God has been making me think about something lately that I find very interesting. I think it first sprouted off of Philippians 3:10: "I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised Him from the dead. I want to suffer with Him, sharing in His death." Oh, the depth of Paul's affection for our LORD and his immense faith. (As a sidenote, I think that all too often Christians think that the level of faith that Paul and the other apostles had is unattainable for us today. Even though they saw the risen LORD, I think we have just as much opportunity to experience their level of faith as they did.)
Of this I am absolutely certain: the LORD is going to send Casey and I some sort of difficulty or hardship that we are not yet prepared for. Ever since the LORD revealed that to me, I've been feeling convicted about complaining about little things that are not difficult in the slightest. If I can't endure tiny trials without counting it all joy, then how will we ever be able to face what the LORD has for us later in life?
"That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don't look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever." --2 Corinthians 4:16-18.
"That's why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong." --2 Corinthians 12:10.
Nothing is impossible for God. That is why the assurance of sufferings is blessed...because there is nothing that our God can't do.
No comments:
Post a Comment