Command Fire Upon Them?

And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?”

But He turned and rebuked them, and said, “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of.  For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them.” And they went to another village. – Luke 9:54-56

Leading up to this event, Jesus has fed five thousand, been transfigured, healed a boy, and now He has started towards Jerusalem for what He knows is His own crucifixion.  As He approaches this Samaritan village they “do not receive Him”.  In other words, He wasn’t welcomed. 

I’m amazed at the response of James and John at first, but then I see how common their response is for us.  I am truly amazed however, that they fully believed they’d be able to command fire to come down and consume the village.  I mean, that is incredible to me that they believed that they could do that.  But, regarding this as their response, we do this too often and the church has done this so much it’s a real reason why the church doesn’t grow.

When someone rejects our Christ as Lord or our position to stand on the Scriptures, what are our first thoughts?  Many times we think as James and John, “Well, enjoy the fires of the hell you’re gonna live in then!”  If we are honest, sometimes we want that for them, because we want some relief from the pain.  Maybe this person has intentionally hurt us, ridiculed us, and scorned us and we want some revenge.  We wonder why we have to experience such loss and pain for standing with our Savior.  It is our nature to want those who reject Him (or too often us as we put the emphasis too much on us and not Him) to pay for it.  Unfortunately, the truth is, if they reject Him long enough, there will be a terrible price to pay.  It will either be in dire consequences here in this physical life or forever apart from Him in the next.

Jesus makes it clear that He is here to save men’s lives and this message is very clear to Him at this moment in time as He faces what He is set to do for God the Father.  We need to hear that message today and see how far away we are from His mission when we want revenge upon and pain for others.  Yes we can be opposed to sin, but we need to be mindful of how desperate we need to be for that one whom Jesus loves to be convicted of that sin and to repent from it so they can enjoy the peace and satisfaction of being fulfilled by Christ.

Lastly though, we need to do what Jesus did and go to another village.  When someone refuses continually there is no need to stand outside of them and continue asking.  They will seek you out when they are ready, if they ever get ready.  God has a specific purpose for you at this moment, march on to that purpose.  Do not let someone's rejection cause you to miss a greater purpose.  If Jesus would have waited at that village, He would have missed Jerusalem and He would not have died on the cross and risen again.  The whole world would have missed God's Message.  Don't let someone take away the message He has to deliver with your life.

Testimony Friday!

Mary Goetz telling his testimony.  Video by http://www.oneforisrael.org/.

Sleep Through the Storm

This is an excellent devotion by Matt Ayers and you can find the original HERE.  I have highlighted some thoughts that stood out to me.

One of my favorite stories from the Gospels is when Jesus calms the storm while on the boat with his disciples on the Sea of Galilee (Mark 4:35–41). The storm is raging on and his disciples are panicking. As experienced fishermen who have certainly seen their share of storms on the water, Jesus’ disciples are sure that death is imminent. This must have been a storm of epic proportions! All the while, Jesus is fast asleep.

The frightened disciples wake Jesus saying, “‘Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?’ And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, ‘Peace! Be still!’ And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm” (Mark 4:38–39, emphasis added).

When his disciples witness that even the wind and waves obey his command they turn to ask each other, “Who is this guy?!”

There are three features of this story that apply to current events. First, this story affirms that there will be some intense storms in this life, and the most intense ones will tempt us to panic. The greatest storms will tempt us to rage and waver along with its unruly winds and churning waters. As long as we live in a broken and hurting world, things will not always be calm and peaceful around us. At the same time, God uses these situations that arise to invite us to deepen our dependence on him and commitment to him. Any situation that causes us to rely on Jesus on a deeper level and inspire greater faith in his capacity to redeem is something for which to be thankful. Let us rejoice in the problems that cause us to put our roots down deeper in the love of God!

