2025-02-21
Good Morning Dear Ones,
I’m commanded by the Holy Spirit to continue writing on the cost of being a disciple. The challenges we face are those which God allows. He does this for very righteous reasons. If we have had illnesses and losses, faced combat, dealt with toxic workplaces, been the victims of crime, had trouble in school, lived during times of injustice, been the bearer of addictive behavior, or a myriad of other challenges that happen to people, we can understand what is meant here by wrongdoing. Yet God tells us, in 1 COR 10: 13, “And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide you a way out so that you can endure it.” We must understand that God gives us this promise thinking in eternal terms, not just in those of earth. Part of what God is doing here is devising a way to make PR 10: 25 true, “When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone, but the righteous stand firm forever.”
Our God is merciful. There are some folks who don’t understand it, particularly after a painful loss. PS 103: 13, “The Lord is like a father to His children, tender and compassionate to those who have reverence for Him.” A friend is having trouble accepting God’s decision to call his wife, who was very ill, home to Him. But we must remember our loving Lord also fully heals the ones who love Him that He calls home to heaven. That means a person like this lady no longer suffers and is, in fact, in the best, most peaceful place she can be. Her husband’s focus on the temporary loss of her companionship as he awaits his time to be reunited with her in heaven is a refusal to think in eternal terms, or even what is in his wife’s best interests. She most probably wouldn’t want him to be unhappy either. The evil one is at work in this friend, and I’m praying every day, he will move forward with his earthly life until it’s time for his reunion with her. We were created to honor God and not to allow the devil to have his way.
Let’s look at PS 94: 12-15, “Blessed is the one You discipline, Lord, the one You teach from Your law; You grant them relief from days of trouble, till a pit is dug for the wicked. For the Lord will not reject His people; He will never forsake His inheritance. Judgment will again be founded on righteousness, and all the upright in heart will follow it.” Yes, wickedness will be adjudicated by the only One with the power to do that! There may be times when we must deal with insults for the sake of our faith. The Lord even gives us direction concerning the attitude we should take, in 1 PET 4: 14, “If you are insulted in the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory rests on you. Poking the bear is what we shouldn’t do. But if someone asks us to explain the hope we have, that’s another matter. We must be prepared to explain it and there is no better way than to develop a working knowledge of the Scriptures. God tells us to be gentle and considerate as we do it [1 PET 3: 15-17].
If the question comes up: How do I know God will bring the evil one and his followers to an end, the answer is God always tells us the truth. Our God is faithful and has made the promise the wicked will eventually be destroyed; He has even shown us how this will be accomplished in REV 20: 10. There are so many examples of God’s righteousness throughout the Scriptures, that we shouldn’t miss a precious detail of it as we study them.
PRAYER: O Lord, we can’t help but be grateful for the love You show usday by day. PS 107: 1, “Say, ‘thank You’ to the Lord for being so good, for always being so loving and kind.” By nature, You are a merciful God, One Who looks in on His people, especially in times of suffering. As we struggle with our challenges, You teach us incredibly valuable lessons and show us what You created us to overcome. Gradually, those who love You are prepared for the day when You decide it’s time for us to be glorified, i.e. come home to heaven for a blissful eternity of sweet fellowship with You. Likewise, You gradually will dispose of the followers of the evil and even the evil one himself. We offer You thanksgiving and praise for being the wonderful, loving God You are, in the holy/mighty name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
NEXT WEEK: In preparation to answer the question: “After surrender, what,” we must be prepared to be on the journey toward accepting the task(s) God has prepared for us to do. That is the larger definition of ministry. That will be the subject of next week’s message. In the meanwhile, there are some basic requirements for which we must ask. Knowledge to understand the Scriptures, wisdom to know how to apply them to our lives, and certainly discernment. PHIL 1: 9-10, “And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that You may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.” Praise and thanksgiving be to Him!
Grace Be With You Always,
Lynn, JS 24: 15
© Lynn Johnson 2025. All Rights Reserved.
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