Got a birthday card from God

That whistling sound you heard recently followed by a plop and puff of dust was me having another milestone birthday. It started off kinda rocky because of my early morning devotional, which, this year, consists of articles from three different publishers.

The first article I read that birthday morning began in the middle of John 16:33, where Jesus told his disciples, and future Christians that, “In this world you will have trouble” (that’s when the whistling mentioned above began). What a great way to start off another year of life! While the first part of the verse hadn’t been included, the last part of the verse was (read John 16:33 and all passages cited). Jesus had just previously told his disciples including present-day Christians about troubles we’ll have because we’re “in him,” and he was reassuring us that everything would be okay because we’re “in him.”

The next article I read was about Christ being the inside Savior based on Romans 8:31, which says that God gives Christians life (abundantly and eternally) through Christ’s Spirit who lives in us (John 10:10; Romans 8:15-17; 6:3-8; Galatians 2:20-21; Acts 2:38-39; Colossians 1:25-27). In John 16:33, Jesus said we had to be “in him” to have peace. It sounds contradictory for us to be “in him” and have him “in us” at the same time, but that’s how Jesus described his relationship with God (John 17:20-21).

So, how does God put Jesus in us and us in Jesus? Galatians 3:26-28 says that we’re clothed with Christ when we’re baptized into him, making us children of God. Galatians 4:6-7 says that because we’re his children, God sends Jesus’ Spirit into our hearts. That puts us in Jesus and him in us at the same time!

The third birthday article was about reliance on God. In John 16:33, Jesus said we could have peace because he’d overcome the world, the source of the troubles. To have peace, we must rely on Jesus, even during times when all seems to be peace and prosperity because he’s the overcomer and it’s only through him and our faith in him that we’re victorious over the world (1 Timothy 6:17-19; Luke 12:15-21; Isaiah 26:1-4, 12; 1 John 5:1-5).

I love how God brought those three articles into the same place and time to encourage me on one of my milestone birthdays (like a special birthday card). That day I considered how I might prepare for my next anticipated milestone, which for most people is a significant life change that could take place in about five years for me.

God really does bring everything together for us (Acts 17:26-27). While it’s appropriate for us to plan our future – the parts we’ll spend on earth and for eternity – we’re to rely on God to secure both of those components of our future (Luke 14:28-30; Matthew 6:25-34; James 4:13-16; Psalm 127:1-2; 1 Corinthians 3:5-9).

Have you found current and future peace by being in Jesus and having him in you?

Leonard Lauriault writes about faith for the Quay County Sun. Contact him at [email protected]