Here’s another thoughtful message for your thoughtful reading and consideration from the pen of Reverend mark Adams, Senior Pastor of Redland Baptist Church in Rockville, Maryland:
All of us are familiar with problems because trials and tribulations are part and parcel of life in a fallen world. Recently I read something Steve May said about this subject that got my attention. May writes:
Problems are messages. Think about it. A health problem — even a minor one — could be a message that you’re not taking proper care of yourself. A financial problem is a hint that you’re not managing well the resources God has given you, or that you’re not properly prepared for the inevitable rainy days of life. Tension in a relationship tells you that, perhaps, you’re being too demanding, or too selfish, or too insensitive in this moment.
Problems are often messages from God: He uses them to shine light on the things we are doing in conflict with His Word—things which hurt ourselves and hurt others.
May goes on to point out that problems are MORE than just messages. We should also consider each problem to be an implied mission from our Heavenly Father. Whenever difficulties get in our way, we can be sure that God is challenging us to do something about it.
Many people respond to problems by demanding more from those around them. They ask or think: “What’s wrong with you? Why can’t you change yourself for me? Why won’t somebody fix this situation for me?” But as God’s people we must respond to problems with a different question. We should ask ourselves: “What can I do?” “What can I do differently?” “What can I do to make things better?” “What can I do to make me better?” “What can I do TODAY?”
Remember Nehemiah. This Jewish refugee had landed on his feet, so to speak, in Babylon. He could have continued living in the king’s palace. Yes—it was the life of a slave—but it was also a life of relative comfort. Instead, when he heard about the desolation of Israel, he fell to his knees and asked, “Lord, what can I do?”
The prayer in Nehemiah 1:5-10 reflects his attitude of repentance and his resolve to make a difference. He identified what he needed to change about himself, and what he needed to do to change the situation.
What problem is picking at you today? Look at it closely. Open it up. There’s a message inside, a message that could take you in the direction of your next mission.
(c) 2010. Mark Adams
During this Christmas season … please consider what you can do to make a difference … right now, right where you are … because no matter who you are or where you are, you can be a blessing to someone … even to yourself!
The Music of Christmas . . .
As you hear, it’s now playing on enLighten … and it’ll be increasing in quantity as the days pass … until 11 AM ET on Friday, December 23rd, when we’ll begin the annual 80-hour Southern Christmas Celebration.
The previous December 17th weekend, Paul Heil will be bringing you his ever-popular annual A Gospel Christmas 2011 … and on Thursday, December 22nd, enLighten will air a Gospel Greats special titled Christmas Stories.
Plus, the December shows of Daniel Britt & Friends and Homecoming Radio will be filled with the spirit and melodies of Christmas!
