hard times – Moment to Moment (Bible blog)

We live in, as Paul would put it, “hard times.” (2 Timothy 3:1)

We live in times when more and more people try to substitute God’s truth with their own version of it.

The result is not good to say the least. (2 Timothy 3:2-5)

Even worse, the time will come when people will persecute us if we don’t accept “their truth.” The pressure for us to accept “truth” contrary to God’s truth will be immense.

In America, Christians are already facing that pressure, especially concerning LGBTQ+ issues. Some Christians are already buckling under that pressure. Just today, I read in the news of one Christian adoption agency that did just that.

But as Paul said, though the people around us lie and are themselves deceived, we are to hold to the truth, God’s truth that we have received.

God’s words are breathed out of his very mouth and bring salvation and life.

The “truth” this world is proclaiming brings death.

But remember that those holding to these lies are not our enemies. They are people that Christ died for. And so let’s be sure to take to heart the words we read yesterday.

The Lord’s servant must not quarrel, but must be gentle to everyone, able to teach, and patient, instructing his opponents with gentleness.

Perhaps God will grant them repentance leading them to the knowledge of the truth.

Then they may come to their senses and escape the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will. (2:24-26)

Made to see hard things

You have made your people see hard things;
you have given us wine to drink that made us stagger. (Psalm 60:3, ESV)

Those words struck me today. Sometimes God does make his people see hard things, things that make us stagger.

I’ve seen my father go blind in an accident. Years later, I saw his life fading away in a hospital.

I have seen the company I work at go bankrupt forcing me into unemployment for nine months.

I have seen friends die before their time.

And of course, we have all seen the effects of Covid-19.

And yet David says,

You have set up a banner for those who fear you,
that they may flee to it from the bow. (4, ESV)

Those words remind me of Exodus 17:15, where Moses called the Lord Himself, “Our Banner!”

He is the one we run to. He is the one we rally to when are afraid and struggling. And he is the one who brings us salvation.

Suffering and hard times are a part of life. But those times are never in vain for those who love God and who are called according to his purpose. Rather, as Paul said,

…affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope.

This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. (Romans 5:3-5)

That love was proven to us on the cross (Romans 5:6-8).

So in these times, let us rally to the cross, remembering that Jesus is no longer hanging there, but has conquered death itself. And because of him, we will ultimately find victory! (Psalm 60:12)