The Willingness to Endure: Conclusion
Anytime we are in a relationship or are committed to someone or something, there is going to be a testing of that commitment. That test almost always involves a level of tolerance or pain. What does this commitment/relationship REALLY mean to me? Are my feelings more important? Is what I want out of this relationship more important, or did I give my word concerning my commitment, and now I’m going to back out because someone hurt my feelings? What about the folks that were counting on you? How is this going to affect them? Who cares… right?
Anyone that seriously thinks living the Christian life is a “crutch’” ought to have their head examined; they haven’t a clue. Nobody ever said this was going to be easy. Not everybody in the church is going to dress like Mary Poppins, open up their umbrella and sing everything to you in a sultry voice. It might be nice if things were that way, but sorry- that’s just not reality.
Every one of us are going to have our moments inside the church and out. Every one of us are going to get in the flesh. If we’re going to error, let’s error on the side of grace. People are what’s MOST IMPORTANT. That was Jesus’ message – simply put. There is not a ONE of us that is going to go through life not getting our feelings hurt. I’m tired of being superficial and I'm tired of those type of relationships. We need to be able to tell one another what’s really up without worrying about someone getting all bent out of shape.
Romans 5:3-5(New King James Version)
3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us
James 1:3-4(New King James Version)
3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing
These two passages show us something interesting. So often we are told that whenever we experience something negative, it's the devil at work. Hogwash. The passages in Romans 5 and James 1 show us the negativity we experience is triggered by nothing other than our own flesh. When we insist on getting our own way, being selfish, and letting those desires rule us, it's going to hurt when the Lord begins to deal with us. Unfortunatly for our flesh, character isn't produced any other way in our lives. It's our faith that is tested. How strongly do we truly believe what we say? I've honestly found myself letting go of some things that I was SURE I believed over the most simple offense.
Our willingness to endure personal pain (emotionally) is a sure sign of our commitment to love others. Jesus suffered torture and humiliation from the very people for whom He was giving His life. Talk about NOT FAIR. He willingly chose to suffer on OUR behalf. That's love. Our situations are no comparison to what Jesus endured. Let's truly love others. Let's prefer them before ourselves. God is looking after us. Don't be afraid to take a bullet every now and then; remarkably, it won't kill you.
Dan Owczarzak
2 Comments
View Printer Friendly Version
Email Article to Friend
Reader Comments (2)
Welcome back to blogging! I missed you. I was just thinking about something today that is kind of along these lines. If something happens (a sickness, a death, whatever) I've heard it's the devils attack. Here's the thing, God is sovereign, He knew it was going to happen, and the devil can do nothing without God saying ok (look at Job.) So, what I'm thinking is that people are giving the devil way too much credit. Most of the negative things we experience in this life are simply a product of living on this fallen planet. Nothing more. Granted, there are real spiritual attacks at times. As you said, though we may not understand or even like these hard times coming at us, God is allowing the junk of this world to shape us, if we allow Him to. It's the "allowing Him to" part that is most important. Does this make sense? Let me know if you think I'm off my nut.
Lisa
Thanks - I have really missed the blogging world. Now that I am able to administer things on my own, I won't have any more disappearances.
One thing that I wanted to address in this article but never did - you are touching here. I won't say you're off your nut... BUT.... The hard times I believe we go through are mainly in circumstances and our emotions. HOWEVER, I do NOT believe that sickness, death, tradgedy are of God. I don't believe God is behind those things, nor do I believe God "allows" Satan to use them against us. Jesus warned us at the end of John 16:33 "in the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world". Why will we have tribulation? Because of II Cor 4:4. I don't believe God uses those things to "teach us something". God is the author of LIFE. Why would He use something that could potentially KILL us to teach us something? That's a Kindgom divided against itself .. that's simply not biblical.
If God is sovereign (which you wont even find that word in the King James version of the bible by the way) like we are taught He is - meaning NOTHING can happen unless He alows it, let me ask one thing. Do you believe that the fall of mankind (Adam and Eve) was God's divine will? I don't. Then if He was sovereign (in the way we are talking about), why didn't He stop that? We have free choice. We make our own decisions. We suffer the consequences, but WE make those decisons. God never supercedes our will to accomplish His.
II Corinthians 4:4 tells us that Satan is the god of this world. We give him place in our lives, and he doesn't need God's approval to do anything.. we are the ones who in a sense "created" him, gave him power, and let him loose. I may have to write an article to clear this up!!!