PRESIDENT’S DESK: Finding encouragement in a troubled world
By Lloyd Sweatt
Correspondent
I was asked to write something ENCOURAGING to those who read Magnolia Minds. As I attempt to put encouraging thoughts together, I must explain where I am at this present moment. CHILDREN’S CAMP! In fact, in the middle of Children’s Camp following a night when it seems that every child (and youth) had consumed enough caffeine to stay awake all month long!
This year has been eventful with many things happening in our Southern Baptist Convention along with the U.S. Supreme Court rendering their decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, plus escalating prices on nearly everything along with a nation that seems more divided than ever before.
Charles Dickens wrote these opening words in his novel, A Tale of Two Cities: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” As it was in 1859, that is true today. In many things that go on in our lives, we can view our situations in a life A CUP HALF FULL or A CUP HALF EMPTY.
No matter what we experience, we can be ENCOURAGED with the truth that our LORD is still in control of everything.
Way before Charles Dickens wrote his novel, the prophet Isaiah wrote a true best seller placed in the Old Testament of our Bible. Isaiah could have written chapter six from a cup half full or cup half empty mindset.
Isaiah 6:1-3reads: 1In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. 2Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. 3And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.
During a low point in the life of the nation of Israel, Isaiah went to church and found ENCOURAGEMENT. He found instructions from our Lord. How do we find instructions for ENCOURAGMENT in our day? We, as believers, need to:
— LIVE CONFIDENTLY: “In the year that king Uzziah died …,” the Lord was on His throne! Live confidently in GOOD times; King Uzziah did well in the sight of the Lord. The nation prospered and was peaceful. The Lord was blessing them. May we LIVE CONFIDENTLY in the GOOD times.
— Live confidently in the GLOOMY times, too. King Uzziah was not
perfect. King Uzziah drifted from God’s principles. When the world around us drifts from God’s principles, may we as believers stand true and LIVE CONFIDENTLY.
— LOOK CLEARLY: “…I SAW also the LORD sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple…”
— See the Lord SITTING: “… sitting upon a throne …” Sitting is the same word as DWELL. Our Lord is still sitting and remaining on HIS THRONE today!
— See the Lord SUPREMELY: “… high and lifted up, …” Higher than any throne or dominion or power. Not just any throne, but the THRONE of thrones. Supremely over any world power or action that takes place.
— See the Lord with STRENGTH: “… and his train filled the temple.” Be ENCOURAGED TODAY that our Lord has the power to fill the cup to OVERFLOWING!
— LISTEN CAREFULLY. While looking, Isaiah also heard!
— Hear About the Lord’s PURITY: “Holy, Holy, Holy …” A chorus of praise declaring the holiness of God. In a tomb today, one can find the remains of a king who had leprosy and died. He was not holy. BUT there is another tomb, one that was borrowed for just three days, for on the third day, a HOLY GOD, a KING, rose from the dead and is alive, SITTING ON THE THRONE!
— Hear About the Lord’s POWER: “… is the LORD of hosts …” God has an army! There is no power in the world that can match HIS POWER. What have we to fear? Our LORD has the power to take care of today so we can see the CUP FULL!
— Hear About The Lord’s PURPOSE: “… the whole earth is full of His glory.” The fullness of the earth reflects the Glory of God through you!
May we be ENCOURAGED TODAY and TOMORROW with the wonderful truth that no matter what ….. OUR LORD IS STILL ON THE THRONE! May we, as believers, see that the CUP THAT RUNNETH OVER.
For me, I get to continue with 100 plus degree temperature and CHILDREN’S CAMP, loving every minute of it with boys and girls, youth and adults loaded with caffeine. My camping cup overflows!
MAY GOD BLESS YOU ABUNDATLY with your CUP RUNNING OVER!
Sweatt is pastor of Meadowood Church, Amory, and president of the Mississippi Baptist Convention. He may be contacted at lloydmbc@gmail.com. Opinions expressed on this website are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board, The Baptist Record, nor the publication’s Advisory Committee.