Second, and most importantly, when these storms rage around us (and they will rage), we need not worry, and must not panic because Jesus is with us. No matter how the climate may change around us, what will never change is the historical fact that Jesus walked out of the grave on the third day victorious (his greatest miracle). Jesus invites us to share his peaceful and calm posture in the midst of circumstances in which brokenness runs amuck in the world like an out-of-control storm. Jesus, as the example of faith in the story, sleeps through the storm and the source of his peace and stillness is his trust in the Father and assurance that he is the sovereign king whose authority no adversary can legitimately challenge.

Third, Jesus calms the storm. According to the Old Testament, God alone controls nature. This story, then, attests to Jesus divinity. This means that when storms like this rage, it is by no human power or authority that peace will come, it is only by God’s sovereignty that order manifests in the midst of chaos.

The bottom-line is that the greater the problem, the greater the opportunity for Jesus to demonstrate what he’s capable of. When we deepen our faith in him during chaos of epic proportions, Jesus does what only God can do. When we witness this, like the disciples, we will stand back in awe of what he can accomplish.

By God’s grace, let us follow Jesus’ example of faith. Let us rediscover the assurance of God’s unmatched capacity to redeem every circumstance and calm every storm.

Praise Him

Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands!
Serve the Lord with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing.
Know that the Lord, He is God;
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
For the Lord is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations. - Psalm 100

Sing with me this morning:

I will enter His gates with thanksgiving in my heart;

I will enter His courts with praise.

I will say this is the day that the Lord has made.

I will rejoice for He has made me glad.

He has made me glad, He has made me glad,

I will rejoice for He has made me glad.

He has made me glad, He has made me glad,

I will rejoice for He has made me glad.

In the midst of angst, in the midst of pain, in the midst of ridicule, I find myself laughing.  Yes, it makes no sense.  But I find myself rejoicing this morning to be alive and to be cared for by an almighty God that cares intimately about me.  He cares so much about me that He has not destroyed me but blesses me instead!  How insanely crazy is His love!  

This past Saturday Russ and I were stuck in analyzing the fuel tank on the boat because of screws we couldn't get out of the top of the gas gauge sending unit.  I said a small prayer that God would help us get these insignificant things out.  Why?  I don't know, I guess because it was a problem for us at that time.  Guess what happened.  Yep, immediately thereafter the troublesome screw came right out.  

If God is willing to answer such a prayer regarding a meaningless screw, how much more must He consider the prayers regarding our deep heartfelt pain and the pain we have for others.  Oh how glorious is it that our pitiful prayers are lifted up to the throne of heaven and heard in the ear of the Creator of all things who has all power and all authority!  

May we enter into His gates this morning and enter the courts of His palace with thanksgiving and gratefulness ever humbled and awed by His great love for even us.

My Hope is in You

But now, Lord, what do I look for?
   My hope is in You.
Save me from all my transgressions;
   do not make me the scorn of fools. - Psalm 39:7-8

My wife and I find ourselves in the painful position of having to stand alone against my family.  We have had to do this in some regard before when other family members were doing other things and trying to manipulate us and others, but for some reason that was easier.  They weren't doing anything deceitful or intentional against us.  They were doing it equally to everyone.  At this time we are having to stand on what we believe is righteous and good while there is obvious work against us.  It is painful and we are heartbroken.  No one likes to be ostracized.

As David says, "My hope is in You."  Our hope is in Christ.  We have seen Him change a man when all hope was lost that he could change.  We are witness to Him saving us when the world would throw us away. We have a real faith in what Jesus can do in others or in us.  We pray that we'll be where we need to be in this and we'll be who He wants us to be.  May He reign in our lives and pour Himself out on those around us. We pray for the conviction of sin and God to "save me from all my transgressions".

We also do not want to be ridiculed for our position.  As David prays, we pray not to be made "the scorn of fools."  Our hope is in the One True Living God.  He will reign over us, in us, and through us forever more!

