Tag: hardship

Categories
Hebrews

What a life of faith does not mean

Hebrews

There are a number of people who seem to think that if you have enough faith, your life should be all smooth sailing. No health problems, no financial problems, just a happy-go-lucky life.

They apparently have never read this chapter.

Certainly, many of these men and women of faith had their shares of victory.

But others were tortured, mocked, flogged, put in chains and imprisoned, stoned, sawn in two, went about clothed in sheepskin and goatskin, destitute, afflicted, mistreated, wandering about in deserts, mountains, dens, and caves.

And none of them…I repeat…none of them received their full reward while here on earth.

Were these excoriated for their lack of faith? They would be by a lot of these “faith-teachers” today.

“Why were you destitute? Why were you living out in the desert? God intends for you to be wealthy and prosperous. Clearly you didn’t have enough faith.”

“You were imprisoned and put to death for your faith? Surely if you had had enough faith God would have delivered you.”

“You didn’t receive all the promises of God here on earth? Clearly you didn’t have enough faith or God would have HAD to give it to you.”

But is this what the writer of Hebrews says of them? No.

He says,

These were all commended for their faith. (Hebrews 11:39)

And rather than saying they were not worthy of the good things of life because of their lack of faith, he says,

the world was not worthy of them. (Hebrews 11:38)

In short, God never promises that if we have enough faith, we’ll just sail through life. All of chapter 12 as we’ll see says just the opposite.

Life can be hard. We may suffer despite our faith.

But what a life of faith means is that though this life may be hard, we see beyond those hardships to the reward that awaits us. The writer of Hebrews tells us,

God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect. (Hebrews 11:40)

Through Christ, all the saints of old along with us will be made perfect, free from sin forever. And at that time, when all things are made new, all sorrow and suffering will be a thing of the past.

That’s what faith ultimately looks to. Not to the joys we experience on this earth (although God in his grace does give us that too). But to the joys of life with him in eternity.

How about you? Are you expecting that your faith will lead to an easy life here on earth?

God never promises that. But what he does promise is that if you keep your eyes on the promise of eternity, you will ultimately not be disappointed.

To what are you looking to?

Categories
2 Corinthians

The marks of a true leader

2 Corinthians

As Paul compares himself with the false apostles that had crept into the Corinthian church, I think we see the marks of a true Christian leader, what he does, and doesn’t do.

A true leader shouldn’t have to boast.

That Paul did so was not so much a sign of his greatness as a leader, but a concession to the foolishness of the Corinthians, who were too easily impressed by the “credentials” of those preaching to them a false gospel.

Paul himself, time and again berated himself as a fool for having to stoop to these false teachers’ level just to win credibility with the Corinthians.

But under normal circumstances, this shouldn’t be. A true leader realizes that everything he has comes from Christ, and as a result leads with humility, not pride.

A true leader also doesn’t abuse the sheep, even when he must be stern with them because of their sin.

The false teachers on the other hand, enslaved, exploited, took advantage of and insulted the Corinthians.

Unfortunately, even today, you hear stories of pastors who abuse their positions. But according to Paul, a true leader in the church gently instructs and corrects those who wrongfully oppose him. (2 Timothy 2:25)

More, a true leader cares for the sheep. (2 Corinthians 11:28-29)

He sees those that are weak in faith and lifts them up. He sympathizes with their weaknesses just as Christ does as our great high priest. (Hebrews 4:15)

And when others cause his sheep to fall, he becomes indignant just as Christ does. (Mark 9:42)

Finally, a true leader is willing to endure hardship for the sake of the gospel.

He doesn’t insist on luxury and comfort for himself. Paul certainly didn’t, suffering persecution, danger, sleeplessness, hunger and thirst for the sake of the gospel. (2 Corinthians 11:23-27)

Those are the marks of a true leader.

Are you a leader in your church? As a pastor? As a Sunday school teacher? As a Bible study leader? Do these things describe you?

