THE IDEAL CHRISTIAN ATTITUDE IN HARD TIME!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 22, 2023.

SUBJECT: THE IDEAL CHRISTIAN ATTITUDE IN HARD TIME!

Memory verse: "So that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure,” (Second Thessalonians 1 vs 4.) 

READ: James 1 vs 2 - 4; First Peter 1 vs 6 - 8:

James 1:2:My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 

1:3: knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 

1:4: But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

First Peter 1:6: in this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials,

1:7: that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, 

1:8: whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory:

INTIMATION:

Fires of hard times are the life’s difficulties we experience as we live for Christ. All believers face trials when they let their light shine into the darkness. They will experience troubles because they are trying to be God’s people in a perverse world. Believers must understand, therefore, that life’s trial is an occasion for joy when it comes as a result of one’s commitment. 

When Christians continue their outreach, regardless of persecution and hardships, they stand as models for others to follow. Christians must accept trials as part of the refining process that burns away impurities and prepares us to meet Christ. And the many trials are occasions for spiritual growth and development of character. They must acknowledge that the proving or testing of their faith produce a character that is able to endure trials. 

God uses Satan’s work against him. Consequently, trials or persecution manifests that God is going to use Satan’s work to accomplish something that is good in the life of every believer (Romans 8 vs 28). We should note that the candidates for heaven must be tried in the fires of hard times in order to prepare their characters for eternal dwelling. 

As gold is heated, impurities float to the top and can be skimmed off. Likewise, our trials, struggles, and persecutions refine and strengthen our faith, making us useful to God. Then we can count it all joy when we have to endure many trials. It often takes hard times to determine if one has a genuine faith. It is for this reason that Christians count it with joy when they fall into various trials. They count it with joy because they understand the good that comes from such trials.

Instead of asking, “Why me?”  Christians should respond to suffering with a new sets of responses with the following grounds of strength: (1) Confidence that God knows, plans, and directs their lives for good. It’s hard to calculate sometimes, but God always provides His love and strength for the believer. He leads them toward a better future. (2) Perseverance when facing grief, anger, sorrow, and pain. They express their grief, but they don’t give in to bitterness and despair. (3) Courage because with Jesus as Brother and Savior, they need not be afraid. He who suffered for us will not abandon us. Jesus carries us through everything. 

The key of surviving life’s difficulties is in patience, faith and joy in the Lord. When faced with crushing troubles, we should have faith in God because it pleases Him, and be patient, knowing that God uses the trials of His children for their good and for His glory, for He will not forsake His people (Deuteronomy 4 vs 31). 

The godly life in Christ brings about persecution because Satan will rise up against all that God represents in this world. God is fair and just, and will give us patience in our suffering because He has not forgotten us. In His perfect timing, He will relieve our suffering and punish those who persecute us. 

The apostle Paul said in Romans 5 vs 3 - 4, “And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance, and perseverance, character, and character, hope.” Paul tells us that in the future believers will become what God has predestined them to be, but until then they must overcome. This means that they will experience difficulties that will help them grow. 

Christians rejoice in suffering, not because they like pain or deny its tragedy, but because they know God is using life’s difficulties and Satan’s attacks to build their character. The problems they run into will develop their perseverance, which in turn will strengthen their character, deepen their trust in God, and give them greater confidence about the future.

Your troubles may be an indication that you are taking a stand for Christ. When you do so, you are experiencing the privilege of showing that you are worthy of God’s kingdom (Second Thessalonians 1 vs 11). As believers, their calling from God is to become like Christ; be patient in suffering, and have faith in God to actualize, at the long run, His purposes in their lives. Becoming like Christ is a gradual, lifelong process that will be completed when they see Christ face to face (First John 3 vs 2). 

Some people say that troubles are the result of sin or lack of faith, but that is not always true. Troubles may be part of God’s plan for believers. Their problems can help them look upward and forward, instead of inward (Philippians 3 vs 13 - 14), they can help us build strong character, and they can provide them with opportunities to comfort others who also are struggling (Second Corinthians 1 vs 3 - 5). 

We must acknowledge that the proving of testing of our faith produces a character that is able to endure trials. It is also an opportunity for our faith to be proved genuine and strengthened. As believers we should react to various trials and temptations that we all encounter in life with endurance, steadfastness, and patience. We are to let these things do a thorough work in us so that we will come through them stronger and better than we were before.

The things that will bring despair in the lives of the obedient would be the trials through which they must go in this life. All Christians have reason to rejoice in the hope they have of unending existence in the presence of God. It is this hope that takes them through the trials of this life. 

Prayer: Abba Father, in all things I give You thanks, knowing that Your thoughts for me is of good and not of evil, to give me a future and a hope. I will rejoice in any situations I find myself because I know my Redeemer lives. Endue me with the spirit of endurance, steadfastness, perseverance and hope anchored in You in the face of life’s trials, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!