(Romans 8:32) “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?”
(36-37) “As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.”
(1 Timothy 6:12) “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.”
Just because you walk close to Jesus, do everything right, and please God at all times, does not guarantee that you will not face problems or suffer in life. Actually, we are guaranteed problems when we walk close to God. But alongside that suffering, we are guaranteed victory, strength, and a testimony to keep on proclaiming Christ as our first love.
Actually, those that believe that once you come to Christ, life is a bed of roses, have been lied to and are in for surprise. He never promises a trouble-free life, but only that we will overcome all troubles. If you really study the stories of the great heroes in the Bible, they are full of challenges, lack, insults, imprisonment, and some even a brutal death.
(“Sam Smith has built one of New England’s greatest churches. He’s a big, lovable Texan, who has become ‘a spiritual father’ to a few thousand people who have been saved or nurtured under his ministry. Miracles? You should hear some of them! Alcoholics delivered, cancers withered, and crooked limbs straightened out.
Yet when it comes to his own health, few have fought a greater battle. He has back trouble so severe he often sleeps sitting up in a reclining chair. He’s had triple bypass surgery, diabetes, and the temporary loss of sight in one eye.
In 1982, Sam and his wife Donna lost one of their three sons. He died mysteriously in his sleep; he was in his early 20’s. He fought through it all. Has he ever been tempted to give up? Oh yes. Especially during the long months of separation from the pulpit and the people he loves. But he never did!“)
These are three things Bob Gass learned watching Sam:
1.) What you’ve been taught must be tested, or it has no value.
2.) Faith is not really faith until it’s all you’re holding on to.
3.) Your assignment does not exempt you from attack, but your anointing will sustain you in it, and grace will bring you through it!
Following Christ is not for the faint-hearted or for those who desire a challenge-free life. It is for those who have to guts to stand up against a world that will hate them.
Prayers
• Jesus, You are My Master, My beloved who is mine, The one who cares about me.
• Thank You, Father, that You did not spare even Your own son from the cross in order to set us free.
• Thank You that Your love for us knows no limit.
• Forgive us for wanting to give up at times and to think that You don´t love us because of the troubles we are facing.
• We declare that we are more than Victorious through Christ Jesus.
• We declare that we will fight the good fight until the end and never again doubt that You are there for us.
• Let our faith continue to grow so that all can see how great and wonderful You are, Jesus.
• Let all the witnesses see how You pull us through every situation and that we continue to be faithful to our calling.
• We ask that You freely give us all things needed to continue to bring glory to Your name.
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• We ask in Jesus’ Mighty Name. Amen