At times, people hear the truth of Christ's gospel, but
do not respond to it. It was not mixed with faith and they could not receive it
(Hebrews 4:2). We can pray that God will strengthen them in their inner man to accept
His Truth as their own (Ephesians
3:16-17).
People often lie to us, in order to keep our good opinion
of them, or to keep us from rejecting or not loving them anymore. They are so
emotionally depleted or lacking in self-esteem that they cannot risk our
reaction if they tell us the truth.
Therefore, they also believe that God's love is
conditional; and they reject Him because they think He will abandon them if
they are not perfect. This is Satan's lie, which they believe as truth, and
they are perpetually discouraged and defeated in their life.
Satan robs us of our freedom in Christ, which God intends
for us to relish. Satan's whole mission is to steal, kill and destroy (John
10:10). Yet, Christ offers us His hope and joy in this life and for all of eternity (1
Corinthians 15:19).
We place our faith in the sacrificial atonement of Jesus
for our sins, receive His forgiveness, and walk in new life. Everything changes
for our good, even if our circumstances are a heavy burden.
Yoked to Jesus, we have help to carry our problems, and He
eventually works them all out for our good (Romans 8:28). God uses trials to
move us into the center of His will, to strengthen us for life's inevitable
tribulation in our future, and to prove to us His unending love and provision
for our life.
It is hard for the unbeliever to imagine that God's plan
for them is better than the sensual pleasures and tangible possessions of this
world. They do not realize that, in the larger scheme of things, life is as
vanishing as a warm breath on a cold morning (James 4:14).
They do not take into consideration that eternity lasts
forever (2 Corinthians 4:18), and we only have one chance to believe in Christ
or to condemn our self to hell for eternity (John 3:16-18).
Prayer:
Father God, You free us from the condemnation of our
past, the fear of the future and the uncertainty of life on this earth. Keep
our mind off our current circumstances and focused on the joy You set before us
each moment of the day - a stranger's smile, a bird's song, the giggles of
little children, a sunny day, a gentle rain, a beautiful landscape of
plant-life, a sunset, lake or stream.
Help us not to miss the true joy, success and peace which
comes through having Christ residing within us by Your Holy Spirit. Remind us
that any heavy cross we experience in life on this sin-cursed globe is easier
and lighter when we are yoked with Christ, because He aids us in carrying the
burden.
Thought for the Day:
If we view life from the context of eternity, we gain a
greater hope and fulfillment though living it for Christ; He abides within us
and helps us to carry our burdens here on earth with more serenity and
contentment, and to enjoy eternity with Him in abundance and peace. - 1 Corinthians 15:19
