"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may
have peace. In the world you will have tribulation but be
of good cheer, I have overcome the world."
John 16:33 NKJV
I've had a difficult week...
have peace. In the world you will have tribulation but be
of good cheer, I have overcome the world."
John 16:33 NKJV
I've had a difficult week...
Aggravating situations and more. But the Lord said there would be days like this. In fact, we've been ordained for them. As the above Scripture from John's gospel account declares, we're going to encounter trouble. Our lives are not going to be problem free.
As the Lord's followers who desire to live as He did while He was here on earth, we never have to look for trouble, for trouble will find us.
I'm not joking! It's true. If we want to follow Jesus, trouble will find us. Problems and difficulties will come our way. Why? Because the Lord wants our faith to develop and grow. In addition, He also wants to build His character in us. The character of Christ, himself.
But the only way to do this, is for us to be confronted by problems and hardships, and to learn how to overcome them by faith, and by the word of God. As His words says, "Endure hardship as a good soldier of Messiah Jesus"(2 Timothy 2:3).
What? Me, a soldier? Why does God's word say "soldier." Because we're in a war. That's why!
There are no shortcuts to discipleship. Nothing is meant to come easy. The word of God lets us know that it is through hardship and learning to overcome difficult circumstances that our faith grows. And it's also how genuine Christian character is built.
The Lord wants us to know how to overcome our weak flesh, while at the same time know how to resist the devil's temptations.
But the good news is that the Lord has promised never to leave nor forsake us. In fact, He has already provided us with everything we need to live victoriously over our flesh, and over the devil as well. See 2 Peter 1:1-12.
As the Lord's redeemed children who carry His name, we've been built to win.
D.B.
As the Lord's followers who desire to live as He did while He was here on earth, we never have to look for trouble, for trouble will find us.
I'm not joking! It's true. If we want to follow Jesus, trouble will find us. Problems and difficulties will come our way. Why? Because the Lord wants our faith to develop and grow. In addition, He also wants to build His character in us. The character of Christ, himself.
But the only way to do this, is for us to be confronted by problems and hardships, and to learn how to overcome them by faith, and by the word of God. As His words says, "Endure hardship as a good soldier of Messiah Jesus"(2 Timothy 2:3).
What? Me, a soldier? Why does God's word say "soldier." Because we're in a war. That's why!
There are no shortcuts to discipleship. Nothing is meant to come easy. The word of God lets us know that it is through hardship and learning to overcome difficult circumstances that our faith grows. And it's also how genuine Christian character is built.
The Lord wants us to know how to overcome our weak flesh, while at the same time know how to resist the devil's temptations.
But the good news is that the Lord has promised never to leave nor forsake us. In fact, He has already provided us with everything we need to live victoriously over our flesh, and over the devil as well. See 2 Peter 1:1-12.
As the Lord's redeemed children who carry His name, we've been built to win.
D.B.