Categories
Acts

Through many hardships

Acts

One thing you could say about Paul and Barnabas’ missionary journey: it certainly wasn’t boring.

As well as having much success, they also went through many trials, even to the point of Paul getting stoned and left for dead. It would have been easy to get discouraged and give up.

But not only did they not get discouraged, they returned to the places where they had been persecuted.

Why return? To strengthen the believers there and to encourage them to remain true to the faith. What did they say to encourage them?

We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God. (Acts 14:22)

I don’t know about you, but I’d rather hear about the blessings of God.

But Paul knew that these new converts would go through some tough times. If the people in those cities persecuted Paul, they were sure to do so to these new converts. And so Paul didn’t sugarcoat his words. They would go through hardship.

What was the good news then? They wouldn’t have to go through the hardships alone. God himself would be with them, just as he had been with Paul and Barnabas through their hardships.

And so just as Paul and Barnabas had been committed to the grace of God when they had been sent out from Antioch for this journey, they now committed these new converts to the Lord.

They knew that God’s grace would carry these believers through whatever hardships they might go through. (Acts 14:23)

In the same way, no matter what trials or hardships you may go through, God will always be with you, and his grace will ultimately bring you through to the other side.

The same God that was with Paul and Barnabas is with you now. So whatever you’re going through, don’t give up. And don’t get discouraged.

As the old hymn goes,

Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come;
‘Tis Grace that brought me safe thus far
and Grace will lead me home.

Categories
Luke Luke 18

Parable of the persistent widow: Keeping the faith through times of trial

Luke

It would be easy from looking at just the first verse to think that Jesus’ point is simply that we should keep praying and not give up when God seems slow to answer.

This is most certainly true, but the type of prayer Jesus is talking about is very specific, and it hearkens back to what he was just talking about, the Last Days. Days of trial, days of trouble.

And while Jesus promises that we will not be judged for our sins when he comes back, he makes no promises that we won’t go through trial and suffering. And there will be times when we will suffer through great injustices.

This is particularly true of those who are Christians in the time of the Great Tribulation when Antichrist comes and reigns. And it is these people that Jesus specifically is talking about.

The Bible makes it clear that those who are Christians will be persecuted, and it would be easy during that time to wonder where God is. To wonder if he has abandoned us. To wonder if he still cares. To wonder if we will ever see justice for the all the persecution we endure.

So Jesus tells a story of a woman who suffered an injustice, and pleaded with a judge to give her justice. But the judge for a long time refused to listen.

In the end, however, he got so tired because of the woman’s pleas, that he gave in and gave her the justice she asked for.

Jesus is not saying that God is unjust and has to be badgered into giving us justice. In fact, he’s saying the exact opposite.

He’s saying, “If this unjust judge gave this woman justice because of her incessant pleas, how much more will God who is just give justice to those who are his own?”

You see another picture of this in Revelation 6:9-11. These saints who were persecuted and killed for Jesus’ sake never found justice during their lifetimes on earth. But God assured them that justice would soon come.

But it is hard to wait, especially when we are suffering. And so Jesus asks of us,

However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth. (Luke 18:8)

Some of you may be saying, “Well, I’m not going to go through the Great Tribulation. I’m going to be raptured before then, so I don’t have to worry about that.”

Honestly, I’m not so sure about that. I think it’s very possible we will have to go through the Tribulation. But even assuming that we don’t, how strong is your faith

When you go through hard times, do you start questioning God and his justice Do you start asking, “God, where are you Do you still love me Do you still care Why are you letting me go through this”

Or do you keep coming to God in faith, saying, “I believe in you. Even through all I’m going through, I will not let you go. I believe you will eventually bring me justice, if not in this life, then in the life to come.”

When Jesus sees you, does he see a faith that falters Or does he see an unshakeable faith

So as the writer of Hebrews encourages us, let us strengthen our feeble arms and weak knees. (Hebrews 12:12)

And let us never lose faith in the one who has proven himself to be faithful