Habakkuk’s
Complaint
1:2-5 How long, O Lord,
must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, “Violence!” but
you do not save?
Why
do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrong? Destruction and
violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds.
Therefore
the law is paralyzed, and justice never prevails. The wicked hem in the
righteous, so that justice is perverted.
The
Lord’s Answer
“Look
at the nations and watch – and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do
something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told.”
Habakkuk’s
Prayer
3:2 Lord, I have heard
of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, O Lord. Renew them in our day, in
our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy.
3:17-19 Though the fig tree does
not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and
the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle
in the stalls,
Yet
I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.
The
Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he
enables me to go on the heights.
We
were welcomed as we entered, and many people greeted us.
The
sanctuary in which we worshiped had an arched exposed steel ceiling, the seating
was comfortable and some friends sat with us. There was what seemed like a
small orchestra onstage, giving the traditional worship a contemporary feel.
The highlight for me was the large cross: with the lighting there was a halo
effect on the wall behind it.
I
really appreciated the Scripture reading. I seldom hear verses read with
feeling and inflection and it added a lot to worship. I wish I could have heard
more of the female’s voice during an enjoyable duet as the offering was taken.
It was encouraging how much prayer was offered. I was impressed that prayer was
given for a youth leader who had resigned.
The
sermon, “How Could a Good God Allow Suffering,” was a personal message for us. I
appreciated the comment that there are “no intellectual answers”…so many were
offered when our son was killed.
We
are called to study God’s Word to know Him better, but with a little knowledge
we too often feel we are able to understand God, and then we question whether
He knows what He is doing. As we study we come to view our strengths as our god.
As
we seek justice God calls us to wait for it, and He is never late.
Worshipers
were offered an opportunity to come forward after the service for individual
prayers.
I
always look for signage and what I saw was good until we went to leave…we got
to tour the whole campus looking for the exit.
I found
an interesting flier on suggestions to support your Church Shepherd and I hope
this includes the pastors.
This
is another of the churches I have driven past for a good while and today was
the day we were called to worship here.
Parking
space is ample for the large facility and indoor signage was plentiful, so we had
no problem finding anything.
It
was a joy to encounter several friends from the past who invited us to sit with
them, and after worship we all chatted at a table in the Atrium. It was indeed
a happy reunion! I can see where the café is a convenient place for members to
pick up lunch and support a mission endeavor in the process.
Following
intercessory prayer in the chapel at 8:30, there is a choice of the traditional
or contemporary service at 9 and after the 10:15 Sunday School another traditional
or contemporary service at 11:15. We attended the 9 a.m. traditional service
and stepped in for part of a song at the 11:15 contemporary service. We learned
that the pastors took turns preaching at the various services, and used the
same Scripture and topic but wrote their own message.
I
thought the music in the service we attended could more accurately be called “blended,”
although it almost sounded like an orchestra leading from onstage. It was pleasant
and professional-sounding.
The
sanctuary was spacious and comfortable. I’m sure Bob will talk about the cross,
but I appreciated it also.
The
current sermon series is called “Tough Questions – Hot Potatoes and Disputable
Matters” and today’s entry was “How Could a Good God Allow Suffering.”
What
was going through my mind was, here’s a tough question for you: why would God
lead us to hear a sermon with this title one week before the anniversary of our
son’s going Home? I could think of only one answer for that question: He wanted
us to hear it.
The
pastor offered an excellent message based on Habakkuk’s “humble but bold” questions
to God in his attempt to make sense of the chaos of his time, and I was
surprised to find many of these questions were the same ones I have asked of
Him: What kind of God is He? Is He incompetent? Does He not love me? Why did He
not intervene? Where was He? Did He forget to watch over my son? How can I make
sense of anything? What does this “failure” say about Him? How can I trust Him
now? As the pastor put it, “Can we believe when things don’t work out?”
Then
the pastor stated the truths Habakkuk learned and that have saved my life: “things
crumble but God remains; if we lose our focus on God we lose our faith; God is
in control and has never failed us; the Christian’s comfort zone is in Christ
alone; look at the long plan and wait patiently.” It takes work, but “fear does
turn to faith,” and eventually we learn “the reality that we can only trust
God.”
I
am grateful God led us here today. He was right, I did need to hear this
sermon. I found it unexpectedly comforting and encouraging to hear a reminder
of God’s sovereignty this week.
Sometimes
I ask Him questions He does not answer, and sometimes He answers questions I do
not ask.
Before
we left we toured the building some, and it is an impressive facility. We
encountered one of the pastors and enjoyed an uplifting conversation.
Father,
we pray that Christ would continue to bless and guide this church and its
leaders. Jesus, please equip and inspire this congregation to take Your message
to their neighbors and the world. Encourage them to tell their story. In Jesus’
Name. Amen.
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