Few consider THE LORD'S hand in matters, yet HE IS ALWAYS near, and involved, according to HIS WILL, and HIS plans for us! HE LOVES us enough to set us straight, or put us on course, which means we will suffer here, and there! Many get upset that HE would discipline us, or allow us to suffer, but what Father would not (HEBREWS 12)?!!
We are to endure, and persevere the race in OBEDIENT FAITH, and FAITHFULNESS, which is NOT easy for us, as we ARE in constant risk of err/sin, as the enemy accosts us, day, and night, and also, we have those errs/sins which we are used to, and even favour, as they have been around for so long that we are comfortable in them, and consider them ordinary, as if! SO, HE TEACHES us through various means, and lessons, some of which might seem harsh, THAT we STOP, THINK, LISTEN, and PONDER BEFORE we speak, act, and react; such aids us in responding in adherence to our BLESSED state, and HIS WILL...
There is NO escaping THE LORD! There is NO mocking THE LORD (GALATIANS 6), nor denying HIS POWER in our existence, and LIFE: those whom HEED HIM, and SEEK HIM, SHALL find THE PATH of RIGHTEOUSNESS, thus LIFE, but those whom disregard HIM, SHALL find eternity full of nothing more than a suffering struggle! WE WILL REAP WHAT WE SOW, according TO HIS PROMISES of good, or of wrath!!!
HE WILL cause an entire nation to suffer IF their errs, and crimes so incline HIM to! HE does NOT want ANY to spend eternity away from HIM, SO, HE begins anew, over, and over, to REACH, and TEACH those HE might; ALL for the sake of their soul(s)! SOMETIMES, as is found in ancient history, the whole of a nation, or city, IGNORES HIS GENEROSITY, and LOVE, in which case, HE HAS, and MIGHT YET, punish them, even to the point of annihilation, and NO ONE can question it, BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN TOLD, and SHOWN WHAT HE REQUIRES OF US (MICAH 6)! We ALL want PEACE, and good times, but the ways we pursue such, or HOPE in such ISN'T often, aligned TO HIM, NOR THE WORD, thus, HE SHOWS us through hardship, or worse, THAT some MIGHT be reached soon enough for them to be redeemed, and restored...
Tribulations, and calamities EDUCATE some, but not all, still, IN having to endure hardships, there IS SOUND WISDOM, and GUIDANCE to be found! Stubborn people will NOT 'get it', though THE LORD KEEPS TEACHING TO BE REACHING as many as is possible! We should NOT be discouraged WHEN HE chastises us, INSTEAD, we SHOULD LEARN, then FOLLOW HIM IN HIS instructions, THAT we are safe, healthy, and productive...
6+++In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in various trials
7+++so that the proven character of your faith—more precious than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
The Lord does not willingly afflict, yet his wise love often appoints sharp trials, to show his people their hearts, and to do them good at the latter end. Gold does not increase by trial in the fire, it becomes less; but faith is made firm, and multiplied, by troubles and afflictions. Gold must perish at last, and can only purchase perishing things, while the trial of faith will be found to praise, and honour, and glory. Let this reconcile us to present afflictions. Seek then to believe Christ's excellence in himself, and his love to us; this will kindle such a fire in the heart as will make it rise up in a sacrifice of love to him. And the glory of God and our own happiness are so united, that if we sincerely seek the one now, we shall attain the other when the soul shall no more be subject to evil. The certainty of this hope is as if believers had already received it.
2 CORINTHIANS 4: 17...
For our light and temporary affliction is producing for us an eternal glory that far outweighs our troubles.
The grace of faith is an effectual remedy against fainting in times of trouble. They knew that Christ was raised, and that his resurrection was an earnest and assurance of theirs. The hope of this resurrection will encourage in a suffering day, and set us above the fear of death. Also, their sufferings were for the advantage of the church, and to God's glory. The sufferings of Christ's ministers, as well as their preaching and conversation, are for the good of the church and the glory of God. The prospect of eternal life and happiness was their support and comfort. What sense was ready to pronounce heavy and long, grievous and tedious, faith perceived to be light and short, and but for a moment. The weight of all temporal afflictions was lightness itself, while the glory to come was a substance, weighty, and lasting beyond description. If the apostle could call his heavy and long-continued trials light, and but for a moment, what must our trifling difficulties be! Faith enables to make this right judgment of things.
Right now, there IS LOTS of wrongdoing, and *GOD* COULD leave us to ourselves, and the evil wickedness which aspires to let us destroy each other, or to take us down, BUT HIS LOVE WON'T ALLOW it, AND HE WILL DO what is NECESSARY TO LEAD us through, and past! LOVE DOESN'T ALWAYS mean sweetness, TOUGH LOVE tends to clean up our act, and conform us THAT our existence IS better, and FOREVER!!!
REJOICE IN THE LORD, WHOSE LOVE and CARE FOR us, PROTECTS us, DIRECTS us, SUSTAINS us, and PROVIDES FOR us, ALL WE NEED TO make it from here TO THE KINGDOM! PRAISE HIM, WORSHIP HIM, GIVE THANKS, and HONOUR HIM IN your ways, ALL of your days, FOR ONLY HE SHALL GRANT LIFE ETERNAL: without HIM we are lost!!!
LWINSOR © 2019
BIBLICAL, and/or other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS
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