February 3, 2015

“Jesus answered them, “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me; if any man’s will is to do his will, he shall know whether the teaching is from G*d or whether I am speaking on my own authority. He who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but he who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood.” John 7:14ff

“I confirmed my faith in G*d long ago. I hold on Him. He is the source. And, I know He is going to see me through. I have to sometimes look at that cup that another minister talked about in Harlem. When the depression was deepest, a mother had just one glass of milk with four or five children to drink from that one glass. He said all the children but one begged to drink and finally one of the children said, “Mama, Mama, how deep can I drink?” Then she measured it off.

Sometimes when…trials and tribulations hit you, you have to ask G*d, “Oh G*d, how much? How deep must I drink?” So I say occasionally to G*d, “God how much more must I bear?” I never ask Him why. Because I know He is going to see me through. I have that faith in G*d.” Martin Luther King, Sr. (1899 – 1984) “For All The Saints”, volume I

My belief is that there is a measure of trial and tribulation we all must endure, and that G*d has measured how much for each one of us. If we ask “How much?”, we will never receive an answer that suits our human intellect. If we ask “Why?”, we will also never truly understand. But if we pray the 23rd Psalm and believe the essence of the writing, then we will understand that “Yea, though I walk THROUGH the valley of the shadow of death, Thou are with me; thy rod and staff they comfort me.” I also turn often to 1 Corinthians 10:13ff “No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. G*d is faithful, and He will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing He will provide a way out so you can endure it.”

We live our lives displaying who or what carries authority in them. Faith is the by-product of trusting the Spirit – allowing the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us in all our decisions. When we drink deeply from the well of G*d’s Word, we will open ourselves to drinking deeply from the well of the Holy Spirit. When we drink in this manner, we have no idea where G*d’s measure for us will end. So, drink deeply, and trust that G*d will see you through.

Pastor Dave