The Weekly Encourager – June 1, 2013 – The Week in Review

Government officials, media people, bloggers, financial experts, and pundits summarize each week's news for all of us to consider. We take time to enjoy these weekly reports for the insight they can provide, but how many of us take even a moment to do the same type of summary of our own lives?

I try to allow a few minutes each Saturday or Sunday before worship in order to review the previous week, including the major events, difficulties, and answers to prayer. How did the Lord give strength in trying situations or victory over temptation this week? Did any new challenges arise that deserve my research, consideration and prayer? How did I serve others this week? In what ways was I a witness to the gospel? What blessings did I particularly appreciate? What do I need most from God on this, His Sabbath day? (What does He need from me?) I think it helps prepare me to worship God in the congregation as I look back and see how the Lord has worked in my life since last Sunday morning.

As I sat down with my notebook one recent Saturday, I noted that it was a particularly stressful week for me. I was heartbroken over one situation, and there was no surgery to fix it. Then there are the ongoing strains of family, work, finances, health, our house being renovated, etc. My first mental summary of the week was that it was a week of disappointment. Then, as I reminded myself to find things to give thanks for, the Holy Spirit began to bring several things to mind which were either direct answers to prayer or pleasant providences that show God's love in my life. Even the many delays with my basement project show that a loving Father wants to teach me patience.

A sermon by Pastor Paul Wolfe reminded us of the supreme value of the reconciliation achieved by Christ. Once we were sinners capable of any evil act, including the bombing at the Boston Marathon, but God changed us. Christ paid the penalty for our sin. “The greatest need that a human being could ever have has been fully satisfied. That's the need to be brought back, reconciled, into a loving relationship with God. And this is the key to contentment in your life. If you don't grasp this...with a hearty faith,...you're going to be groping in vain for any real measure of contentment in your life...you are going to be constantly swamped by the thought of your needs that are not met or of the things that you might lose, without anything weighty and solid and eternal to counteract those fears and sorrows. Reconciliation is the key. Reconciliation with God trumps every loss; reconciliation with God transcends every sorrow, and that is not at all to minimize our losses and sorrows. It's simply to recognize that...we've been given a gift that far outweighs them all. And no one can touch that. Once you've got it, no one can snatch that. No enemy, no circumstance, no trial, nothing, no one, can make you who believe in Christ be alienated from God again.”

I'm thinking it's a good thing to look at the week in review, but don't forget that one bad week is just a blip in eternity. Review the week, then review reconciliation. Reconciliation with Christ trumps every bad week and every good week I've ever had in my entire life! Therefore, I must persevere. Pastor Paul gave the example of a young boy just starting out in Little League. The team was told to run around all the bases for practice. This one boy ran as fast as his little legs could carry him to first base, then he was so excited to be there, with all the parents cheering, that he didn't want to move on! As assistant coach, Paul had to encourage him to keep on running to second and beyond. Go! Don't stop now! Run around all the bases and don't stop until you reach home plate.

In the same way, we need to keep on running even if we get tired between second and third base. (I'm between second and third base right now in my life.) “Take heart, because we must persevere, and we will persevere.” Whatever base we're on now, we have the certainty of completing the race, with no possibility of bailing out. Christ will never let go of us, and He's provided word and Spirit to help us finish well. “Don't give up. Hold on to Christ....Don't shift from the hope of the gospel by allowing hopeless despair to worm its way in and gain a foothold in your heart. Don't give up...You are not what you were.” As parents cheer on their little kids, the church cheers us on. We cheer each other on. (Did you cheer anyone on this week?)

“The Lord your God is in your midst, a victorious warrior. He will exult over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.” - Zephaniah 3:16-18 NASB

“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of His glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.” - Jude 1:24-25 ESV

Press on and cheer on,

j

To hear Paul Wolfe's excellent sermon, visit http://newhopefairfax.org/resources/sermons-to-hear and click on April 21, 2013.