In Christ alone my hope is found

He is my light, my strength, my song

This Cornerstone, this solid ground

Firm through the fiercest drought and storm

What heights of love, what depths of peace

When fears are stilled, when strivings cease

My Comforter, my All in All

Here in the love of Christ I stand

Hearing God

Ps 46:10  He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

I admit to many sins one of which is fail to follow this command to be still.  I know God is God and clearly I am not, but I fail to be still none-the-less.  I'm a high type A personality that always has way too much on my plate and I find it practically impossible to simply be still.  Yet being still is essential.  Elijah had to be still to hear God in a whisper following a storm and earthquake.  Samuel was trying to sleep in the still of the night when God called to him.  Even Saul (later Paul) had to still himself following a dramatic encounter with Christ on the road to Damascus to hear Christ's message to him. 
So how does God speak to us?  Henry Blackaby, Author of "Experiencing God" defines four different ways:
1.  Scripture
2.  Prayer
3.  Other Christians
4.  Circumstances

So do you test everything against scripture?  Sadly, responses by Christians to the recent SCOTUS decision regarding same sex marriage clearly shows that many or even most Christians don't know/care to check their beliefs against scripture.  I've seen absolutely outlandish claims about what God says and how He feels that are counter to scripture.  This is why it is so important to check everything against scripture.  God has clearly spoken through His divinely inspired word and I believe He expects us to read it.  To do so, requires us to be still and thoroughly research topics such as marriage, then believe and act on what He has said accordingly.  Have you ever thought about the fact that those who have espoused opinions that are clearly in conflict with scripture are worshipping a false God?  Furthermore, God included dire warnings against changing His word. 
Prayers isn't just asking God for stuff.  More importantly, prayer is a privilege to approach a high and holy God.  We should be in awe and immediately convicted of our sin as God cannot tolerate sin.  In addition, we should be aware of the tremendous blessings God has bestowed upon us.  If you're not convicted of your sin and humbled by the great blessings you've been given, then I suggest your prayer life is centered on you, not God which prevents you from listening.  If your prayer life consists of just asking for stuff, you need to stop, examine just exactly who is on the throne of your life, and be honest and admit that you are trying to be lord - a role God has reserved for Himself!
As a type A, its easiest for me to simply run to ask others when I need a quick answer.  Be careful!  None of know and completely understand: 1) your past perfectly,  2) your present circumstances completely, and 3) anything about your future.  Only God has perfect knowledge of all three and only God can provide you a perfect answer.  You may get good advice, but if you don't check it against scripture and you don't pray, you may be stuck with good, but not best.  Worse, you may get advice that is actually harmful. 
Finally, be careful allowing circumstances to define who God is or what He wants for you.  He can speak to you and even "open or close doors" for you, but His message isn't ALWAYS defined clearly in your circumstances.  I think He can ALWAYS speak to you in your circumstances, but His message may not be on the surface.  Remember His message will always be consistent with His word already revealed in scripture.
So, do you have the discipline to be still and hear God?  I worry that I've missed Him all too often in the business of life.  In fact, I'm convinced that business is a tactic by Satan to distract me.  I hope and pray that you are taking time to pray about your decisions in life and taking your decisions to scripture as well as trustworthy Christians.  Don't draw your own conclusions about where God is leading you without investing the time to be still and listen carefully and with an open mind and heart.

Feeding the Homeless

I got up at 4:50 this morning to get to the church by 5:30 to could help prepare breakfast to feed the homeless.  Julie and I signed up to be on teams to do this once a month, but if there are five Tuesdays in a month my team does it twice.  She got up with me and went with me to help this morning, that's three times for her in the last six weeks as she filled in for me last week when work was crushing me.  It is such a joy to serve together to serve others in this way.

I was alone preparing the drink table with coffee and water and I thought, no one will ever know I was here doing this, yet I'd rather be doing this than my regular work.  This work will make no difference of any real consequence, it will not be noticed, yet I am more filled by it than doing my normal job.  And to have my wife working in that work also is God heaping blessings upon me.

My cousin, Joe, explained feelings and thoughts we have like these deep inside in a real way for me once. He was speaking of himself in relation to his desire to help others but I believe it applies well to each of us, he said:

"The reason I am drawn to help is because I have a lot of love in my heart.  I have Christ in my heart.  He wants to help so I want to help.  I hurt when I see someone hurting and needy because Christ, in my heart, hurts.  I have to overcome Christ to do nothing."  

