“These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world” (1 Peter 1:7)
If any one has a desire to understand Moses and his power to lead a restless people through the desert on to the promised land, all must start by appreciating his 40 years of wandering in the desert. To know well Apostle Paul and, his unquenchable spirit to take the Gospel to the Gentiles, starts with appreciating he was once struck blind and for a certain period was in no man’s land. Joseph who saved his people cannot be fully appreciated without taking into note his being sold into slavery and long years of being locked up on false accusation. Such terrible years of solititude and nobidiness made these great servants of God!
Very often these days one hears of a certain Gospel that emphasises the wellbeing and prosperity of believers. It is true that our God is a rewarder of all who worship him in truth. But just as well God is interested in equipping those whom he calls to serve Him. One way, among many, is to first take any through the ring of fire, as to purify them and remove all the dross for the finished gold.
Perhaps as a believer you might be wondering why must one experience pain and suffering yet a dear child of God! There is a simple reason. Paul writes, “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Phillipians 1:6). He reminds us, “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us” (Romans 5: 3-5).
Friend, be comforted if there are any low moments in your life, for quite often, there is work going on for God to perfect you for His service.
Prayer today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, where there are difficult moments in my life may I realise and accept this could be to deepen my faith and serve you better to your glory, this I pray in Jesus’s name.
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19/04/2024 - 20/04/2024 All day“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland” ( Isaiah 43:19).
Just before fire was unleashed down on Sodom and Gommorah, Lot was told to pack up with his wife and two daughters and leave their homestead. Now, once out of danger, “But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt” ( Gen 19:26). Perhaps here we might pause and ask why she was bothered to look back.
Of course it could have been that old “curiosity killed a cat” mistake! Yet, it could also have been Lot’s wife was not sure where she was going and longed for her old life back. This is a common error. There was nothing stirring to look back. Just before Lot’s neighbors had attacked his house eager to rape his visitors. “They called to Lot, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them” ( vv 5). Was there anything worth looking back to!
The case of Lot’s wife could be anyone else’s experience. The Lord has plucked you out of some mess. You have been delivered to a new life. Yet, somehow you decide to look back, as though there was anything good and worth longing for. Sometimes it is a bitter past you have been delivered from. Other than rejoice in your new blessings you keep being drawn back!
A wise caution goes, “As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly” ( Proverbs 26:11). If the Lord has just led you out of a certain mess why look back like it was much better! Instead look ahead, for “he who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters, who drew out the chariots and horses, the army and reinforcements together, and they lay there, never to rise again, extinguished, snuffed out like a wick: Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past” ( vv 17- 18).
Prayer today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, I thank you for delivering me from the darkness of the past and I look forward to a bright new future in you, this I pray in Jesus’ name!
