When Does Good Come?
All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth, to such as keep His covenant and His testimonies.
Psalm 25:10
After delivering the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, God continually guided them through the harsh obstacles of the Sinai desert. Moses reminded them: “‘[God] led you through the great and terrible wilderness, in which were fiery serpents and scorpions and thirsty land where there was no water…that He might humble you and that He might test you, to do you good in the end’” (Deut 8:15-16).
That illustration, along with many others from Scripture, clearly demonstrates that the Lord often delays the good He has promised to His own. God certainly didn’t lead the Israelites through forty years of challenging tests only to bring them to an evil end. Instead, He brought them good, even though He used a large amount of discipline and refining to accomplish it.
As Christians, we also can expect temporal hardships before realizing the final glory God has waiting for us. Paul reminds us that “our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” (2 Cor 4:17).
MacArthur, J. (2001). Truth for today : A daily touch of God's grace (Page 270). Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman.
Lessons Learned: Even though we have been justified, we still sin. We still live in this fallen world and we still occupy our fleshly, sinful bodies. We strive through sanctification to achieve glorification when we will no longer sin, but in the meantime, God must teach us and discipline us when we transgress. Sometimes, even when we have not knowingly sinned, we may still suffer adversity and persecution as Christ's disciples (John 15:20). In either case, eventually we will receive good from God by His mercy and grace, if we have faith in Him and obey His commandments.
Applications: We can study scripture and learn to follow Christ, or we can follow our own way and suffer the consequences. God's children will obey His commands, or like children, they will be disciplined by their loving Father in Heaven. Remain faithful to keep God's commandments and obey His word. Repent and be humble and God will teach and guide you in justice. He will teach of His way (Ps 25:8-9).
Prayer Subjects: Pray for a heart to obey God's commands. Pray for a repentant heart and humility so that God can guide me and teach me to follow in His way. Pray that I would keep His covenants and testimonies so He would show me mercy and truth and I would become a respectful and submissive child of God.
Listen to this entry
Psalm 25:10
After delivering the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, God continually guided them through the harsh obstacles of the Sinai desert. Moses reminded them: “‘[God] led you through the great and terrible wilderness, in which were fiery serpents and scorpions and thirsty land where there was no water…that He might humble you and that He might test you, to do you good in the end’” (Deut 8:15-16).
That illustration, along with many others from Scripture, clearly demonstrates that the Lord often delays the good He has promised to His own. God certainly didn’t lead the Israelites through forty years of challenging tests only to bring them to an evil end. Instead, He brought them good, even though He used a large amount of discipline and refining to accomplish it.
As Christians, we also can expect temporal hardships before realizing the final glory God has waiting for us. Paul reminds us that “our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” (2 Cor 4:17).
MacArthur, J. (2001). Truth for today : A daily touch of God's grace (Page 270). Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman.
Lessons Learned: Even though we have been justified, we still sin. We still live in this fallen world and we still occupy our fleshly, sinful bodies. We strive through sanctification to achieve glorification when we will no longer sin, but in the meantime, God must teach us and discipline us when we transgress. Sometimes, even when we have not knowingly sinned, we may still suffer adversity and persecution as Christ's disciples (John 15:20). In either case, eventually we will receive good from God by His mercy and grace, if we have faith in Him and obey His commandments.
Applications: We can study scripture and learn to follow Christ, or we can follow our own way and suffer the consequences. God's children will obey His commands, or like children, they will be disciplined by their loving Father in Heaven. Remain faithful to keep God's commandments and obey His word. Repent and be humble and God will teach and guide you in justice. He will teach of His way (Ps 25:8-9).
Prayer Subjects: Pray for a heart to obey God's commands. Pray for a repentant heart and humility so that God can guide me and teach me to follow in His way. Pray that I would keep His covenants and testimonies so He would show me mercy and truth and I would become a respectful and submissive child of God.
Listen to this entry
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