Though Weary Now, Rest In Him!

And God will use this persecution to show his justice and to make you worthy of his Kingdom, for which you are suffering. In his justice he will pay back those who persecute you. And God will provide rest for you who are being persecuted and also for us when the Lord Jesus appears from heaven. He will come with his mighty angels, in flaming fire, bringing judgment on those who don’t know God and on those who refuse to obey the Good News of our Lord Jesus. 2 Thessalonians 1:5-8 NLT

Promoting The Gospel of Jesus Christ can wear some people out, if we let it. Those of us who understand that the world is not really receptive to hearing the Good News, know we must continue to move forward, promoting The Gospel even when people don’t want to hear it. 

One would think if a person didn’t want to hear something they would just ignore or tune-out the person speaking, but tuning us out isn’t good enough for the harbingers of demonic influence. Under that influence, those who do not want to believe or hear Truth, take great pleasure in persecuting those of us who promote Truth. They love to see if they can get us to act as they do and get even angrier when we don’t take the bait. Ugliness rises from the tide of verbal abuse to physical abuse in some cases. This doesn’t mean that Believers have to succumb to the abuse or act like a doormat and defend self. But that’s a topic for another blog.

What we have to understand in all of the turmoil and conflicts in being obedient is that we can rest in Christ Jesus–knowing that He will take care of all those who persecute us--in His timing and avenge us so the world will know–we are not our own, but we belong to Him.

Every time the enemy raises his ugly head we stare him in the face, fully armed to do battle in the spirit and come out victorious. Victory is not always easy and is certainly nothing the lazy will ever experience. Pursuing victory in anything means working hard and diligently, never willing to give up. Ask any professional athlete how hard they work to win, but when they win–they can rest in aftermath–knowing their hard work paid off for them.

We too can rest in the aftermath of each victory–every time we see the light come on in the minds of those who choose to believe Truth and then live it. In fact, after every victory–every new believer coming to Christ–we can expect the enemy to attack, but we can continue our journey knowing that resting in Him can be as easy as focusing on what He would have us to do, not what the enemy is doing.

Though the rest we desire does not come without a price–we will survive and rest in Him–knowing we have been faithful to His calling and in bringing Truth to the masses so all can be judged according to His judgment.

Keep going–though weary with all the world’s foolishness and prepare to rest in Him, allowing Him to minister to our hearts so we can rise up and get going again.

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The Winning Team!

“So he stood at the entrance to the camp and shouted, “All of you who are on the LORD’s side, come here and join me.” (Exodus 32:26 NLT)

Everyone wants to play on the team that wins–we see it in all the sports!

The Superbowl–headed for Disneyland.

The World Series–wherever they go.

The NBA Champions, The NHL Champions, any sport where it’s played, people would rather be on the winning team!

There are two major league teams we must choose in life–The World’s Team or God’s Team!

Although it might appear that the World’s Team is winning–the winner is never announced until the end of the game.

The end of the game has not yet arrived, but it will soon and I want to be on the Winning Team–That’s God’s Team!

The playbook has already announced the winners–those who endure to the end–and when that announcement is made–“welcome to eternity” I want to be there, received by Him who loves!

Are you on the Winning Team? It’s not too late, make a decision to day to receive God’s best for your life and join us in the celebration of our Risen Savior! He chose you before you were born to be on His team, now choose to play by His rules.

Don’t Stop!

Getting distracted by life’s obstacles can be debilitating, but keep going. Deal with the distractions, one at time, purposefully. Try to make sure that each particular obstacle does not re-occur. Pray, without ceasing. Know that God has your back and no weapon formed against you will prosper. Once your obstacle is behind you, leave it there and move forward–ready to meet the next one head on, with a made-up mind that nothing, absolutely nothing will deter you from reaching your goals. Success is a matter of tenacity, perspiration, and courage. Think only about realizing the end result and what that will mean to you and family and friends. As long as God is pleased, nothing else matters. Don’t Stop! You’ve come too far to turn back now!

We are Overcomers!

When Jesus was talking to the disciples (just before He went into the garden to pray) he said to them, “In the world (surrounding worldliness, influenced by the enemy) you will have tribulation (trials, persecution–really off days), be of good cheer ( don’t worry–I’ve got it covered)!  I have overcome (provided a way of escape and victory) the world (everything the enemy would toss our way)” (John 16:33–paraphrased parentheses).  On His way to talk with His Father, in solitude, knowing His fate, He took the time to comfort His disciples.  He is yet comforting us with those words–“be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” When things appear to be more than we can handle–remember the promise–things can get tough, but God’s got it!  No matter what we face–on a daily basis–we can be assured of our ability to overcome because of who He is and His promise towards us.  Be of good cheer–don’t worry about a thing!  The enemy cannot win–he has already been defeated. We are overcomers!