Reason will permit a certain amount of hope. But the hope of the Christian quickly exceeds what reason would permit and keeps going.
The Christian is no more or less likely to suffer affliction, but he does not resist his suffering in the panicky manner of the lost. The Christian finds that Jesus left the seat of suffering warm for him. In suffering the Christian discovers an affinity with the suffering Savior.
And, while anyone is capable of praying, the prayer of the believer is not a matter of gasps and murmurs. It is steady and progressive, part of an ongoing conversation building up to something. Being faithful in prayer means participating in a conversation where many of the sentences will end in question marks and ellipses, but in which the last sentence ends with a delightful exclamation mark.
Higher up, deeper down, and further in.
January 30, 2011
Call to Repentance
Hebrews 12:11 (page 1877)
Call to Worship
Psalm 8 (page 848)
OT Reading
Proverbs 8:1-11 (page 994)
NT Reading
Galatians 6:1-10 (page 1816)
Message
Higher Up, Deeper Down, and Further In
Romans 12:12 (page 1764)
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