“And I will put this third into the fire, and refine them as one refines
silver, and test them as gold is tested. They will call upon my name, and I
will answer them. I will say, 'They are my people'; and they will say, 'The
LORD is my God.'” - Zechariah 13:9
I am so excited to say, “The Lord is my God.” I also love that He called me
as one of His people. He plans for us to prosper as He fulfills His will in and
through us (Jeremiah 29:11). When we accept Satan’s temporary
fleshly pleasures instead of God’s blessings, we forfeit God’s love in our
life. When we turn our back on Him, ignore His directives or follow the
seductive call of the world, our flesh or the devil, we miss out on the
provisions God has in store for each one of us (Jude 21).
In life, we are either…going
into a trial, coming out of a trial, or in the midst of a trial. This causes
many people, especially new Christians, to wonder if God really makes any
difference in their life. Some even find their hearts wanting to return to
their old life (Numbers 11:5-6). Was
life really any easier without the Lord in your life? Did you have fewer
troubles and hassles? Was your life more perfect or any more fulfilling than it
is now? Didn’t you have struggles and trials all along in your life? Walking
away from God will not solve any problems, but only exacerbate them.
If you run toward Him
instead of away from Him, you will see His provision through every trial you
ever experience. He will work out everything, even the negative things in your
life, for your good (Romans 8:28). Would
you expect a human infant to walk, run or jump hurdles? In the same way, God
does not expect His baby Christians to do more than you are able. He is not
holding you to a standard higher than you can reach. He just wants you to
completely surrender to Him and allow Him to live His life through you (Galatians
2:20).
Heaven is not our reward for
being good. We cannot take any credit for this, because it is God’s free gift
to us all. None of us can boast about anything we have done, because all of our
good works are just filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). God saved us by His grace when we believed that
Christ’s death on the cross paid for our sins. Salvation is God’s free gift to
a sinful world (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Jesus rescued us from
eternal condemnation. We no longer have to pay any penalty for our sins. They
are forgiven and forgotten forever (Psalm 103:12). When we receive Christ’s death on the cross as
payment for our sins, Jesus rescues us from eternal damnation. We no longer
have to pay any penalty for our sins (Romans
6:23). We are
free from any obligation, because the firstborn Son of God set us free (John 8:36) to also become His sons and daughters (1 John
3:1).
If you are a long term
Christian and are still taking baby steps, I encourage you to take a few giant
leaps of faith. You will find an exciting world when you walk with the Lord of
the universe who lives within you (Ephesians 4:15). As you tithe ten percent of your income, God will
abundantly and miraculously supply all of your needs (Philippians
4:19). As you witness, God will use you
to share His love with others. As you minister in the church setting and impart
to others what Jesus teaches you, you will see others growing in their faith as
well.
I encourage you not to remain a baby in Christ any longer (2 Peter
3:18). Learn the elementary teachings
about Christ and walk in them (Hebrews 6:1-2). Then go on to maturity, encourage one another and live in peace and
harmony, so that the love and peace of God will dwell in you now and always (2
Corinthians 13:11).
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, always walks with us through our trials. I will not pray for
You to remove them, but instead, to brings us through them victoriously. This
not only builds our faith, but also provides a testimony of Your love in our
lives. Though the fire gets hot at times, I know You are simply removing the
impurities from my life as a good metalsmith always does (Proverbs 25:4). I fully surrender to Your love and thank You for Your life within me. Thought for the Day:
Have the courage to take those giant steps of faith and obey the leading of God’s Spirit in your life.
