This morning I was reading in Job 4 and these words struck me. “…you have encouraged many people; you have strengthened those who were weak. Your words have supported those who were falling; you encouraged those with shaky knees.”
I want to be an encourager for people with shaky knees. We’ve all experienced “shaky knee” moments. Moments when we have felt fear, worry, failure, stress, uncertainty. We’ve needed people who would strengthen us by reminding us of the strength and power of God.
I am thankful there have been people like that in my life. People who were present at just the right times. I don’t think that’s accidental. I think that’s the work of God.
I also know God wants to put me in the lives of other people at the moment that they need some encouragement and support. I have to be willing and I have to be paying attention to God’s prompting.
Let’s determine to be “shaky knee” supporters!
Just some thoughts…
Jeff.
Sunday night I happened to be up late watching a movie when I got a text about the death of Osama Bin Laden, so I switched channels to hear the President’s announcement.
In the following hours and days I wrestled with mixed sentiments. Honestly there is a part of me (the patriotic part) that has celebrated the news. Someone who inflicted great harm and pain on our country was brought to justice.
I felt a sense of pride at the job our intelligence agencies and those Navy seals did in carrying out an incredibly dangerous mission. You can’t help but to be “wow-ed” by what they did.
Yet amidst those feelings there was a lingering feeling of sadness. I am saddened that Bin Laden chose to follow a false god and never submitted to the leadership of Jesus Christ. I am confident that God was sad that another person will spend eternity in hell because they refused to follow Jesus.
Amidst these different feelings I have struggled with how do I respond to event like these as someone who follows Jesus. God is a God of justice and certainly there are plenty of Biblical principles for punishing those who have committed the kinds of awful crimes that Bin Laden committed. Yet the message of the New Testament is one of grace for even the worst of sinners. If Bin Laden had been willing to bow his knee to Jesus, God would have freely and gladly poured His grace into Bin Laden’s life and welcomed him into His Kingdom.
Is it wrong to celebrate an American victory? I don’t think so. But the bigger issue as a Christ follower is always the eternal destiny of people who were created in the image of God.
Just some thoughts,
Jeff.
