And in very deed for this cause have I raised thee up, for to shew in thee my power; and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth. Exodus 9:16.
Christian life is more than many take it to be. It does not consist wholly in gentleness, patience, meekness, and kindliness. These graces are essential; but there is need also of courage, force, energy, and perseverance. The path that Christ marks out is a narrow, self-denying path. To enter that path and press on through difficulties and discouragements, requires Christians who are more than weaklings.
People of stamina are wanted, people who will not wait to have their way smoothed, and every obstacle removed, people who will inspire with fresh zeal and flagging efforts to dispirited workers, people whose hearts are warm with Christian love, and whose hands are strong to do their Master’s work. (SD July 15th)
For the scripture says unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. (Rom 9:17)
I will go before you, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron: And I will give you the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that you may know that I, the LORD, which call you by thy name, am the God of Israel. (Isa 45:2-3)
And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins; As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth; (Luke 3:3-5)
We live in, quite literally, crazy times. Tough times. With no chance of improvement, unless we take a serious look at what Jesus is saying to us now. Today.
“Be Courageous. Be Strong.” (1 Cor 16:13)
Under divine guidance, the author of the book of Hebrews wrote to us about “the removing of those things that are shaken…those things that cannot be shaken may remain.” (Heb 12;27) God is continually examining and sifting His people. From the day He created Adam, till today, our day and age, God has always seen fit to test His people. Those who profess to follow Him. By the express exercise of their free will, God’s people have always shown themselves as genuine or false in their professions of faith. Loyal or disloyal to His cause.
Calvary was the ultimate, litmus test, if you will for the disciples. So too will we as God’s modern-day professing people of God, face events and circumstances that will try to the uttermost, our Christian faith and personal experience with Jesus. We are blessed to have the assurance in Heb 7:25 and to know that all we need to glory in is the cross which so many reject. But Gal 6:14, Eph 2:13 assure us that the cross is enough. Jesus is enough!
“[JESUS] is able also to save to the uttermost those who come unto God by Him, since He ever lives to make intercession for them.” (Heb 7:25)
What blessed assurance! When we are tested to the uttermost, Jesus can still “save to the uttermost.” We sons and daughters of God should never pray for an easy life. We should instead pray to be a stronger person. Why should we Christians pray for a task that is equal to our own strength, our own, personal capability or resources? Jesus desires that His people learn and grow in grace (2 Pet 3:18) by praying earnestly for the power and the wisdom that is needed for whatever situation He sees fit to put us in. Especially the situations where we are powerless to do anything about.
It is rarely in any sort of lax or indulgent life that Jesus will lead us, His people to greatness. That kind of easy life will not lead us upward. It only leads people on the downward spiral. Idle hands, easy life leads to trouble. But troublous times and crises is simply opportunity for God.
Many of us church-goers tend to avoid anything that we think costs us too much. Things that require major self denial. Self-restraint. Personal Sacrifice. The Bible makes it very clear, in a variety of ways,that toil and hardship show us the way to a holy life, and to God’s promises which give us everything we need for a Godly life. (2 Pet 1:3,4)
Greatness does not come from having our path made easy. Then there would be little or no need for faith, or for God’s promises. There is no need for having our path made easy through a field of beautiful flowers, but by us being sent out to carve our appointed path with our own hands. Blood. Sweat. Tears. This is how to scale the tallest mountains in our experience! “He has made all His mountains a way.” (Isa 49:11) They are “His mountains.” God gave them to us! So if it comes from God what is there to complain about?
Fellow Christians! be strong! Be courageous! We are not here to play meaningless games. To dream of frivolous desires. To drift along hopelessly or helplessly! My friends, brothers and sisters in Christ, we often have very hard, very difficult things to accomplish when we follow God’s will. But as the sons and daughters of God we do not shun the struggle. We face it head on! For this is exactly what God’s amazing grace is! To be strong! To “be of good courage.” No matter what.(Joshua 1:9)
Don’t sit around moping and complaining all the way to The Father’s House! Stop extrapolating on how terrible and evil the world is. I mean really. Who is actually to blame for that? There is no need for us to fold our hands in surrender to the evil tides that beset us today! Stand up! Speak out! And be courageous in the name of Jesus! Be strong! be courageous! For on the morrow always comes, the song of the morning:
Weeping may endure for the night, but JOY comes in the morning. (Psalms 30:5)
God’s promise is for you:
“if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” (2 Chron 7:14, NIV)
Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. (2 Pet 1: 2-4, NIV)
“…You shall seek me, and find me, when you shall search for me with all your heart.” (Jer 29:13)
Desires for goodness and holiness are right as far as they go; but if you stop here, they will avail nothing. Many will be lost while hoping and desiring to be Christians. They do not come to the point of yielding the will to God.
They do not now choose to be Christians.
Through the right exercise of the will, an entire change may be made in your life. By yielding up your will to Christ, you ally yourself with the power that is above all principalities and powers. You will have strength from above to hold you steadfast, and thus through constant surrender to God you will be enabled to live the new life, even the life of faith.
And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For when I am weak, then I am strong (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).