Luke tells us an interesting story in Acts 14: “Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city, and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe. When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium, and to Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith , and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.”(Acts 14.19-23)
I read an article in the Free Press yesterday about some ICE actions in our area that disturbed me. Here is how the article starts: “In his 31 years on the bench, retired Wayne Count judge Michael Callaham saw plenty of liars, schemers and deceivers.” It then goes on to speak of how the judge and his wife became a foster parents to multiple refuges and regularly fulfilled all of the legal requirements. The foster children had jobs and never got into any trouble. Then this summer a convoy of eight ICE agents came to their home without notice or warrant wanting to put an ankle tether on one. The 26-year-old came out … and the ICE agents immediately cuffed him, threw him into the back seat of one of their vehicles, and drove away – the ICE agents actually laughed at how they had tricked the household! Then without any trial or opportunity for appeal, the young man was exported to Cameroon, “a country that the U.S. State Department has deemed dangerous for travel.”
I am sure you can find the article online. The family is struggling. And to be honest, I struggle with this as well. Then again, it is “through many tribulations (that) we enter the kingdom of God.”
And then I consider the struggles the everyday people I encounter are dealing with. One struggles as their doctor seeks to find the right depression medication. Another is on edge whether they will be able to move back to their home or be forced to move into assisted living. Another recently buried her husband. Two people have been averaging more than one surgery per year for the past decade or so. And one much younger than I has been put into hospice care.
It has been very encouraging to see faith in the eyes of these people as we sing together, “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness; No merit of my own I claim but wholly lean on Jesus’ name. On Christ, the solid rock I stand; All other ground is sinking sand. When darkness veils His lovely face, I rest on His unchanging grace; In every high and stormy gale my anchor holds within the veil. On Christ, the solid rock, I stand; all other ground in sinking sand.”
On your own you may want to read the promises found in Acts 4.8-12 and/or Isaiah 43.1-3. They explain quite simply what the above hymn is all about … life is filled with struggles … but through them all our Savior says, “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.” (Isaiah 43.1)
And to think that my greatest struggle this day is wondering how to pack for our trip to Hawaii! However, this does remind me to tell you that there will be no Thursday’s Thirsts sent out for a couple weeks. However, God willing, I’ll be back sometime in October.
