, bring me out of this distress.

David is very specific and earnestly seeks the Father’s guidance and deliverance.  However, his aspirations extend beyond mere deliverance. David yearns for wisdom and instruction in the Father’s ways. He asks that the Father graciously direct him to safety. More specifically, he asks that the good and gracious Spirit direct him on an uncomplicated path, free from obstacles and hardships. He asks the Father to save his life and bring him out of distress.

David’s appeals are not based upon his own inherent righteousness or goodness.  David identifies himself intimately with the Father, considering himself as the Father’s devoted servant. David recognizes that his mission is unfinished and seeks the Father’s guidance and assistance to fulfill it. Moreover, there is a profound identification between David and the Father, signifying their inseparable connection. The Father is also identified with David. The Father’s reputation is tied to the outcome.

David does not attempt to bargain with the Father. He has no leverage within himself. Instead, David approaches the Father with reverence. He appeals to the Father based on the Father’s character, nature, and personality. He declares in humble adoration, “You are my God.” 

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© Dr. H 2023

Personal achievement ∙∙

Personal achievement ∙∙

In humility, value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. – Philippians 2:3-4

James 4:1-10

 1 What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you?

 2 You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it.

 3 And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong– you want only what will give you pleasure.

 4 You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God.

According to Dr. Ruth Gotian in Forbes, recent studies indicate that high achievers in modern organizations exhibit remarkable productivity, surpassing average employees by an astounding 400%. These exceptional individuals consistently outperform established benchmarks.

However, despite their exceptional performance, high achievers often require additional mentorship and a well-defined path for career progression. Consequently, many organizations still need formal programs to acknowledge and nurture high achievers to become future leaders. The result? The high achievers get frustrated by the lack of advancement and innovation and leave the organization.

Research by Daniel Pink demonstrates that for high achievers, intrinsic motivation rather than extrinsic remuneration, such as bonuses or salary increases, is far more influential and satisfying (Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us).

High achievers who strive for excellence strongly desire to witness their company actively fostering creative innovation, curiosity, and passion. They seek assurance that the organization consistently sets higher standards to deliver value. Moreover, they value knowing that the company invests in their professional growth and offers opportunities for advancement within the organization.

In our fallen world, there is often a tendency to applaud and reward individuals who relentlessly pursue personal gain and success. Especially during our formative years, many of us prioritize our own accomplishments and progress for various reasons. Aspiring for excellence is commendable and worthwhile. However, it should not be done at the expense of sidetracking our relationship with the Father and neglecting the importance of valuing others.

Paul cautions us against being driven by selfishness or empty conceit. “‘Selfish ambition’ stands at the heart of human fallenness, where self-interest and self-aggrandizement at the expense of others primarily dictate values and behavior” (Fee).

The Greek term translated as selfish ambition is eritheia. Eritheiahas a sense of self-seeking pursuit or selfishness. It characterizes someone with a strong drive for personal success without moral restraints.

The Greek word translated conceit is kenodoxia. Kenodoxia is comprised of two Greek words kenos – vain, empty, and doxa – glory. It could be translated as vainglory, self-exultation, or empty pride. The primary idea behind this word is “empty opinion, error.” “Thus, it could depict a person who, though conceited, had no reason for it”(Ashy).

Paul exhorts us to raise the bar and do far better. He admonishes us to live with “humility of mind.” Humility is not a fawning self-depreciation. “The ‘submissive mind’ does not mean that the believer is at the beck and call of everybody else or that he is a “religious doormat’ for everybody to use” (Wiersbe)! Instead, humility entails recognizing and embracing one’s own limitations and abilities with a realistic perspective. Then we place ourselves at the disposal of the Father. We are to serve “at His pleasure.”

REFLECT & PRAY

Most of us are goal-driven. We have our own agendas and spend our time fulfilling them. If the truth be known, and it is in heaven, self-interest, self-aggrandizement, and empty opinion are the primary drivers that dictate our values and behavior.

Father God sadly, I recognize my propensity to advance my own schedule rather than discover Yours and seek to carry it out. Please help me to rearrange my priorities and focus.

INSIGHT

When driven by a competitive mindset, we frequently encounter the temptation to advance our own agendas. How can we rectify this situation? The solution is straightforward: we must prioritize the well-being of others above our own. The crucial aspect lies in extending the same level of care and commitment we have for ourselves toward the interests of others. This approach may seem radical and unusual. But it is a core value of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Philippians 2:5-8

 5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

 6 Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to.

 7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form,

 8 he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

“‘Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus’ (Philippians 2:5, NIV). After all, outlook determines outcome. If the outlook is selfish, the actions will be divisive and destructive” (Wiersbe).

James 4:1-10

 1 What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you?

 2 You want what you do not have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you do not have what you want because you do not ask God for it.

 3 And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong– you want only what will give you pleasure.

 4 You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God.

 6 But he gives us even more grace to stand against such evil desires. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but favors the humble.”

 7 So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

 8 Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty, is divided between God and the world.

 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.