These were powerful words of testimony to me and I have not forgotten them.

Stuff

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. - Matthew 6:19-21

This was the obvious verse for this past weekend.  On Friday I learned that my boat had a small gas leak.  I thank God that no one was hurt in some kind of accident because of it, as I am mindful of the guy who's boat exploded just a few weeks ago as he had gasoline vapors build up inside his engine compartment and they were sparked.  As Russ and I went to investigate, hoping for a leaky hose which would be easy to fix, we couldn't find a leaky hose but realized there was a deliberate slow leak.  Upon determining this, we had to remove large panels to get to one of the gas tanks where we saw the obvious corrosion on the aluminum tank.  The worst news of all with regards to cost, inconvenience, and work required for repairing.

While we are in the middle of transferring the fuel out of this leaky tank into the good tank one 5-gallon gas can at a time with a hand pump (the tank is 90 gallons, fortunately it was only half full), Russ gets a call from Reja that their freezer has quit working and everything in it is rotten.  All the fish we'd caught and cleaned, deer meat from the deer killed over winter, deer sausage, steaks, ... everything.  As much as it is to loose all that it comes with a large mess to clean up and that mess doesn't smell good.  

So, do we get angry, throw our hands up, or give up?  Has life thrown us something unfairly?  Do we fret and wonder why this happened to us?  Of course not!  This is just stuff and stuff is, in comparison to the only really important thing - a relationship with Jesus, absolutely inconsequential.  Yes, that is correct, stuff has no eternal value.  While there is a price to pay for it here in this physical world, there is no eternal price on stuff, therefore it is really worthless.  At best, it is for convenience while we exist in the physical world.

All of this is just another reminder of why it is important to keep our heart close to God.  We must search and want a closer walk with our Savior everyday.  Perspective is corrected when the Spirit of God is able to weigh upon our hearts immediately in the face of these worldly events.  I thank God that I have those around me who encourage and reflect such importance in their life daily.

Comparisons

As much as I dislike putting a part of the Sunday class message up as a daily devotion, I really wanted to record it for future reference.  We are currently through week two in the Jesus > Religion series.  There is, what I think, to be an excellent description given by Jefferson Bethke in regards to comparing ourselves to others.  I am assuming he came up with it, he may have heard it and repeated it, but it is good nonetheless.

Comparing ourselves to others is like looking for our reflection in a pool of muddy water.  We simply cannot see ourselves as we truly are in muddy water.  The reflection we get is gross and it does not accurately indicate who and what we are, if we can see ourselves at all.  In order to see ourselves clearly, we need a clear surface, one with no flaws.  Therefore, the only way to see ourselves correctly is to compare ourselves to the perfection of Jesus.  Any other comparison is inadequate.

There was plenty of other great information in the class, but I wanted to record that one.

Fiery Ordeal

¹² Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. ¹³ But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. – 1 Peter 4:12-13

Rejoice we are instructed!  Rejoice in the fiery ordeal or trial.  I know people who cringe and lament giving their tithe.  They can’t fathom giving above the measly 10% in however God might call.  Even though we are told that God loves a rejoicing giver.  And that is easy.  How much more difficult is it to rejoice in, not just a trial, but a “fiery” trial? 

The Message translation quotes these verses this way.  “Friends, when life gets really difficult, don’t jump to the conclusion that God isn’t on the job. Instead, be glad that you are in the very thick of what Christ experienced. This is a spiritual refining process, with glory just around the corner.” 

