No Fool's Paradise
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me.
Psalm 23:4
We have to realize that God is going to allow us to go through tests and that He is working all things out for His own holy purpose (Rom 8:28). I know we all dream of a perfect environment of comfort and tranquility. Although any temporary rest from trials may lead us into believing we might find permanent exemption from them, our lives on earth will never be free from trials. We can live in a fool’s paradise, never forecasting any trouble and predicting a future of ease, but that is a fantasy. Christ warned His disciples and all who follow in His footsteps to expect trials in this life (John 15:18-16:6).
Puritan Thomas Manton once observed that God had one Son without sin, but no Son without a cross. As Christians, we can be assured that we will have trials. But our confidence is that we will have victory over them through the presence of God. Trials will come, but God’s grace will meet us in our time of need.
MacArthur, J. (2001). Truth for today : A daily touch of God's grace (Page 300). Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman.
Lessons Learned: The Christian life is not exempt from trials and suffering. In fact we will probably face more persecution and hardship because we are Christians. But, we know that we can withstand any difficulties and ultimately emerge stronger, more spiritually mature, because God is with us. We are imperfect. We are depraved, sinful, and spiritually weak. If life were easy, then we would never be challenged to grow stronger and become more Christ-like. God purposely puts us on a path which holds challenges and hardships to test us, but if we trust Him and He is with us, we can be assured that He will see us through and we will pass His tests.
Applications: The goal of our lives is not to live comfortably. It is not to live the "American Dream" and have a big house, a fancy car, a satisfying career, and a contented family. The goal of the Christian life is to be conformed to the image of Christ. It is to grow in Christ-likeness. We must be willing to put Christ first. "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me" (Luke 9:23). The Christian life is full of trials and challenges, but if we trust in God, and we are filled by the Holy Spirit, then we can overcome any obstacle and grow spiritually stronger, spiritually more mature, spiritually more like Christ.
Prayer Subjects: Pray that I would take comfort in God's presence. Pray that I would trust God to see me through trials and hardships. Pray that I would not seek worldly contentment, but I would seek to be conformed to Christ's image, through whatever tests God puts me through.
Listen to this entry
Psalm 23:4
We have to realize that God is going to allow us to go through tests and that He is working all things out for His own holy purpose (Rom 8:28). I know we all dream of a perfect environment of comfort and tranquility. Although any temporary rest from trials may lead us into believing we might find permanent exemption from them, our lives on earth will never be free from trials. We can live in a fool’s paradise, never forecasting any trouble and predicting a future of ease, but that is a fantasy. Christ warned His disciples and all who follow in His footsteps to expect trials in this life (John 15:18-16:6).
Puritan Thomas Manton once observed that God had one Son without sin, but no Son without a cross. As Christians, we can be assured that we will have trials. But our confidence is that we will have victory over them through the presence of God. Trials will come, but God’s grace will meet us in our time of need.
MacArthur, J. (2001). Truth for today : A daily touch of God's grace (Page 300). Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman.
Lessons Learned: The Christian life is not exempt from trials and suffering. In fact we will probably face more persecution and hardship because we are Christians. But, we know that we can withstand any difficulties and ultimately emerge stronger, more spiritually mature, because God is with us. We are imperfect. We are depraved, sinful, and spiritually weak. If life were easy, then we would never be challenged to grow stronger and become more Christ-like. God purposely puts us on a path which holds challenges and hardships to test us, but if we trust Him and He is with us, we can be assured that He will see us through and we will pass His tests.
Applications: The goal of our lives is not to live comfortably. It is not to live the "American Dream" and have a big house, a fancy car, a satisfying career, and a contented family. The goal of the Christian life is to be conformed to the image of Christ. It is to grow in Christ-likeness. We must be willing to put Christ first. "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me" (Luke 9:23). The Christian life is full of trials and challenges, but if we trust in God, and we are filled by the Holy Spirit, then we can overcome any obstacle and grow spiritually stronger, spiritually more mature, spiritually more like Christ.
Prayer Subjects: Pray that I would take comfort in God's presence. Pray that I would trust God to see me through trials and hardships. Pray that I would not seek worldly contentment, but I would seek to be conformed to Christ's image, through whatever tests God puts me through.
Listen to this entry
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home