“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”
Jesus is the in between.
As protector, provider and defender when in our lives we have to endure pain, experience ashes in our finding the beauty the other side.
Our heavenly kingdom on earth.
Just as Jesus refused the gall vinegar and pain killer on the cross to endure our sin so we have to endure to discover, to work through the pain barrier to train our fitness and muscle memory.
The natural temptation is to avoid the pain. We want to be distracted by the pain killer or being too busy with other things to walk the path.
When we cooperate and let it arise God then can deal with it. Dealt with and not avoided we can again rejoice.
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.”
We have hope in the faith that God will turn something hard into good and hence joy.
The in between place is where Jesus is and our bridge over troubled waters to the other side.
The opportunity arises for us to expend forgiveness which is powerful but costs. The bridge in the Tim Hughes’ song Light of the World .
‘And I’ll never know how much it cost to see my sin upon the cross’
Reminds us that Jesus could forgive the weight of the world therefore we can forgive and let go of whatever we need to.
Sometimes our biggest strengths can equally be our biggest weaknesses.
God doesn’t bend anyone to force their free will.
We have freedom to choose love and to not hurt and resist God in our bid for independence or for being one of the world and not set apart by our faith.
Jesus is with us in between, the extra figure in the fire as with Daniels testimony.
“And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell bound into the burning fiery furnace.”
“He answered and said, “But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.”
The illustration shows us in the fire with Jesus in between our provision, defender and protection emanating light that pushes back the darkness.
Four Scriptures that come to mind:
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” James 1:2-4 ESV
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.” Philippians 4:4 ESV
“And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell bound into the burning fiery furnace.” Daniel 3:23 ESV
“He answered and said, “But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.” Daniel 3:25 ESV
The song Then Christ Came. Mercy Me/ Phil Wickham
Lessisgreater 