A Love That Surpasses All Understanding

Theme: We are no longer individuals, but one in Jesus.

It was reported that an elaborate trestle bridge across a large canyon was necessary during the construction of the Union Pacific Railroad. To test the bridge, the builder loaded a train with twice its normal payload and parked it in the middle of the bridge for an entire day. A worker questioned the engineer, asking, “Are you trying to break the bridge?”

“No,” he replied, “I’m trying to prove it won’t break.”

In his inspired message this past Sunday, Pastor Dan spoke so transparently of the struggles he, Andee, and Brandie have gone through with the fire that devastated their home and world. He was also led to pick the perfect verses for this message from the letter the Apostle James wrote. James was the brother of Jesus and one of the first Apostles to be killed for being His servant. In the epistle that bears his name, the Apostle James looked to encourage his readers to bear up under the pressures of trial and persecution. He wrote, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” (James 1:2-3 NIV)

Pastor Dan told us of the Greek word James used for perseverance. The word hupomone means to “remain under,” like the supports of a bridge. Troubles and trials, like the ones our Pastor and Andee are facing, along with all of us who have heard a doctor use the word cancer, MS, or some other world-shaking diagnosis, have purposes beyond our comprehension. Paul, who also suffered in service to Jesus, wrote this reminder, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28 NIV). James tells us that these trials and tests (those two words do not seem strong enough) are not meant to break us. Instead, they are intended to produce a greater capacity for endurance in us. They are designed to let us know how strong our supports are and if we rely on our own or God’s. They show us that, with God's help, we will not break.

I write confidently in our Lord when I say that our Pastor is boldly leading a Body of believers who are disrupting satan’s world. Our growing, but small, army is sending major shock waves throughout our community, nation, and world, and the waves will be growing as our army grows. And the armies of the evil one are not happy. We forget that this is a fallen world, with death and destruction as its bottom line. I do not want to come off as morbid, but just factual. God builds in restraints such as families, churches, communities, governments, and more to keep the evil at bay, but, like Job, He allows evil and tragedy to creep into our lives for reasons. How would we know the depth of God’s Grace without trials and tragedy? How could His love be real to us unless experienced through pain? And how does He awaken us from the slumber of routine and normalcy without an alarm that reminds us of the world we live in and who has won our victory?

Remember that our God is not some aloof idol sitting above it all, wreaking havoc on us. Our God is the one who left paradise to enter our fallen world, incarnated into Jesus, the Christ. He then experienced all we do, magnified to the nth degree. He was tempted by satan himself, not some minion. He then suffered the effects of evil like no other in time, dying at the hands of those He created. .

It is so hard to see Pastor and Andee hurt, or Bobby go through the painful chemo used to kill his cancer, or brothers and sisters struggling to walk with the help of walkers or canes. We do not want these to happen to us or our loved ones in the body. We pray that these things pass our house and our church. However, they will not. As James wrote and Pastor Dan taught, it is when, not if. The more we love with the love of God in Jesus, the more we are aware of the evil around us, and the more we hurt for our brothers and sisters. This, too, is a fact.

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 6:12 NIV)

So, let us gird up with the armor of God, continue to advance the Kingdom of Christ with boldness, in His power, and know that we will be buffeted. When it hits, as it did last week, to our Pastor, we love mightily with the love of our Lord, support and fill in the gaps, and move forward in the power of the Holy Spirit. 

And we remember the words of Paul, who suffered shipwrecks, stoning, beatings, loss of worldly esteem, imprisonment, and death, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21 NIV).

Let us also be one body, united in support of each other, and not like the world, where self-preservation prevails. Let us know that tests, trials, and tragedy will hit us, and that our love in Jesus will magnify the hurt as it does the joy. And let us remember the prayer Pastor Dan left us. “Heavenly Father, use this until you choose to remove this.”

I am grateful that we are one body and that your joy is mine, that your hurts are mine, and that when troubles come, as they will, my God and my brothers and sisters have my back, front, and sides. Praise God and Amen

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Scripture: Ephesians 6:13-17 NIV

“Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.

In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

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Prayer:

Lord, it is good to be re-awakened from the ease and comfort of the norm to the reality that trouble will find us. I thank you that you are always here with me, and that nothing can separate me from your love. Lord, I so gladly accept the pain, the troubles and even the death in this world, for this love I have for you and the deep love you have allowed me to experience for my brothers and sisters in you, and beyond them to others you place in my path. This Grace of love is worth any trouble and I choose it even if today is all I have. Amen