Randy & son Aaron

www.truthworks.com          3 OCT 03          devotion archive          send this page to a friend

LEANING ON THE PROMISES

I tell you the Truth,

Day in and day out, many of us face struggles in life that seem insurmountable.  During the past year, the lives here in the Hunt household have, at times, seemed to be turned upside down.  Life hands out trouble.  God never promised anything different to His children - except that He will never forsake us.

So what do you lean on during turmoil?  What's your "out" when death cheats a loved one from a full life?  What can you do to make it through the day when your home life seems worse than death itself?  What is it that carries you on when all the small problems begin to pile up into one huge mess?

There are many answers for many people.  Some simply deny the problem.  Some lash out at everyone around them.  Some go into deep depression.  Some go as far as taking their own life.  I have news.  None of these have to happen.  The answer is in Jesus.  Here is what He did...

Luke 22:
³⁹Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives , and his disciples followed him. ⁴⁰On reaching the place, he said to them, "Pray that you will not fall into temptation." ⁴¹He withdrew about a stone's throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, ⁴²"Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." ⁴³An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. ⁴⁴And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.

The world of Christ was collapsing at break neck speed.  Within hours, one of His followers will bring an army of soldiers to arrest the innocent man.  Moments later, every friend He has in the world will turn their back on Him.  He will be convicted in a mock trial.  Then the physical punishment will begin...

Matthew 27:
²⁷Then the governor's soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. ²⁸They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, ²⁹and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand and knelt in front of him and mocked him. "Hail, king of the Jews!" they said. ³⁰They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. ³¹After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.

I've made this statement before, yet many of you are new, so I make it again.  The unbelieving world sees Christ as a man, perhaps a great prophet.  The believing world sees Christ as God, able to endure all things.  The fact is; Christ was a man, born of God, yet a man.  His pain was real.  His emotions were like yours and mine.  His mind, pure from sin, yet laden with all the temptations of mortal man.  He is God in the flesh.

So how did He endure this suffering?  How can a human take on such a load?  All the sin of the world placed upon us and it would surely crush us.  I believe the answer is in the first passage that we read in Luke.  Christ knew where to turn first when things began to go bad.  He knew where to turn when things were going good.  He knew that in all things, He must turn to His Father.  So He prayed.  And God answered.  He sent an angel.

I find the significance of the angel very important.  Jesus knew this angel; after all, He created him!  This angel was sent from heaven, the real home of Christ.  You see, when things were bad, Jesus prayed and God sent Him a reminder of the promise, the promise that He would inherit the right hand of His Father.  The Father's promise to the Son is what gave Him the endurance to overcome the impossible.  Just beyond all the pain and suffering was a promise.  A new, resurrected body.  A place on the throne.  A one way ticket to paradise.  I believe that is where Christ found strength and followed through in God's will.

You and I have many promises to lean upon.  God's word tells us that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.  He will not give us any greater burden than we can bear.  He will never forsake us.  He is coming back soon, very soon.

When things are not as rosy as we would wish, remember God's promises.  Things will then fall into perspective and the peace that passes all understanding will be made available to you too!

Your Servant,

Randy Hunt

Prayer Requests (and Praises!)

“Hi Randy,
I have a couple prayer requests
Loisjean King-breast cancer
Ramela Grigorian-future
Lynn Winfree-health and situation at home
Also, could you continue to pray for my health as well.
I truly believe that where ever two or more are gathered, he is there.
Thank you so much for being a prayer warrior.
God Bless,
Jodi”

“Mark Patrick did ok without the breathing tube. In fact, they graduated him from the oxygen tent to the mask and today they put the little nostril device on him. He took a bottle 2 times today. Shannon said he was very alert, flailing hands and keeping feet today. Dr.'s told her today that they are giving him a substance called "Cardideen", which is in the blood and everyone has it. It gives functionality to the muscles. His, they told her was very low. He has improved some, but continue to pray. While the heart has not increased in size, there is no indicated that his heart has decreased in size either. The Dr.'s have given them any long-term prognosis.
Thank you again for taking this situation to the Lord. We appreciate you so much.
God Bless!
Tom”  

Pray for our youth as we “get out of town” this weekend for a fall retreat.  Pray that each one individually finds it within themselves to seek the face of God and to hear His perfect voice.
-Randy

Please reply if you have prayer requests, comments or simply need an open ear. I always enjoy hearing from you.

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