The Interworkings of God

These past couple weeks I have been noticing how God will use what I am learning in one area and spread it for His glory in other areas of the ministry. It usually starts with my time alone soaking in His Word (the Bible), attending Bible Study Fellowship (Saturdays for leaders meeting or Tuesday Evenings for Discussion Group and Lecture); learning deeper meanings to the scripture I was studying. From that point I watch God use what He is showing me, to glorify Himself and show others who He is and all the characteristics that God has.

Just this past Friday, we had a Campus Bible Study (Campus Ministry) and during it one of that gals was confused as to why God lets us suffer if we believe in Him. After the Bible Study (because I was not leading it) we talked about this. I shared with her that the Bible says that Jesus is our Good Shepherd (Referencing John 10-what I just studied in BSF). We talked about how a Shepherd cares for His sheep. How we are His Sheep. He leads us from the front. If we know Jesus, we will follow Him, fully trusting Him that His way is the best. Jesus is not a slave driver-he does not beat us and push us from behind to follow His ways. So, this is where our choice comes in. If we choose not to follow Jesus...we will find ourselves, fallen on a dangerous path(Did you know when a sheep falls down, it literally cannot pick itself up again?...therefore without the shepherd's help...it would die!). Because Jesus is our Good Shepherd, He picks His sheep up when they fall. He says, "I know my sheep and my sheep know me." If you cry out to Jesus, He is your comforter and He will carry you through. Well, we are sinners, who often times try to follow our own paths that lead to death vs. God's eternal path full of blessings and a fully satisfied life. When we sin (i.e. like an expectant mother using drugs) it affects other people, bringing suffering to them (i.e. child is born without limbs or it's brain may not be fully developed, etc.). That is what happens in a sinful world. We may be suffering because of our own sin or others sins. But, God is here to comfort us, sustain us, and carry us through these times of trial(if we allow Him).

And it continues as we see in John 11. Mary and Martha were saddened because their brother, Lazarus was sick and Jesus did not come and heal him. Jesus came to them after Lazarus was already dead. They were suffering in their grief. Yet, their faith stayed strong as they professed that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God (following Jesus as His sheep). In the End, Jesus' raised Lazarus from the Dead. He showed many who He was as the one true God and He was glorified. Sometimes we do not see why bad things happen or devastating things are happening around us...but, God is in Control and He has a plan and purpose...in the end, God will be glorified and our blinders will be lifted.

What opportunities are you finding or allowing God to use you? Has He revealed something to you and then used you to reveal it to another? I would love to hear!!

Okay Fellow Sheep...Until next time,
Krystle