Dealing with "life"

Romans 8:28 (KJV):  “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

Aren’t pain and loss God’s motivators?

At the present fellowship where i attend; in the bulletin is a prayer request and praise insert.  Over the past few months have observed the number of notices are one sided.  The header on the insert reads prayer requests and blessings or praises, but can’t recall the last time i read of a blessing or answer to prayer.  To date i can’t recall a time when one was having difficulties and requested the wisdom of God in their trial.  The requests have always been (my memory) been to remove the trial.  i no longer ask God for relief but do ask God what He’d have me to learn in this trial and then to learn it.  i have found that God uses personal suffering and physical loss to get our attention.  We get sick, become ill, have a fire, get in a vehicle accident and ask God for help.  We should ask God for help; we should always be seeking His will in our lives, but do we? How often does one request His help before the incident: how often does one remember to be thankful and give Him praise, thankfulness and glory afterwards?

“Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.”  Philippians 3:17.  Paul tells us here that he is our example.  People will reply “Well i’m going to follow Christ” and we should.  But how we follow is also important.  Paul instructs us to follow him as he, Paul followed Christ.  “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.” 1 Corinthians11:1.   i see then that Paul and others were examples for us to emulate.  That is not to say that we are to worship (Acts 14:8-20, the worship of Paul and Barnabas rejected and condemned):  not to worship them but we do have them as guides in how to live in this dispensation of the grace of God.  Isn’t that guidance given to us in Paul’s epistles?

How did Paul deal with adversity in his life?  “And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.”  2 Corinthians 12:7-10.  Here i read of Paul’s infirmities, and how he requested God to have these affections removed.  What was God’s reply?  “ My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.”  2 Corinthians 12:9.  If we are to follow Paul’s lead in following Christ, shouldn’t we as Paul did?  if not, why not? “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17.  Its not the servant who serves God openly before men but the one who serves from the heart. “Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: and whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;”  Colossians 3:22-23.  Although directed to the service of men as laborers, Christ Jesus is our ultimate master:  “even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.Eph 5:23b.  “And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.”  Col 1:18.  We are His body if be that one is in Christ: in that context this does apply to us who are in Christ.  How does one come to Christ?  By believing the scriptures:  “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:”  1 Corinthians 15:1-4.

We need to be strengthened in our faith to better be a good and faithful servant unto the LORD.   That strengthening is accomplished by the Holy Spirit through: “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.”  2 Corinthians 12:10.  Does one want too, i mean really, seriously, want to be a good and faithful servant? i would hope.   Then one must take hold the plow, not looking back:  “Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 3:12-14.  Will God allow one’s ability to be passed unto failure?  “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13.  Will one believe God or believe the world? 

“And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope: and hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” Romans 5:3-5. 

“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;”  Titus 2:13

Thank You LORD Jesus for that blessed hope, Your soon return.  Help me even when i don’t want to be helped, for when push comes to shove “i need You”.  i know that You love me, gave Yourself for me, gave me Your life and i am eternally Yours.  My memory is short though, am but dust, when i’m in pain and loss, remind me.  In Jesus’s name, Your name, i love You Jesus: HELP!  Amen . . . . . . .