Undercover Boss is a popular TV show where company owners disguise themselves as regular staff members and work with everybody else. Some of the discoveries they make are real eye openers—leading to changes that make the company more efficient, profitable, and enjoyable for everybody to work in. To “understand” people, you have to “stand” in their shoes. Ezekiel said, “Then I came to the captives at Tel Abib…and I sat where they sat, and…the word of the Lord came to me” (vv. 15-16 NKJV). In order to heal the pain, you must be able to feel the pain. The Bible says Jesus can be “touched with the feelings of our infirmities,” because He walked in our shoes (see Hebrews 4:15). He experienced family conflict, rejection, betrayal, loneliness, and hunger. He walked the path you’re on, and He knows how you feel; that’s why you can turn to Him when you’re in trouble and get the help you need. “For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted” (Hebrews 2:18 NKJV). When you offer advice, people want to know if you're speaking out of experience or just head knowledge. So God will permit you to go through experiences you don’t enjoy or understand to equip you and make you effective in ministering to others. Job said, “When he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold” (Job 23:10). If you’re in the refiner’s fire today, it’s because God has something He plans to do through you and for you.
You Must Go Through the Fire
“I have refined you…for My own sake.” Isaiah 48:10,11 NKJV
May 19, 2017 • Bob Gass
Peace Comes by Trusting in Christ
May 31, 2017 • Bob Gass
Charles Stanley tells of asking his waitress, “If you could ask God for anything, what would that be?” Instantly she answered, “I want to feel at peace.” Through tears, she spoke of painful losses that had turned her life into intense emotional turmoil. Many people, like this young woman, want inner peace without a relationship with Jesus, the Prince of Peace. They seek it in ways that don’t work—physical fitness, improving their appearance, financial security, fame, social status, or human relationships. Some seek it in alcohol and drugs. But none of these things can provide peace of heart and mind; only a relationship with Jesus can do that. Before we meet Jesus, we are slaves to sin, living in opposition to God (Romans 6:16 NIV). And our sins separate us from God, so we live with guilt, stress, and shame. But He has provided a remedy. “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8 NIV), removing our sin, guilt, and shame, and ending our separation from God. When we trust in Christ as our Saviour, He promises, “Since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1 NIV). If you have placed your trust in Christ, read this: “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything; tell God your needs and don’t forget to thank him for his answers. If you do this you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand” (Philippians 4:6-7 TLB).
Shalom
May 30, 2017 • Bob Gass
The Hebrew word for peace is shalom. And apart from God, it will always remain a pipe dream, a philosophical fantasy, or a tantalizing fish that is just beyond your bait and hook. Marriages go awry and fall apart because we look to an imperfect mate to give us the perfect peace we’re searching for and we discover they can’t. The story is told of a woman at a cocktail party who was trying her best to look happy. Noticing the gargantuan sparkling rock on her finger, a guest exclaimed, “Wow! What a beautiful stone!” She replied, “Thank you. It’s the Callahan diamond.” The onlooker said, “I wish I had one!” The woman replied, “No, you don’t.” “Why not?” he asked. “Because it comes with the Callahan curse,” she replied. “The Callahan curse—what’s that?” asked the questioner. She sighed and said, “Mr. Callahan!” Perfect peace can only come from a perfect peace-giver, and the only one who meets that qualification is God. Peace isn’t the absence of problems; it’s the presence of God in the midst of your problems. What’s more, nobody ever finds peace by looking for it. Peace isn’t something you find; it finds you when you surrender your life to the One who said, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Note the words “My Presence.” Only God’s presence can bring peace. The assurance of God’s love, God’s help, and God’s presence is what takes the stress out of living. Are you longing for peace today? When you surrender your life to Christ, you’ll “experience…peace…far more wonderful than the human mind can understand” (Philippians 4:7 TLB).
Have You Prayed About It?
May 29, 2017 • Bob Gass
Can you imagine walking into a restaurant and asking if your order is ready? “When did you call it in?” the server asks. “Oh, I didn’t,” you reply. “I just thought perhaps you might have something with my name on it.” That’s as ridiculous as expecting God to answer prayer requests you haven’t made—or haven’t made in faith. The Bible says, “The reason you don’t have what you want is…you don’t ask God” (James 4:2 TLB). Will God give you everything you ask for? No. “Even when you do ask you don’t get it because…you want only what will give you pleasure” (v. 3 TLB). Your request must be in harmony with God’s will. “If we ask anything…according to His will…He…hears” (1 John 5:14 AMPC). Jeremiah said, “The Lord is good to those who wait…expectantly for Him” (Lamentations 3:25 AMPC). Expectant prayer demonstrates confidence in God’s goodness. So instead of fretting or talking about it to everybody but God or taking matters into your own hands, say, “Lord, I’m going to trust You with this regardless of the outcome,” and He will honour your faith. Paul writes, “Pray and ask God for everything you need, always giving thanks.” Do you need a job? Help overcoming a problem? The salvation of a loved one? A deeper spiritual walk? Physical or emotional healing? Guidance? Jesus said, “It gives your Father great happiness to give you the [benefits of His] Kingdom” (Luke 12:32 NLT). God wants to be good to you, so tell Him the “desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4 NKJV). Then thank Him and believe the answer will come—in His time!