I don't exactly know where I am going with this, so bear with me. This post is as much for myself and for anyone else.
It seems to me, that the common response to almost any dilemna is seek God and pray continually for guidance (Proverbs 3:5,6). Which I believe is true and I am definitely a firm believer in the power of prayer. But then many people go on to think that God will fix it, or things will get better. The truth is that for many Christians, it won't get better (in this life). They will suffer or be persecuted their whole lives and their justice will only come through salvation, our eternal reward. Their is no promise of justice for us now. 9 of the 12 apostles of Christ were martyrd for the lives they chose to live. Heaven is our reward. Have you read the Bible? It's full of stories about God's triumph's through our suffering.
Everyone seems to be waiting for the perfect mate to jump into their lives and passing up on those who aren't perfect or don't match their criteria. If problems arise, then not many are willing to work on their relationships and they just give up thinking that God never intended it to be. I've heard that the divorce rate among Christians is higher than the non-christians. But God makes us stronger through our struggles, and our relationships are bonded by the hurdles we overcome together. Our true strength is shown in our adversity. Relationships take work, don't run away at the first sign of trouble. Don't think of divorce as an option; if you consider it an option, you are already fighting an uphill battle. (Mark 10:2-12).
Our generation is a selfish one and we are focused on ourselves (generally speaking that is.) How often do we truly put others first? How often do we truly put God first? I hear it preached that the life of a Christian will be filled with peace and love and yet we quarrel amongst ourselves. We love one brother and despise the other. How does that look to the unbeliever? How do we appear any different that they? If anything, we become hypocrites for preaching love and then not living it. The world has trained us to ignore our hearts, when the greatest commandment is to love God will all your heart and the 2nd is to love your neighbor as yourself (Mark 12:29-31). Could you imagine what our communities would be like if we truly treated those around us with as much concern as we treat ourselves?
Also, even if all is going well in our lives. We have a good job, a good spouse, beautiful children, financial security, etc. The spirit inside of us still wars with our desires of our flesh (Romans 7:14-25). We cannot truly know peace or happiness except through the grace of God, who by Jesus Christ, overcame death and paid atonement for our sins.
I'm not trying to be negative or condemning, but realistic. We can still lead lives of peace and love, but we must rejoice in our trials and suffering because it is necessary for us to become more like Christ (James 1:2-5 & I Peter 4:19). When we live righteous lives, our desires our transformed and we take joy in the things of the Lord, even in our suffering. The only reason we have for peace is Jesus and in Him is our only hope. Eternal life is the only reward that we should seek and the only reward that we are promised (Romans 6:22).
It seems to me, that the common response to almost any dilemna is seek God and pray continually for guidance (Proverbs 3:5,6). Which I believe is true and I am definitely a firm believer in the power of prayer. But then many people go on to think that God will fix it, or things will get better. The truth is that for many Christians, it won't get better (in this life). They will suffer or be persecuted their whole lives and their justice will only come through salvation, our eternal reward. Their is no promise of justice for us now. 9 of the 12 apostles of Christ were martyrd for the lives they chose to live. Heaven is our reward. Have you read the Bible? It's full of stories about God's triumph's through our suffering.
Everyone seems to be waiting for the perfect mate to jump into their lives and passing up on those who aren't perfect or don't match their criteria. If problems arise, then not many are willing to work on their relationships and they just give up thinking that God never intended it to be. I've heard that the divorce rate among Christians is higher than the non-christians. But God makes us stronger through our struggles, and our relationships are bonded by the hurdles we overcome together. Our true strength is shown in our adversity. Relationships take work, don't run away at the first sign of trouble. Don't think of divorce as an option; if you consider it an option, you are already fighting an uphill battle. (Mark 10:2-12).
Our generation is a selfish one and we are focused on ourselves (generally speaking that is.) How often do we truly put others first? How often do we truly put God first? I hear it preached that the life of a Christian will be filled with peace and love and yet we quarrel amongst ourselves. We love one brother and despise the other. How does that look to the unbeliever? How do we appear any different that they? If anything, we become hypocrites for preaching love and then not living it. The world has trained us to ignore our hearts, when the greatest commandment is to love God will all your heart and the 2nd is to love your neighbor as yourself (Mark 12:29-31). Could you imagine what our communities would be like if we truly treated those around us with as much concern as we treat ourselves?
Also, even if all is going well in our lives. We have a good job, a good spouse, beautiful children, financial security, etc. The spirit inside of us still wars with our desires of our flesh (Romans 7:14-25). We cannot truly know peace or happiness except through the grace of God, who by Jesus Christ, overcame death and paid atonement for our sins.
I'm not trying to be negative or condemning, but realistic. We can still lead lives of peace and love, but we must rejoice in our trials and suffering because it is necessary for us to become more like Christ (James 1:2-5 & I Peter 4:19). When we live righteous lives, our desires our transformed and we take joy in the things of the Lord, even in our suffering. The only reason we have for peace is Jesus and in Him is our only hope. Eternal life is the only reward that we should seek and the only reward that we are promised (Romans 6:22).
