“We are pressed on every side by troubles, but not crushed and broken. We are perplexed because we don’t know why things happen as they do, but we don’t give up and quit. We are hunted down, but God never abandons us. We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep going. These bodies of ours are constantly facing death just as Jesus did; so it is clear to all that it is only the living Christ within who keeps us safe. (2 Corinthians 4:8-10 The Living Bible)
This morning, I thought about titling this meditation, “The Me in the We,” so that I could be counted as one belonging in the number of believers who Paul refers to above. But instead, I changed my mind and made sure you, the reader, would see this text as applicable through my life. Sometimes we have to look at things from a personal perspective. So, while I am not being Pauline directly, I can speak from my personal experience specifically and leave you considering that whatever you go through, the Lord, He will, yes He will, keep you safe.
This is not Paul, it’s personal! I’ve had troubles on every side, either caused by others or caused by my own mistakes, miscues, and major minor mess-ups. But the Lord, He brought me through them and I’m still in one piece, and more importantly I’m at peace with God. I’m not chancing my peace on earth, I’m going to keep changing, no matter what I face. This is not Paul, it’s personal. There have been times when I scratched my head wondering, asking the same question as Marvin Gaye, but from a personal perspective, “What’s going on?” Overlooked, outdone by various ominous conditions in life, outspoken by the powers above me, and on top of that, outside influences tried to steal me from the Lord’s army on this earth. But I did not give up, instead I pressed on, and I’m continuously trying to live up to the character expectations that came with my new birth. This is not Paul, it’s personal. Satan hunted me down, more than once, but he did not know that I was not in this thing alone. Satan did not realize my ally was the Almighty who reigns from above and who is always by my side; never to leave me or forsake me. I’m just being personal. Do you mind?
Circumstances floored me more than once, but every time that happened, I raised my eyes toward heaven, asking the Lord to lift me up to where I belong. And guess what? He did just that! This is not Paul, it’s personal! Opposed by the efforts of unbelievers, the unfaithful, and those who unapologetically viewed God’s purpose for me as unlikely, I kept on living for Jesus, and I also know that when this life is over, when I die, hallelujah by and by, I will fly away to God’s celestial shore. This is not Paul, it’s personal. I will borrow words written by Darius Brooks and sang by Rev. Milton Brunson and the Thompson Community Singers, “I’m safe in His arms.”
Now, why don’t you get personal and pump up your hope, pole vault over any situation that is trying to strangle your faith, and put living for Jesus on the top of your things to do list today. If you are focused on how much you are hard pressed, forget that. Right now, change your thoughts and see that you are very blessed! If bad news starts to bring you down, look for some good news in His word to bring you up. If you have to kick the devil out and resist temptation, Add to your “Begone,” “It’s not Paul, it’s personal.” It’s past Valentines Day, but I love you my friend and you are in my prayers. Be blessed!
“So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn’t hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn’t gladly and freely do for us? And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God’s chosen? Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us—who was raised to life for us! —is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ’s love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture: They kill us in cold blood because they hate you. We’re sitting ducks; they pick us off one by one. None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I’m absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.” (Romans 8:31-39 The Message Bible)
Committed to the climb,
Mark L. King