Not for wimps

Tough times will come into your life. What will happen to you then?  We can, and many do, run from pain, from commitment, from sorrow or situations that demand much of us.  The consequence is a flabby faith, an immature character, and unrealized potential. One friend recently commented on a life choice I made; “I don’t  know how you do it,” he said, “I would never choose such a stressful situation.”  What he cannot know is how that choice has opened up my life to God’s grace and deepened my faith in Him.  A disciplined life has many rewards.

·         Those who resist impulse buys and trips they cannot afford, who live on a realistic budget, actually finds themselves with more discretionary funds in the long run! Instead of always paying off their credit cards (and the awful interest that goes with poor stewardship practices), slaves to a monthly bill, they enjoy freedom and can be more generous.
 

·         A person who regularly prays – choosing time to meditate and listen to the Spirit with equal commitment on sunny days and on those when dark clouds threaten - enjoys the benefit of current conversation with God and the comfort of meeting a true Friend.

·         Making building relationships and being part of Christ’s Body a priority choice when so many other options beckon every Sunday morning, builds a reservoir of relationships that pays great dividends when life hits reverse (and it will, sooner or later).

God is not reluctant to ask hard things of us, for He knows that doing them strengthens us. Jesus says things like: "Forgive those who do you wrong! Love your enemies! Practice your generosity without telling anybody. Live for Heaven, not just for your next meal. Take up your cross and follow me!"  The Bible tells us to "Keep a tight rein on your tongue. Trust God when it's dark. Endure hardship. Give thanks always."  Are these hard things? Yes. Are they possible? For the Spirit-filled Christian, they are not only possible, they are a way of life!  

The issue is will. Will you do hard things or make an excuse why you can't?  Most of us have some 'will nots' in our lives. There are things we do not do because they are difficult or unpleasant. We could do them and even know, in many cases we should be doing them, but we will not. James does not spare our feelings with regard to refusal to do God's hard things. He says that "Anyone who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins." (James 4:17, NIV)  The Christian life is not for wimps. Those who choose to do the will of God will suffer, will go through situations that crush them.  And, they will also find the delight of God’s sustaining love, the beauty of knowing His salvation.

Paul willingly choose a life on the road (when travels was beyond difficult), willingly identified himself with Christ, and often found himself in trouble, as a result.  He is honest about the cost. "I think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and completely overwhelmed, and we thought we would never live through it. In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we learned not to rely on ourselves, but on God who can raise the dead. And he did deliver us from mortal danger. And we are confident that he will continue to deliver us. He will rescue us because you are helping by praying for us. As a result, many will give thanks to God because so many people’s prayers for our safety have been answered." (2 Corinthians 1:8-11, NLT)

God wants to lead you to become strong, to become holy, to be champion. Will you allow Him to call you to do hard things?   Let these words urge you on when you find yourself wanting to refuse His invitation.  "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever." (1 Corinthians 9:24-25, NIV) "We respect our own parents for training and not spoiling us, so why not embrace God’s training so we can truly live? While we were children, our parents did what seemed best to them. But God is doing what is best for us, training us to live God’s holy best. At the time, discipline isn’t much fun. It always feels like it’s going against the grain. Later, of course, it pays off handsomely, for it’s the well-trained who find themselves mature in their relationship with God." (Hebrews 12:9-11, The Message)
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Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah

Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah

Pilgrim through this barren land.

I am weak but Thou art mighty,

Hold me with Thy powerful hand!

Bread of heaven,

Bread of heaven,

Feed me ‘till I want no more;

Feed me ‘till I want no more.

Open now the crystal fountain

Whence the healing stream doth flow.

Let the fire and cloudy pillar lead me

All my journey through.

Strong Deliverer,

Strong Deliverer,

Be Thou still my strength and shield,

Be Thou still my strength and shield.

Liz Wagley | Peter Williams | William Williams

© Words: Public Domain