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© Dr. H 2023

When the going gets tough ∙∙

When the going gets tough ∙∙

So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded. – 1 Thessalonians 5:6

Luke 22:39-40, 45-46

 39 Then, accompanied by the disciples, Jesus left the upstairs room and went as usual to the Mount of Olives.

 40 There he told them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.”

 41 He walked away, about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed,

 45 At last he stood up again and returned to the disciples, only to find them asleep, exhausted from grief.

 46 “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not give in to temptation.”

“We judge ourselves by our intentions and others by their actions” (Stephen Covey). “Your direction, not intention, determines your destination” (The Principle of the Path, Andy Stanley).

Walt Disney had more than good intentions, he had a clear direction and the will to succeed. Can you imagine a childhood without enjoying the creations of Walt Disney? That could have become a reality if Walt had merely relied on his good intentions. His former newspaper editor disparaged him, claiming he had “no good ideas” and “lacked imagination.” Undeterred, Walt refused to listen to such negativity.

Instead, he persevered and created the enduring cultural icon of Disney that profoundly impacted American society in the 20th century. As Thumper’s mother and father advised in Bambi, “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.”

What was Walt Disney’s perspective on failure? Early failure lays the groundwork for future success. He once remarked, “I think it’s important to have a good hard failure when you’re young . . .. Because it makes you kind of aware of what can happen to you. Because of it, I’ve never had any fear in my whole life when we’ve been near collapse and all of that. I’ve never been afraid” (www.lifehack.org).

Even with the best intentions and highest aspirations, we often fail those we care about the most. Sometimes temptations overtake us when we are weak, worn out, and can least resist them. The Lord Jesus Christ knowing this warned His disciples to pray that they should not enter into temptation.

During the final night of Christ’s earthly life, what temptation arose in the garden? It was not a temptation to succumb to a grave moral transgression or sin. Instead, it was the temptation to fall asleep. Given the circumstances and the Lord Jesus Christ’s prediction of impending betrayal and death, one might expect the disciples to remain vigilant and on high alert. They should have been fueled by adrenaline. However, for them, it seemed to be just another uneventful night.

They had the best of intentions but needed follow-through. Things happened so quickly that they failed to react. They failed. They fell into temptation and succumbed to sleep. This temptation is “not from indifference, but rather from sorrowful exhaustion” (MacDonald).

What did the Lord Jesus Christ do? He gave them another chance. He woke them and repeated His warning not to enter into temptation. And what did the disciples do? They repeated the same mistake and surrendered to sleep. In doing so, they were prevented from “being there” for the Lord Jesus Christ on this most dreadful of nights. By succumbing to physical exhaustion, they could not be fully present for their Lord. Essentially, they fell asleep while on guard duty, even as their enemies approached.

As bad as it was, it got even worse. All of the disciples abandoned the Lord Jesus Christ and fled as He predicted they would (Matthew 26:56).

Such personal failures do not take the Father by surprise nor alter His plans. Although we are responsible for our decisions, our decisions are part of a larger plan, determined and written in advance.

REFLECT & PRAY

Wrestling with fear and doubt is not a sin; it is normal.

Father encourage me not to give up and keep watching and praying. I know my spirit is willing, but my physical body is weak.

INSIGHT

Temptation and failure are universal experiences for all children of the King. When confronted with challenging decisions, we often rely on our own plans rather than adhering to the Father’s will. The Lord Jesus Christ also wrestled with this dilemma. Blessing often comes through wrestling. However, when discussions run their course and the struggle has ceased, our actions afterward reveal our character and steadfastness. The Lord Jesus Christ is the ideal example of resisting temptation and choosing to follow the Father’s plan, even though it would ultimately result in horrific suffering, anguish, and death.

Luke 22:41-44

 41 He walked away, about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed,

 42 “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”

 43 Then an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened him.

 44 He prayed more fervently, and he was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood.

In His anguish, fervent prayers, and final choices, the Lord Jesus Christ modeled perfect submission. He established a pattern and model that we can emulate. He modeled perfect submission. He based His decisions on a simple yet crucial principle. For the Lord Jesus, it was a simple matter of priorities. Who gets the final say? Who has the last word? Without further hesitation, the Lord Jesus decided. His words ring out for all eternity, “Not My will, but Yours be done.” We can follow Him. We can successfully resist even the greatest temptations and struggles.

Hebrews 12:1-4

 1 Let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.

 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.

 3 Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up.

 4 After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin.

What was it that enabled the Lord Jesus Christ to endure the cross? During His time on earth, He did not exercise His divine powers for His personal interests or needs. It was His faith that enabled Him to endure. Rather than being dragged down in the now, He focused on “the joy that was set before Him.”

By submitting to the Father’s will, the Lord Jesus Christ reconciled the world to the Father. He successfully made atonement for sin through His death and resurrection. He made eternal salvation available for all that would accept it. One day He will have the great joy of ushering all believers into the eternal glory of the Father’s kingdom (Jude 24-25).