Why must we endure such with rejoicing?  One reason is for our own refinement.  It is so that we might grow in our faith and character of God.  Another reason is for witness.  It is so that we might demonstrate to others what faith in and character of God are so that they might see and believe in Jesus as the Son of God and substitute for their sins, either freshly anew or in a new deeper way.  Yet, there is the single purpose of knowing we are in God’s purpose and giving God the glory for it.  1 Corinthians 10:31 says, “Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” and Jesus instructed in Matthew 5:16, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”  Suffering and enduring patiently through a fiery ordeal falls in that whatever you do category.  So, we are to rejoice and give God the glory for our pain, but more for His deliverance which our faith knows will come.

Hannah Whitall Smith wrote in 1866, “The Lord has been teaching me in many ways lately about my utter weakness in the presence of temptation.  … My own efforts have been worse than useless.  …  If I am to be sanctified, if I am to be preserved blameless and harmless, it must be by the power of God for my own efforts have utterly failed.  … I realize that Christ dwells in my heart by faith and that He is able and willing to subdue all things to Himself.” 

It is so easy to feel sorry for ourselves, our situation, and to be angry and bitter for it.  But we are taught that as followers of Christ we are not to yield to these temptations.  It is more than difficult to stand in pain, in a fiery ordeal or trial, and do it with a rejoicing heart giving God the glory for His yet unseen deliverance.  I dare say it to be impossible for man to do alone.  Yet God can do all things, if we will only believe.  Jesus came to glorify the Father and He did it.  If we then, yield our suffering to Christ asking Him to take our burden, to guide our actions and feelings, and to glorify the Father through us.  He has already proven He is more than capable to answer such a prayer request.

Critical Spirit

Romans 14:10-14 Amplified Bible (AMP)

¹⁰ Why do you criticize and pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you look down upon or despise your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God.

¹¹ For it is written, As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God [acknowledge Him to His honor and to His praise].

¹² And so each of us shall give an account of himself [give an answer in reference to judgment] to God.

¹³ Then let us no more criticize and blame and pass judgment on one another, but rather decide and endeavor never to put a stumbling block or an obstacle or a hindrance in the way of a brother.

 

Lately I've become extra-sensitive to those around me that seem to find nothing to say except to criticize.   Often, for instance, I hear people criticize the church service, the sermon, the music, the sound or visual aids.  Some say the music is unfamiliar and doesn't fit with the worship style or that the  sermon wasn't pointed enough.  Others are frustrated with the upkeep of the building and grounds while others are frustrated with staff turnover.  All may be valid critiques, but I'm wondering what people expect when they go to church.  Furthermore, I'm wondering if they care how the criticism affects my spirit and perhaps more importantly, their own spirit.  I'm not sure why I've become so sensitive, but perhaps God is dealing with my own critical spirit.

I'm most critical at home and mostly of Reja and the kids.  Consequently, I constantly complain, nag, gripe, and issue negative reinforcement about everything.  My clothes aren't clean, or my house isn't clean or my yard isn't cut, or my vehicles aren't clean, or dinner isn't ready and so on and so on and so on and so on.  As we've aged, I can see the toll my perfectionist streak has had on Reja as she has come to expect criticism over several key topics and lives in a defensive posture and often lashes out even without criticism.  In short, my criticism has made her worse, not better in every subject that I constantly berate her about.  Now, I constantly pray for God to help me love her as Christ loves the church and to become an encourager, not a critic.  As we know, however, a leopard simply cannot change his own spots except by the grace of God and the Grace of God doesn't change the consequences of years of bad decisions and behaviors over night.

So I live in a constant state of needing an extra dose of God's grace.  Unfortunately, in spite of the fact that I think I might actually see a difference in myself, change in Reja or the kids lags behind the improvements I think I observe in myself.  I've spent years building a critical relationship and they live in a world that expects it, often even misinterpreting my words and intent because of my past critical spirit.  I've got a long way to go to become the man I should be, but in the meantime I live in a home of my own making.  For that I need patience and I was not born with that gene.  Back to the well of God's grace...

So I'm hypersensitive to criticism.  I tell my engineering staff that it takes zero brain cells to criticize another's idea, design, or analysis.  Real brains are required to actually execute a design or improve a design or conduct an analysis.  More importantly, criticism doesn't help me accomplish our mission.  Don't get me wrong, we need critique, but it can't end with criticism.  I need answers, plans, paths forward.  I believe church is no different. 

