Each gift of a day, from THE LORD, *GOD*, holds wholesome goodness for those who seek, and, cling to HIM! The world is full of opposition, and, woes, yet, the mature of spirit, realize the reality of this time...
ACTS 14: 22...
They strengthened the spirits of the disciples and exhorted them to persevere in the faith, saying, "It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships to enter the kingdom of God."
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary...
See how restless the rage of the Jews was against the gospel of Christ. The people stoned Paul, in a popular tumult. So strong is the bent of the corrupt and carnal heart, that as it is with great difficulty that men are kept back from evil on one side, so it is with great ease they are persuaded to evil on the other side.
If Paul would have been Mercury, he might have been worshipped; but if he will be a faithful minister of Christ, he shall be stoned, and thrown out of the city. Thus men who easily submit to strong delusions, hate to receive the truth in the love of it.
All who are converted need to be confirmed in the faith; all who are planted need to be rooted. Ministers' work is to establish saints as well as to awaken sinners. The grace of God, and nothing less, effectually establishes the souls of the disciples.
It is true, we must count upon much tribulation, but it is encouragement that we shall not be lost and perish in it. The Person to whose power and grace the converts and the newly-established churches are commended, clearly was the Lord Jesus, "on whom they had believed." It was an act of worship. The praise of all the little good we do at any time, must be ascribed to God; for it is He who not only worketh in us both to will and to do, but also worketh with us to make what we do successful.
All who love the Lord Jesus, will rejoice to hear that he has opened the door of faith wide, to those who were strangers to him and to his salvation. And let us, like the apostles, abide with those who know and love the Lord.
All that we experience is like adding to the spirit, the TRUE self, IF we are ABOVE the natural, carnal plane, IN THE LORD, our *GOD*! What trials, and, tribulations we go through, adds to us, the strength of endurance, and, the conscious ability to persevere, no matter what, FOR, and, TO HIS GLORY! Weaknesses are WORKED through by the many hardships we endure, adding to us, spiritual empowerment, endowment, and, enrichment! We become MORE than what we were, or, thought possible, through misfortune, trials, suffering, pain, hardship, difficulties, distress, and, other ordeals! The FAITHFUL embrace the necessity to be FORMED into the reality of *GOD*, realizing that as CHRIST suffered, we too, must, in the same humbled willingness to GLORIFY *GOD* at any cost, and, for the sake of being refined, in order to be set aside as HIS own!!!
WORTHY IS the walk of the FAITHFUL! BLESSED IS the one who can remain IN THE LORD, despite the opposition, and, conflicts of this life! As is the frost, eventually burned away by the sun, so too, are the weights of the afflictions we endure FOR HIS sake! So, let us ALWAYS be encouraged, while delving into greater understanding of HOW such things work TO our favour, and, FOR THE GLORY of *GOD*!!!
Have a most BLESSED day, may HE BE with you, every step of the way, and, may you realize the many gifts in this day! PRAISE HIS HOLY name, WORSHIP HIM eternally, THANK HIM for ALL, and, EVERYTHING HE brings your way, STAND STRONG in LOVE, and, share the BEST of yourself with the world, that, inspiration is EVER forwarded, FOR the good of ALL, and, TO HIS GLORY!!!
REV. LWINSOR © 2012
BIBLICAL, and/or other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS
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