Christianity Oasis Forum

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SUNDAY FEBRUARY 7


THE FACTORY OF SADNESS

READ:
Revelation 21:4
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[GOD] will wipe
every tear rom
their eyes.
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As a lifelong Cleveland Browns football fan, I grew up knowing my share of disappointment. Despite being one of only four teams to have never apeared in a Super Bowl championship game, the Browns have a loyal fan base that sticks with the team year in and year out. But because the fans usually end up disappointed, many of them now refer to the home stadium as the "Factory of Sadness."

The broken world we live in can be a "factory of sadness" too. There seems to be an endless supply of heartache and disappointment, whether from our own choices or things beyond our control.

Yet the follower of Christ has hope__not only in the life to come but for this very day. Jesus said, "I have overcome the world" (HOHN 16:33). Notice that without minimizing the struggles or sadness we may experience, Christ counters them with His promises of peace, joy, and ultimate victory.

Great peace is available in Christ, and it's more than enough to help us navigate whatever life throws at us. ____Bill Crowser

** When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
when sorrows like sea billows roll;
whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
it is well, it is well, with my soul.
__Horatio G. Spafford

*****************Today's Bible Reading __ John 16:28-33******************
28 I came from the Father and entered the world; now I
am leaving the world and going back to the Father."

29 Then Jesus' disciples said, "Now you are speaking
clearly and without figures of speech. 30 Now we can see
that you know all things and that you do not even need to
have anyoe ask you questions. This makes us believe that you
came from God."

31 "Do you not believe?" Jesus replied. 32 "A time is coming
and in fact has come when you will be scattered, each to your
own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for
my Father is with me.

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.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
In today'a passage, Jesus's words span a wide
timeframe__past, present, and future. To reassure His disciples
of His source of authority and the truth of His mission, Jesus says
in verse 28 that He "came from the Fahter" (past tense) and is
now "going back to the Father" (present tense). Then in verse
33, Jesus cautions them that they "will have trouble" (future
test). But then He refer to the future with such ertainty that
He uses the past tense__" I have overcome the world." Despite
having yet to be arrested, tried, crucified, resurrected, and
ascended back to the Father, Jesus gives His disciples a concrete
source of hope__He has overcome the world. ________J. R. Hudberg