Written John Sernaque
Call to Worship
Revelation 3:19
3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
But when tribulation comes upon us, how many of us are like Jacob! We think it the hand of an enemy; and in the darkness we wrestle blindly until our strength is spent, and we find no comfort or deliverance. To Jacob the divine touch at break of day revealed the One with whom he had been contending—the Angel of the covenant; and, weeping and helpless, he fell upon the breast of Infinite Love, to receive the blessing for which his soul longed. We also need to learn that trials mean benefit, and not to despise the chastening of the Lord nor faint when we are rebuked of Him. “Happy is the man whom God correcteth: ... He maketh sore, and bindeth up: He woundeth, and His hands make whole. He shall deliver thee in six troubles: yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee.” Job 5:17-19. {MB 11, 12}
God does not create our trials; we mostly bring them upon ourselves by our own choices, actions, or lack of actions. However, God will allow trials to happen when He is seeking our attention. Trials typically occur when we take our eyes off Jesus. We start to drift away, even backslide. We do not pray as we should and get involved and absorbed into the things of this world. God does not want to lose us to Satan; He shed His blood for us that He may keep us near His bosom. Jesus will not condemn us, but will correct us out of His love for us. He desires for us to repent, return to Him, and He will redeem us. I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee. Isaiah 44:22
Dear God,
We thank You for all the love You shower upon us. We thank You for allowing the trials in our life, as we know they mean benefit, whereby You bind us up and heal our wounds. Thank You for bringing us comfort and deliverance. We thank You for being there for us in our time of need. We are sorry, repent of our sins and pray for your forgiveness. Keep us near Your bosom that no evil touches us. Help us to understand and follow Your ways, and keep us moving forward on the path that leads to Your heavenly kingdom. Save us dear Lord, we pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
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