“And though they found no ground for putting Him to death, they asked Pilate that He be executed. And when they had carried out all that was written concerning Him, they took Him down from the cross and laid Him in a tomb. But God raised Him from the dead.” Acts 13:28-30
The last phrase,”But God raised Him from the dead” has in it two very significant words. The phrase “but God” are the pivotal words that show the absolute change in direction from things going from bad to worse, to what we know was ultimate victory over sin and death. It is the place where the tide was turned and the victory won, and that is the place where a Christian can know that with God all things are possible.
When we feel defeated by our own sin and failures worthy of eternal judgment by a holy God it says,”But God being rich mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ.” (Eph 2:3-4).
When alone, rejected, abandoned, or betrayed as Joseph was in the Old Testament, we again read the two most significant words. “And the patriarchs became jealous of Joseph and sold him into Egypt.”
But God was with him. (Acts. 7:9) We are never absolutely alone. He said He would never leave us or forsake us. Though the way may be difficult, we are never left to face it by ourselves.
Every difficulty and failure can have a good ending if we allow the final thoughts of the sentence, and the outcome of each circumstance to be in His hands. ” I failed, but God….I hurt, but God…I was alone, but God...I was made to look the fool, but God…I felt like I had no purpose, but God…I didn’t know what to do, but God…
The Bible is filled with people who made up the first half of the sentence, but allowed God to finish it.
“God causes all things to work together for the good to those who love God” Romans 8:28
“When we leave God out of our reckoning, difficulties will daunt us, temptations will triumph over us, sin will seduce us, self will sway us, the world will warp us, seeming impossibilities will irritate us, unbelief will undermine us, fear will frighten us, and all things will wear a somber hue.” F.E. Marsh.
Have a great week and trust Him,
Love, Pastor Bob
