Elevation Point Church Elevation Point Church

In Romans 5, Paul says that as followers of Jesus we have hope and peace, but these concepts may not mean what we typically think they do. He then delivers a surprising message: we should "glory in our sufferings." Generally, we don't like pain, and that's a sentiment most people share. However, just because we don't like something doesn't mean it's bad. We often view suffering as negative, but sometimes pain can be beneficial. Growth and progress often come from pain! As followers of Jesus, we frequently encounter pain. We face suffering, but what truly matters is persevering through it and understanding that it will be worth it in the end.

We often fixate on the idea that our mistakes should disqualify us from God's love. Similarly, it's just as easy to dwell on others' mistakes and think they too should be disqualified. Both perspectives fail to grasp the vastness of God's love. His love surpasses our misdeeds and those of others. In the end, it's only us who are preoccupied with these mistakes—God is more concerned with our identity as His children.

Jesus pointed out that people are often so preoccupied with criticizing others for insignificant actions that they fail to address their own significant issues. The Pharisees, for instance, were well-versed in the rules, laws, and religious practices, yet they missed what truly mattered. While it's easy to criticize the Pharisees for this oversight, if we're honest, we often face the same struggle. We might have mastered the religious jargon, know when to shout, and understand the rules to follow. However, Jesus emphasized that if our hearts are not aligned with our actions, then those actions are meaningless. He taught that adherence to man-made rules is futile if it doesn't come from a sincere heart.

Hidden in Plain Sight

Take Your Position

In Genesis 30, we see two sisters who are both blessed in different ways. One is deeply loved by her husband, while the other has already given birth to four children. However, neither of them is happy. It's noteworthy that their discontent doesn't stem from what they possess but from what they lack compared to each other. Leah desires what Rachel has, while Rachel desires what Leah has. Isn't it remarkable how what we lack is often magnified while what we possess is minimized, especially when we start comparing ourselves to others? For instance, we're content with our car until we see someone else's. We're satisfied with our children's behavior until we observe someone else's. We're happy with our business until we notice someone else's. We're content with our marriage until we compare it to someone else's. Often, our dissatisfaction with our current circumstances arises when we compare them to others'. We end up comparing unrelated aspects of our lives to others', mistakenly believing they are similar; when they are in fact, not the same.