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Woburn

Address

35 Olympia Avenue
Woburn, MA 01801

Service Times

Sunday 8:30 AM

Sunday 10:00 AM

Sunday 11:30 AM

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Set Congregation

North Shore

Address

North Beverly Elementary School | 48 Putnam St.
Beverly, MA 01915

Service Times

Sunday 10:00 AM

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Set Congregation

The Better Question

by on December 13, 2017

Human beings are a lot like oranges: you only see what it's made of once they are squeezed. We may be able to hide the ugly parts inside of us for a while, but doesn’t life have a peculiar way of squeezing them out of us? When the pressure is on, when the pain strikes, who we really are gets forced out. That’s when we see the side of ourselves that we hope no one else sees. That's when we ask questions such as,

"Why do I have it so bad?"

“What did I do to deserve this?”, and “How could this have happened?” These questions are windows into our soul.

While these are honest questions, they aren't the best thing we can be asking.  A better question is, "Why do we have it so good?" For surely our sin and rebellion has warranted eternal separation from God. That is what I am owed in a world owned by God. I was made by Him, for Him, to live in His world, for His good pleasure. I haven't played by His rules. The case against me is air-tight; the evidence against me is overwhelming.

The judge would be just to condemn me.

Yet, for some reason beyond my understanding, God decided to rescue me from this judgment and pour out His blessings upon me. Through nothing I could ever offer to absolve myself, God has freely unleashed the bounty of heaven to give me everything I have, without asking for any payment in return. The payment needed He made at His own expense! And, He not only took my debt upon Himself, He continues to give me good things.

I may struggle in this life. I may feel momentary pain and sadness. I may endure awful difficulties along the way.  Perhaps you know someone - or are someone - who could say that about your life right now. But if we remember what we are owed in our sin and what we have been given instead in Christ, our hearts can find comfort, peace, and perspective. If we remember that our destination is an undeserved eternity of infinite joy in the presence of a beautiful and glorious King, then we could remember just how blessed we are. We could thankfully endure every trial we are given, knowing we are adopted into a glorious inheritance.

How could I ever ask “Why do I have it so bad?” Instead, I ought to always ask my loving Father,

“Why, Lord, do I have it so good?”