In fact, what I see, is that we usually get out of a circumstance what we put into it.  If we go to church expecting issues, we will find them readily.  Worse, we won't worship.  If on the other hand, we go expecting to draw nearer to and be caught up into the spirit of God, I almost always find an occasion to do so in our church.  I guess what I learned from the school of hard knocks is that proper worship requires preparation of my own critical spirit or I simply miss the opportunities to worship, fellowship, and grow. 

So are you constantly criticizing the church and its staff?  If so, what do you hope to accomplish?  Are your thoughts guided by the Holy Spirit or self-centeredness?  If you think these thoughts are inspired, what do you think God is calling you to do about it?  I urge you to be cautious in your criticism.  I live in a home that has been perhaps irreparably damaged by my own critical spirit.  Do you want to join me in the cesspool of my sin? 

 

 

His Best Work is in Our Darkest Hour

¹⁸ Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. ¹⁹ For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. ²⁰ For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. ²¹ For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:

²² “Who committed no sin,
Nor was deceit found in His mouth”; 

²³ who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; ²⁴ who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. ²⁵ For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. – 1 Peter 2:18-25

While we don’t use the term servant and master in our society, they certainly do exist.  Those who are in authority are masters.  If you are a child, your parent is your master at home.  If you are a student, your teacher is your master in the classroom.  If you work, your boss is your master at work.  If you are a business owner, your clients are your master for your income.  All of this is relative, of course, to our local condition and not in relation to our position with God.  That is another discussion. 

The point in this Bible text is that if you are submissive and enduring wrongful suffering because you are mindful of God, this is commendable before God.  If you do no wrong, but are treated unjustly (think Cinderella), God recognizes this as it emulates the steps of Christ.  We, unfortunately, do not apply this to our daily lives.  Do you suffer patiently when someone cuts you off in traffic?  Do you slow down, offering a safe distance for driving while asking God to bless them in their urgent need?  …  So many people we see every day do not have the slightest consideration for anyone around them.  Shouldn’t we, as Christ followers, be different?  This is the message here.  …  Do you suffer patiently with the wrong that was committed to you?  Maybe it was abuse, abandonment, or an attack.  Do you slow down, thank God for bringing it into your life to develop your spiritual character and move you closer to God, and pray for God to use what is an obvious extension of His character in you to save the abuser, abandoner, or attacker? …  (This is the 2^nd most difficult paragraph I’ve ever written.  While I believe it is the Godly way, I do not know how to live there without the ever present Spirit of God obliterating me daily.  It is one of those things that I know is right, but am not sure I see how to live it.  It will require that 2^nd step of faith, the one that says “My only hope is in Christ.  If He doesn’t do it, it can’t be done.”)

Jesus committed no sin and did not speak against those who persecuted Him.  When He spoke in reference to them He simply asked God to forgive them.  Matt Ayers comments on this verse saying, “Jesus’ example reveals that it is in the greatest moment of injustice that God redeems the world.  It is in the darkest hours of human life that God is at His best in His redemptive work.  God is at His best in the Red Sea moments of life; the moments when it seems as if there’s no way out of our problems or troubles.”

Verse 21 says this is our calling.  Do you wonder what your calling is?  Every Christian has general and specific callings on their life.  One of the general callings is described here.  We are called to suffer like Christ suffered with regard to those who are harsh and hate.  Until Christ comes again, there will be hate in this world.  We are not to respond to hate with more hate.  We are to patiently endure as He endured and let God demonstrate who He is through us in such times.

How do we do this?  The simple answer is we can’t, but He can.  We have to have faith and put all our hope in Jesus to do in us what we accept that we can’t do.  We have to know that His best work is in our darkest hours.  If we could do it, then why would we need God?  He is ever present in our times of trouble and ever able to do what we can’t do.  Jesus committed Himself to God (vs 23) when persecuted, we are to follow His steps.