Father – Page 2 – Me From the Inside Out

The Depths of Suffering

Today’s Reading: Lamentations 4 (SOAP, 4:17)

Our eyes continually failed us
as we looked in vain for help.
From our watchtowers we watched
for a nation that could not rescue us.
Lamentations 4:17 NET (KJV)

Suffering

This fourth lament moves through a depiction of Jerusalem’s devastating suffering. From the loss of all they had and were, to starvation of women and children, punishment that exceeded that of Sodom, appearance that went from white as snow to darker than soot, and the thought that those who died by the sword were better off than those wasting away from hunger. With these pictures in mind is it any wonder that Jerusalem continually watched for an ally, most likely Egypt, to rescue them from their suffering? Yet, as Jeremiah had predicted they watched in vain for a nation that could not protect them.

What Happened?

What happened to this once thriving and powerful city and people? Scripture answers this for us in Lamentations 1:5, “The LORD afflicted her because of her many acts of rebellion.” God’s will is for us to not sin but to love Him and obey His commandments, John 14:15. Our acts of rebellion against the LORD our God will always have disciplinary consequences because He is a good Father who despises sin, (John 3:16), and loves His children, (Hebrews 12:5–6; cf. Proverbs 3:11–12); (Hebrews 12:8) and (Hebrews 12:10).

How Do We Apply This Verse?

Of course we cannot directly apply this passage of Scripture for we do not live in exile waiting to be rescued. However, we certainly have problems that cause us, from time to time, to watch and wait and hope that someone will come to our rescue. We would be wise during these times to set our eyes continually on the Lord, the only One who can truly help us. Watching for Him to rescue us will never be in vain. The One who made us and calls us His own will never turn His back on us. He is our protector and does not sleep or become too busy to notice we have need of His help. In Psalm 118:13-14 The Psalmist said that he was pushed back and about to fall but the Lord helped him, and he went on to say that He was his strength and salvation.

I lift my eyes toward the mountains.
Where will my help come from?
2My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
3He will not allow your foot to slip;
your Protector will not slumber.
4Indeed, the Protector of Israel
does not slumber or sleep.
5The Lord protects you;
the Lord is a shelter right by your side.
6The sun will not strike you by day
or the moon by night.
7The Lord will protect you from all harm;
he will protect your life.
8The Lord will protect your coming and going
both now and forever.
Psalm 121:1-8

Prayer Prompt

God, You are a good good father. This doesn’t mean you will overlook our sinful behavior but that You love us enough to deal with it according to Your steadfast love. Throughout Your Word we are told to keep our eyes on You. Help us to do this continually, not only when we are in trouble but when we are tempted to sin, for we know that it will not be in vain. For Your Word promises that when we are tempted You will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear but you will rescue us by showing us a way of escape so that we can remain faithfully obedient to You.

No Other Access

Today’s Reading: John 13:31-14:31

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
John 14:6 HCSB

Loving Others

I’ve had John 13:34 in my memory bank for many years, so while it isn’t our focus/soap verse I can’t just skip by it. Love is a key ingredient of Christ’s teaching. Actually, loving others was included in the answer He gave to a teacher of the law who asked Him what the most important commandment was. After explaining that the greatest commandment is loving God with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength He went on to say that loving our neighbor was equally important. Suffice it to say Love was a vital part of His teaching and He intends for it to be a vital part of the believer’s life as well. To understand why it’s so important we only have to read the next verse which says, “By this (loving like Jesus) all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

You see it isn’t just nice to love one another like Jesus has loved us, it is our testimony for Him.

Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. ³⁰And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’³¹The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”
Mark 12:29-31

“How Can We Know the Way?”

Jesus was re-emphasizing the importance of love because it would be the very thing that identified them as His witnesses when He was gone. This naturally led to great concern over where He was going and answers they didn’t quite understand. This discussion led to our focus verse today which was Jesus’ answer to Thomas who asked: “Lord, we don’t know where you are going. How can we know the way?” The answer comes back to one we have looked at before, Jesus is the way to the Father for everyone who believes. So He makes the statement again that when we know Jesus we know “The Way”. He is not only the way to the Father, but He is the truth of the Father, in the flesh,(Psalm 119:142 and John 1:1). Finally, Jesus declares Himself to be the life from the Father, (John 3:16).

The answer to Thomas’ question is the same for us today. When we know Jesus we know The Way! While we rejoice in this we must take seriously the alternative – for those who do not know Jesus do not know the way and will have no access to the Father’s promise of eternal life. For this reason, like Jesus, we must be committed to our Father’s business – the saving of souls.

Personal Application

There are several noteworthy applications we can make from our focus/soap verse as well as others from today’s reading.

Let’s look at our focus verse in John 14:6.

Examine how Jesus has loved you and love others like that. (13:34)
Be His witnesses (13:35)
Go “the way” of Jesus – the way of the cross. (Luke 9:23)
Walk in “the truth” – His Word is truth (Psalm 119:142)
Live “the life” of freedom that He came to give (Gal 5:1, John 10:10)
Enjoy the access we have to the Father. (Hebrews 4:14-16; Eph 2:18

What is the chief end of man? To glorify God and enjoy Him forever.
https://westminstershortercatechism.net/manschiefend/

2. I also want to make an application note on verse 11 of chapter 14, where Jesus tells Philip to believe – if not because of what He has told them – then because of all they had seen Him do. You see, it won’t always be what we say that leads others to believe – sometimes it will be because of what we do in His name – such as loving others as He has loved us.

3. The final application came at the end of the passage, 14:31 where Jesus says to His disciples –

but I am doing just what the Father commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Get up, let us go from here.

Actually, it’s those last five words that hit me. It is so easy and comfortable to sit in the presence of Jesus, to talk with Him – listening to Him, asking Him questions, gazing into His eyes through His Word. But, at some point we must “get up” and go out from that place of safety and comfort to do what the Father has commanded us – and this so that others may believe. For “how will they believe if they do not hear?”

As we discovered earlier this week, we are His messengers and today we have seen that we are His representatives – so that others will know that we are His disciples. In this He is glorified (made known) – and in this the Father will be pleased.