Mission accomplished! Job well done!

Instead of exerting control, Christ brings about transformation through the infusion of His inner peace.

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© Dr. H 2023

The paradox of pain ∙∙

The paradox of pain ∙∙

For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! – 2 Corinthians 4:17

2 Corinthians 4:17-18

 17 For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison,

 18 while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Surgery serves multiple purposes, including exploratory diagnosis, eliminating obstructions, removing, repairing, or replacing diseased tissues or organs, broken bones, or trauma. Its primary objective is to save lives, alleviate suffering and pain, and enhance the quality of life.

Following surgery, it is typical to experience pain. Properly managing pain enables the restoration of quality of life and the resumption of essential tasks and regular activities. Effective pain management is critical for healing and recovery, and implementing a postoperative treatment strategy may help minimize the risk of complications.

God the Father is the designer and creator of humanity. He completely understands the human body, spirit, and psyche. Like a medical doctor performing surgery to enhance the well-being of a patient, the Father conducts “spiritual surgery” to improve the condition of each child of the King. Such surgery is often accompanied by pain, much like physical surgery. Indeed, painful sorrow is frequently a crucial aspect of spiritual surgery.

Gaining insight into how the Father utilizes pain for our growth can lead to a paradigm shift in our perspective. Numerous situations exist in which we choose to endure temporary pain to accomplish a desired objective. Athletes, for instance, engage in physically demanding training to prepare for competition. In farming, substantial effort and exertion are necessary up front to yield a crop. The list could go on and on. The examples are endless.

Adversity is a tool that the Father employs to achieve His desired outcomes within us and for us. His objective is not to cause us harm but to strengthen us and foster our character development. Paul, for instance, perceived his personal suffering through this lens. He acquired the skill and knowledge necessary to manage the pain accompanying spiritual surgery.

“Paul’s afflictions were of course neither slight nor momentary in themselves. They were the burdensome and virtually constant accompaniment of his ministry. Yet by comparison with the weighty and eternal character of the glory being prepared for him, he saw them as but slight and momentary” (Kruse).

REFLECT & PRAY

Seeing things from the Father’s perspective changes everything. The Father prioritizes spiritual growth over ease and comfort. Trials and tribulations cultivate endurance and a proven character.

Father, help me to learn to see things as they really are. Help me to see them as You do and be thankful.

INSIGHT

But there is more. While Paul’s struggles are both internal and external, he is focused. However, there is a deeper dimension to Paul’s challenges, which extend beyond the external realm. He directs his attention towards an unseen, internal transformation, where his inner nature is being renewed and strengthened. He has set his heart on the things that are not seen, rather than those that are seen. Everything about a human being runs down or wears out with age, with the singular exception of the human spirit. As we grow through suffering, we become strong in our spirits.

Luke 1:80 And the child continued to grow and to become strong in spirit.

How ironic, the physical things that we see now appear permanent and tangible are transient, ephemeral, and do not last. Spiritual things, such as the human soul, endure eternally, even though we cannot perceive them. What we see now is only temporary, fleeting, and ephemeral. The present momentary visible things of life paled for the apostle as he considered the future eternal, invisible things ahead (Constable).

Colossians 3:1-2

 1 Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand.

 2 Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.

The visible realm frequently causes us to feel disheartened and dispirited. We are tempted to lose hope. However, if we prioritize the unseen realities, we can avoid becoming discouraged.

Romans 8:18-26

 18 Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later.

 19 For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are.

 23 And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us.

 24 We were given this hope when we were saved. (If we already have something, we don’t need to hope for it.

 25 But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently.)

 26 And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness.

Suffering is seldom viewed as beneficial or profitable. People do not typically perceive a reason to rejoice in it. However, the Father views adversity as an opportunity for spiritual growth. During times of pain, the facade we typically exhibit is stripped away, exposing our true nature. As our sense of security and comfort are challenged, our authentic priorities, pride, and self-reliance are revealed. God may leverage this opportunity to strip away all our dependencies until nothing competes with the supremacy of the Lord Jesus Christ in our lives (Stanley).

In his letter to the Corinthians, Paul conveyed his intimate familiarity with various afflictions such as beatings, imprisonments, sleepless nights, and hunger (2 Corinthians 6:4-5; 11:23-28). Nevertheless, he regarded these tribulations as trivial in comparison to the imminent revelation of glory. As a citizen of heaven Philippians 3:20), he recognized that his earthly existence was fleeting compared to eternity. Moreover, the splendor of the coming age will qualitatively surpass the hardships of the present (Mounce).

If we allow the challenges of life to consume our focus, they will obstruct our vision of the glorious future that awaits us. Our attention must be directed towards the eternal and spiritual concerns that hold lasting significance (cf. 2 Corinthians 4:18) and the things above Colossians 3:2) (Mounce).

Luther expresses regret over time squandered, contemplating the present state of creation instead of its future state. He cites Seneca’s remark that “we fail to know what is necessary because we study unnecessary things.”

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© Dr. H 2023