Pet peeves
“These things I have spoken to you; that in Me you may have peace. In this world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
One of my biggest pet peeves is Christians that live there life in what I call defeat mode. Whenever problems arise they seem to cower away and shrink up in a ball like an armadillo. They get so scared of these problems that they give up before they ever start fighting.
Let’s take a quick look at a few of the heroes of the faith found in Hebrews 11, and see what we can learn from them. Noah was living in a truly decadent society that was filled with immorality. In fact, the Bible says that in Noah’s time that the intentions of mans heart was continuosly evil. He was constantly surrounded by evil people with wicked intentions, but despite all of this he did not lose heart because he knew that God could deliver him from this.
Abraham was asked by God to offer up his son Isaac. I’m sure that Abraham’s head was spinning, and he was uncertain; and scared about the thought of losing his son. However, listen to the words of Abraham when asked by Isaac about the offering to God, “God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” (Genesis 22:2) Abraham did not waver, nor did he cower away when he was faced with a seemingly impossible decision, but Abraham remained steadfast in his devotion to God. His vision was constantly fixed on the Throne.
Jesus Himself is the ultimate example of how we must stand strong even when feel like our world is caving around us. Jesus had come to this world, and He was a Teacher and a Prophet of God. He spent years teaching people how that they could be rightly related to God, and He was the Healer from God performing miracles on the lame, deaf, blind, etc. But more than any of this He was the Son of God, and the ultimate example to us of how to trust God in the middle of trials. Jesus was given the knowledge of knowing that He would have to die, and suffer horribly on the cruel cross, and in Himself He did not want this. Listen to His words, Father, if it is possible let this cup pass from Me, yet not as I will; but as Thou wilt.” (Matthew 26:39) In the time when Jesus was faced with the impossible task of dying on the cruel cross, He did not cower away or shrink up, but He kept His vision on the glory of God!
When you and I are faced with a difficult, seemingly impossible task then we should not, and cannot cower away or switch into defeat mode, but we should keep our vision on God knowing that the same hands that brought the ram to Abraham, and delivered Jesus from the grave WILL save us from trouble when we look to Him.
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Father, I thank You for giving me the examples in Your word of how I can overcome troubles, and I ask that You would help me to keep my vision on You instead of the trials around me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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Yes, You Can Ministry 