Grief

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Sometimes the news comes quick. Sometimes the news comes slow. No matter how or when it comes, grief travels in the wake of the news. Grief is heavy, weighty, a burden, especially when it involves someone deeply loved. Grief is not meant to be carried alone. It’s too heavy and may last a while—and that’s ok. That’s what family and friends are for, to share the load. Jesus stood outside the tomb of his friend and wept but He did not weep alone. It was a deep, human moment. “ Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted ” (Matt 5:4). If anyone knows how we feel in grief, it’s Him. But His grief did not linger long, as at the mention of his name, Lazarus came forth. We are not meant to dwell in grief, but should leave room enough for it. Let it run its course. Like the song says, “ Every Storm Runs Out Of Rain .” Another song says, “ The storm We will dance as it breaks The storm It will give as it takes And all of our pain is washed away Don't cry or be afraid Some things...

The Good of Law

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1 Tim. 1:8, "But we know that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully"

Rom 7:12, "So then, the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good."

Stuart Briscoe was born in Millom, Cumbria England in 1930, and after graduating from high school, he began his preaching career and in 1959 he devoted himself to full-time ministry. He is best known as the pastor of Elmbrook Church in Brookfield, Wisconsin, his radio and television show entitled “Telling The Truth” and he is the author of twenty-five Christian books.

During the Korean Conflict, Stuart was drafted into the Royal Marines. He came under the control of a particularly imposing regimental sergeant major. He was a stern disciplinarian who taught Briscoe the marine way of doing things. The day Stuart was discharged from the marines; he stood with his discharge papers in one hand and breathed a sigh of relief. He put one hand in his pocket and slouched a little, a posture never allowed in the marines. He then saw the sergeant major striding toward him. Immediately Stuart braced to attention, but then he realized he was no longer a marine and the sergeant major no longer had any power over him. He was free from the constraints of the marine’s rules.

Likewise, Christians are free in Jesus Christ. The law of God is good and its intent is to bring us into a relationship with the Lord. Are you thankful for the Lord’s laws? Today in prayer, thank Christ for the grace we have in Him and look to His law to learn how to live by His grace.

“The law sends us to the gospel, that we may be justified, and the gospel sends us to the law again to enquire what is our duty, being justified.” – Samuel Bolton

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