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...

"I Want To Trust Jesus With All My Heart, but How?"

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A reader from the Philippines wrote me with the following: "I have not prayed to receive Christ and I would like to investigate more.  I want to trust Jesus with all my heart but How?"  I post my reply here for your encouragement as you talk with others about Jesus.

Thank you for writing with such an excellent question. I will not only answer your question, but I will also tell you God’s will for your life. First, let’s look at what God says about the heart in the Bible: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.” (Jeremiah 17:9-10). How do we trust Him who is Perfect with something He says is deceitful and sick?

Think for a moment about what is in your heart. We can do this by looking at God’s perfect standard (the Ten Commandments) which acts like a mirror to help us see what He sees—here are a few:

1) How many lies do you think you’ve told?

2) Have you ever hated anyone, or gotten so angry with someone that you wished they were dead?

3) Have you ever looked with lust?

4) Have you always your entire life loved God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength?

We have all lied, and that makes us liars. God’s law says that hatred is murder, and that looking with lust is adultery. God also says that no person seeks after Him with his or her heart (and God does not lie). We must stand before Him on Judgment Day and receive what is coming to us because of our sin, which is eternal death. (Romans 6:23)

Now, here’s the good news: God Himself stepped into time and space in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. He kept all of God’s law and was perfect, yet, He died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins and He came back to life from the grave after three days!

Second, I said I would tell you God’s will for your life, and here it is directly from the Bible: “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not willing that any should perish but for all to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9) God’s will is that you see the sin in your heart and desire to be clean from sin. God does not want you to die in your sin, but see how Jesus’ death on the cross delivers you from the penalty and power of sin, if you will only confess that you are a sinner and desire to have new life in Christ Jesus. We trust Him because He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).

Read Psalm 51, and please write me back when you have further questions!

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