God Uses People to Care for People
Lead by Example – Part VI

Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 5:1-12

Key Verse: John 16:33
“I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Have you missed the very purpose of Jesus coming to earth? Look what Jesus said:

“The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.” (John 10:10 NLT)

My question to you is, do you feel like you are living a “rich and satisfying life”?

Now, if I asked that of an unbeliever, more than likely they would say “no” because they relate it to having a lot of money and doing all the fun things of which they can think.

As a believer, I hope you realize that you are rich in Him and that you are satisfied with where God has you.

For me, I am most tempted to lose my sense of a “rich and satisfying life” when some problem pops up that I have no idea how to manage.

To enjoy this wonderful abundant life Jesus came to give us, we must rewire our minds to see life’s problems differently. When we see problems as we should, we see them as opportunities for God to show His power in us or for us.

I do not always see problems in that light; and when that happens, I start to lose the joy of the Lord.

The reason that keeping this sense of a “rich and satisfying life” is important is because we are to be God’s Light to the world. Isn’t it true that the best representatives of anything is a person who is totally in love with it, one who has personally proven its worth?

Unbelievers are never impressed by believers that are only happy and satisfied when things are going well. No one needs Jesus to be happy in life when there are no problems weighing them down. Our world needs to see that we have abundant life even when we are experiencing problems.

In her song “Coat of Many Colors”, Dolly Parton says “that one is only poor only if they choose to be.” That is true in all parts of our lives. Problems burden us only when we think we are, and believers should never think that way! We should quickly remind ourselves to “cast our burdens on the Lord, for He cares for us” (1 Peter 5:7). Christ-followers are only as miserable as they choose to be.

Give any misery that is robbing you of your joy to God, He cares for you.

Father, I believe You for my salvation; help me to believe Your promises for my daily life. I ask this in Jesus’s Name, amen.