Providential Challenges as Opportunities to Seize Using Biblical Faith.

Introduction: Our much-deserved rest. The last few generations have been fixed on the ideas of productivity, achievement, efficiency, and –of course- success. Our world has generally promoted the idea of “arriving” at a point where we would have finally earned and achieved our much "deserved rest." For many, the only goal they hold for their five-day workweek is their "deserved weekend rest"at the beach or the holiday cottage. But rest is at its best the most illusive of dreams and at its worst, for those who’ve determined to achieve it at any cost, it will prove to be the most sick of jokes. The nature of emerging society is its many intangibles! The answers are nothing less than: (i.) collective or team involvement, (ii.) creative responsiveness, and (iii.) coherent vision. In Biblical terminology this is faithfulness to the Truth through (i.) the influence of a Biblical local church, (ii.) the sharing of the true Truth of God's Word and (iii.) a vision for serving Christ through the spiritual, emotional and physical needs of others ... to the Glory of God.

Challenges as Exciting Opportunities: The need to view today’s challenges as exciting opportunities is essential. A world full of intangibles demands a detailed and differentiated response. Returning to 'tried,' 'tested' and 'traditional' responses will only bog us down. Instability, unpredictability and frustration call out for new responses of increased innovation, flexibility and attention. Should we make the decision to become proactive in a truly Biblical way toward our modern society’s increasingly chaotic pace, we can expect, among other blessings, hope as a result. Genuine hope in God’s love, leading, guiding and control can remotivates the believer’s focus on others. This focus on others in turn leads us to seize the opportunities God is Providentially placing in front of us. This faith in action is absolutely necessary for the Christian who wants to go forward amidst a society going in every sort of direction.

Life's uncertainties our 'tools' for learning: If we are to do the will of God in these amazing and bewildering times we must consciously, and daily, if not passionately rededicate our lives to see uncertainty as a learning opportunity and not a threat! By using the term, rededicate - I should explain that I am refering to actual performance, not just empty or idle promises. By “dedication” I am refering to personally being extended, consistent, trusting, inspiring, and balanced. Such strengths are the renewing and fruit producing work of the Spirit. Sheer will power is not sufficient for these things.

Biblical Principles: To face the many intangibles of our post-modern world, sound Biblical principles need our unending attention. We need to achieve a most extraordinary level of personal, family and local church responsiveness and learning. If we are to encourage spiritual champions instead of spiritual victims we must expand our commitment to learning how to change but to do so without yielding the truths, principles and values God has revealed to us through His Holy Word.
Some good individual and family learning essentials should include: Submitting ourselves to the control of the Spirit of God through a thorough study of and obedience to the Word of God.

Listening: Giving a greater commitment to listening to our family and others so we .can be more innovative in our responses to their needs. Appreciating the value of our family as a uniques and compact team that can quickly adjust and meet today’s fast-paced challenges. Learning how to work with our own family and families and groups within our church as types of “self-managed” and strategic learning partnerships. Allowing the Word of God to direct us, and guide our prayer lives in a more day to day and realistic basis..Viewing attention to others – especially to individuals - as of paramount importance!

Doing: By weekly planning how our family could serve others more effectively. By giving individual ‘quality time’ for training our family members for greater service to others. By expecting and respecting the need for individuals to take spontaneous initiative in serving others and in witnessing to lost friends. By maintaining a sense of urgency about our Christian home life – yet doing so with a real commitment to maintaining our family’s order and integrity.By constantly improving and enhancing our partnership relationships in our marriage and family (and within our church friendships). By loving God, His Word and others more- this includes the lovely and unlovely, the cooperative and the difficult types as well !