It is not every man who suffers, that is blessed; but he who with patience and constancy goes through all difficulties in the way of duty. JAMES 1: 12---
The way of duty for the Christian is the evidence of the will to REMAIN IN HIM, HIS WILL, and ON THE PATH, through whatever the world, and enmity might challenge us with, and not only that, but to do so IN the heart of LOVE, no matter what! Thus, we KEEP our minds ON HIM ABOVE, as best as we can, that we are NOT overtaken by matters of the world, EVEN though, we still have to deal with them! In KEEPING IN HIM, and ON THE PATH, what we have to deal with then, has less power to overtake us, for we are knowledgeable, and understanding, not only of HOW to deal with such, but are hip to what is working against us!!!
WHEN we succumb to matters, and challenges against us, by way of the world, we might become fearful, then weak, and finally, enmeshed, SO, we REMAIN INTACT in our LORD, UTILIZING ALL HE HAS bestowed upon us, such as knowledge, and understanding, WHILE PRAYING, and SEEKING HIM, so we are brought THROUGH instead of tripped, and trapped!!!
JOSHUA 1: 9...
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
Joshua is to make the law of God his rule. He is charged to meditate therein day and night, that he might understand it. Whatever affairs of this world we have to mind, we must not neglect the one thing needful. All his orders to the people, and his judgments, must be according to the law of God. Joshua must himself be under command; no man's dignity or dominion sets him above the law of God. He is to encourage himself with the promise and presence of God. Let not the sense of thine own infirmities dishearten thee; God is all-sufficient. I have commanded, called, and commissioned thee to do it, and will be sure to bear thee out in it. When we are in the way of duty, we have reason to be strong and very bold. Our Lord Jesus, as Joshua here, was borne up under his sufferings by a regard to the will of God, and the commandment from his Father.
I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.
Let us pray for patient submission and hope when we are abased; for humility and a heavenly mind when exalted. It is a special grace to have an equal temper of mind always. And in a low state not to lose our comfort in God, nor distrust his providence, nor take any wrong course for our own supply. In a prosperous condition not to be proud, or secure, or worldly. This is a harder lesson than the other; for the temptations of fulness and prosperity are more than those of affliction and want. The apostle had no design to urge them to give more, but to encourage such kindness as will meet a glorious reward hereafter. Through Christ we have grace to do what is good, and through him we must expect the reward; and as we have all things by him, let us do all things for him, and to his glory.
1 CORINTHIANS 16: 13...
Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.
A Christian is always in danger, therefore should ever be on the watch. He should be fixed in the faith of the gospel, and never desert or give it up. By this faith alone he will be able to keep his ground in an hour of temptation.
COLOSSIANS 1: 9-12...
9+++For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,
10+++so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,
11+++being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience,
12+++and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified youf to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.
The apostle was constant in prayer, that the believers might be filled with the knowledge of God's will, in all wisdom. Good words will not do without good works. He who undertakes to give strength to his people, is a God of power, and of glorious power. The blessed Spirit is the author of this. In praying for spiritual strength, we are not straitened, or confined in the promises, and should not be so in our hopes and desires. The grace of God in the hearts of believers is the power of God; and there is glory in this power. The special use of this strength was for sufferings.
There is work to be done, even when we are suffering. Amidst all their trials they gave thanks to the Father of our Lord Jesus, whose special grace fitted them to partake of the inheritance provided for the saints. To bring about this change, those were made willing subjects of Christ, who were slaves of Satan.
All who are designed for heaven hereafter, are prepared for heaven now. Those who have the inheritance of sons, have the education of sons, and the disposition of sons. By faith in Christ they enjoyed this redemption, as the purchase of his atoning blood, whereby forgiveness of sins, and all other spiritual blessings were bestowed. Surely then we shall deem it a favour to be delivered from Satan's kingdom and brought into that of Christ, knowing that all trials will soon end, and that every believer will be found among those who come out of great tribulation.
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