Hello, gentle readers...
Do you belong to a denomination that believes in "name it and claim it?" I do...and I find myself at odds with that teaching many, many times. Recently, someone suggested that they have no menopause symptoms because they cast it away and told the devil to leave them alone. Is it possible? Of course. Is it probable? Probably not.
I Peter 1:6-7 says, "In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed."
We will have temptations and trials in this life. It isn't all rosy and sticky sweet, my friends. How else would one keep a muscle in top fitness but to stress it and exercise it regularly? And, so is God with us. He puts on us burdens and difficulties that we might flex our faith and examine our fitness for the kingdom. In so doing, we gain insight and spiritual prowess allowing us to mature into that follower who truly can bring the ministry of God on earth: to heal the sick, cure the lame, bind up the brokenhearted, and show affection for the sheep. That is true ministry. And that truth is only seen in those who have been refined in the fire of the difficulties this world brings.
So next time you are eager to cast something away, check with God first and see if it isn't there to teach you some lesson even greater.
May God richly bless you this day and may you learn strength, patience and compassion.
CLG-B
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1 comment:
Thanks for this reminder of God's growing pains. It gave me strength as I am going through a time of spiritual growth.
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