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| Fiery Trials |
Life at times, even for a Christian, can seem difficult. Often, life’s burdens can feel too
overwhelming to bear. In spite of this,
trials have a refining effect on our lives,
and in the end are always for our good.
Darlene Cunningham, the co-founder of Youth With A Mission, once stood
gazing out over the wall that separated free and communist controlled Europe.
She had heard of the suffering and persecution that believers in Christ were
experiencing in Marxist controlled countries.
She was safe, and warm, and well fed, but not so for her brothers and
sisters on the other side of the wall.
She cried out to God, “Where is your justice, Lord?” The Lord answered her. He said, no, you do
not suffer like they do, but you do not know me like they do either. Salvation is free, but discipleship is
costly. Discipline, God crossing our will with his, is always good for us and without it, we will never experience his
holiness (Hebrews
12:10). Just as the dross rises to
the top when silver is heated, so is our sin brought to the surface by the
trials and tribulations of life. When
it’s happening, discipline is not pleasurable, but in the end, it brings the
peaceable fruit of righteousness (v.
11). God’s purpose in our suffering
is always redemptive.
In our culture we have a quick-fix mentality that is pervasive even in
our Christian faith. There is no shortcut to holiness. The pathway to imparted righteousness always
goes through the crucible of life. The
process is a lot easier if we accept rather than resist the goodness of God.
Image used with permission by Microsoft.
Ken
Barnes the author of “The Chicken Farm and Other Sacred Places” YWAM Publishing
Email: kenbarnes737@gmail.com
website: https://sites.google.com/site/kenbarnesbooksite/
Email: kenbarnes737@gmail.com
website: https://sites.google.com/site/kenbarnesbooksite/
Podcasts: http://kensblogpodcast.blogspot.com
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