Michael continues: In a counseling session, two women had approached a pastor and said, “We know that divorcing our husbands has no biblical grounds, but we don’t believe that God wants us to be miserable for the rest of our lives.” The pastor responded, “Being miserable is your own choice. You both took vows before God and witnesses to be married to your husbands and to be faithful until death do you part. God never said that life would be without pain, trials, tribulation and heartache, especially in marriage. If you’re miserable, then you are miserable because you have forsaken God and you have not learned patience for God to deliver you. Through tribulation you will learn endurance ... true godly character, refined by God’s testing and trial. Then you will discover that godly joy is not the absence of pain but the presence of the Lord.”
Jesus of the fleshly mind wants to be politically correct. Jesus of Nazareth wants to be biblically correct. Jesus of the mind says, Jesus is my guideline. Jesus of Nazareth says, Jesus is my Lord. Jesus of our fancy says truth is relative. Jesus of Nazareth says truth is absolute. Jesus of our dreams says peace depends on circumstances. Jesus of Nazareth says that my circumstances are working out for the good of the gospel. Therefore, be anxious for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God... and the peace of God which passes all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. The peace of God is not dependent on circumstance but upon the presence of Christ.
Jesus of people's inventiveness says follow me and you will have no pain. Jesus of Nazareth says, in this life, you will have tribulation. But be of good cheer for I have overcome the world. Jesus of our dreams says study the Bible to know it better. Jesus of Nazareth says study the Word of God for the renewing your mind that you will be transformed, that you may prove what is the good and perfect and acceptable will of God.
1 Corinthians 15:33 says, be not deceived, bad company corrupts good morals. You’re most like those with whom you choose to associate. We are called to the church, the body of Christ, so that we can link together with likeminded men in the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace. God will not strive with America; the choice is truth or consequences. If God removes His hand of blessing and protection from this land because of the nation’s unbelief, He is preparing the hearts of His men and women of God for such a time as this. Despite the brokenness of this fallen world, our hope is not in our nation, but in the country of our new birth for we are born-again citizens of Heaven in the Kingdom of God.
God doesn’t call the qualified and equipped. He qualifies and equips the called. The qualification and the equipment is the power of His Holy Spirit. God did not call us to deliver the message, but to be the message and to be about our Father’s business. Our father’s business is to be the salt of the earth ... to be witness of the truth; the message of salvation to reconcile God’s people back to God through our Lord Jesus Christ. This is our mission and our great commission; to go give them Heaven that together we may live to the praise of the glory of His grace!
Your brother in Christ, Michael
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