Trials and temptations…we don’t like them. We would rather live blissfully in some kind of bubble insulated from the world and all bad stuff, but this scripture tells us otherwise. It says as Believers we need to look upon trials and temptations with happiness… because by them we are refined in the crucible of Christ …becoming more like Him everyday.
Tag: belief in Jesus
Acts 26: 16 ” Now get up and stand to your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen of Me and what I will show you.”
Jesus was speaking to Saul, but He could well be speaking to any of us. “Get up out of the gutter I’ve found you in and stand to your feet. You’ve been called out of the muck and the mire to follow Me. My plan for you in this journey will be a lifetime of Me revealing Myself to you…of you experiencing revelations and being changed by them.”
Mark 13: 21-22 ” At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or, ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it. For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and miracles to deceive the elect – if that were possible.”
Jesus warns us of people who will try to seduce us away from the truth. Pseudo-christs acknowledge Jesus…but then claim to actually be Him, while anti-Christs oppose the true Jesus Christ and His power. Both will amaze the multitudes with wonders…both come in sheep’s clothing to deceive the nations. But the very last phrase of this scripture gives all Christians confidence. “…to deceive the elect – if that were possible.” The elect are us…chosen by God, and we won’t be deceived, for with the prompting of the Holy Spirit we will be able to discern good from evil…a testing of the spirits if you will, to know deep down when something just doesn’t look or sound right.
Romans 1:17 ” For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: ‘The righteous will live by faith.’ “
Our Christianity hinges on one little word…faith. We believe what we can not see. We put our trust in someone we’ve never physically met. We have confidence that when we die we’ll have eternal life. Our spiritual walk from beginning to end is entirely based on assurances we’ve read in an ancient book. Yes, Christians are a curious lot…a group of people who stand on faith alone and live by it daily.
John 2:4 ” ‘Dear woman, why do you involve Me?’ Jesus replied. ‘My time has not yet come.’ “
Jesus and His mother Mary had a very special and totally unique relationship. They shared the traditional Mother-Son bond…but because of the miraculous way Jesus was conceived, Mary had insight into just how life-changing His time on earth would be. When the wine ran out at the wedding in Cana, Mary knew Jesus could do something about it. But why did He change the water into wine if His time had not yet come? He did it because He loved and honored His Mother more than any time-table or schedule.
Matthew 8:1-3 ” When He came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed Him. A man with leprosy came and knelt before Him and said, ‘ Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.’ Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man, ‘I am willing,’ He said. ‘Be clean!’ Immediately he was cured of his leprosy.”
“If You are willing.” The man had been watching Jesus heal others. His faith in the Messiah had grown with each person he saw walk away cured and whole. He had faith, but would Jesus be ready and able to heal him? Jesus went beyond what He had to do to heal this man…He could of just spoken the word and he’d been healed. But instead, Jesus stretched out His hand and touched the unclean man, and in doing so showed that he was a valued and loved human being.
Psalm 109:4 “In return for my friendship they accuse me, but I am a man of prayer.”
Taking the high road is often very difficult…especially when your good intentions are met with anger and resentment. But it’s when we’re attacked and slandered that people are watching us the closest for our reaction. Do we answer back as the world would…or as Jesus would?
Malachi 3:2 ” But who can endure the day of His coming? Who can stand when He appears? For He will be like a refiner’s fire or a launder’s soap.”
Evil will no longer be able to prevail here on earth on the great and dreadful day of the Lord. All wickedness and darkness will be purged from His sight as the Lord comes in His Father’s glory. In the blink of an eye, all will be purified and cleansed.
Revelation 3:3 ” Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent. But if you do not wake up I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.”
In other words…be ready! Don’t think that maybe next year you’ll get serious about this God thing…the time is now! Be ready today, because you may not have tomorrow. Wake up! Jesus and the eternal gift of salvation is waiting.
Isaiah 63:7 ” I will tell of the kindnesses of the Lord, the deeds for which He is to be praised, according to all the Lord has done for us – yes, the many good things He has done for the house of Israel, according to His compassion and many kindnesses.”
When was the last time you told someone what the Lord was doing in your life? We forget to share with each other the small miracles…the blessings…the small but good stuff. We’re really good about complaining…how about praising instead.
Safetypinlove 