Every true believer that follows the Lord with their heart will often
come to some point in their walk when certain circumstances are unpleasant and
hard to bear despite their obedience to God; or certain requirements of the Master
are hard and His standards almost impossible to attain. At several points in
the lives of the Patriarchs, we read how they went through painful points of
obedience when it was not convenient, forgiveness and kindness
towards their enemies, and several other types of challenges to their faith
that were not convenient to them, yet through the help of the Lord they made it
to the end. Because they succeeded, so we can. Abraham was willing to offer his
only son to please the Lord, Joseph refused to be bitter against his brothers
that betrayed and sold him into slavery and David endured years of persecution
from King Saul and other fellow Israelis. All these men realizing that it was
the Lord using their situation to tutor them, refused to allow their hearts to
become hardened towards God. We also must note that through our daily walk and
conscious, consistent and deliberate obedience to the instructions of the
Lord, He will through His Spirit continue to disciple us.
From Scriptures and the happenings around us at this times, we know we
are already in the times that are ‘perilous to our faith and our righteousness’,
yet we must hold firm to Jesus’ encouragement to His disciples when they
wondered who would make it to the end, He said to them as
He is saying to us also: “with men this
may be impossible, but with God all things are possible”. Friends, this
simply means, it is possible to walk in faith, love, holiness and righteousness
despite the prevailing ills in the society. This level we will attain with a good
heart and attitude toward the Lord, as we learn to keep our eyes focused on the
Author and Finisher of our faith. In order to keep our hearts from being
hardened towards the Lord’s ways, dealings and instructions, we must constantly
review in our minds the love, the sacrifice and the obedience demonstrated by
the Lord Himself for our salvation. He modeled the attitude of humility when He
laid aside His majesty and took on the form of a servant. He walked the path of
painfully enduring hatred, betrayal, mockery and ultimately a criminal’s death
on the cross while His detractors whom He had helped at one time or the other, shouting
at Him “save yourself!” The KING of glory did this that we all may have an
opportunity for eternal life. Should
there be then any hesitation in our hearts towards total obedience to His word? This expression of divine love is what the
unprofitable servant clearly forgot when he buried his talent and declared to
his master “I knew thee that thou art a hard man, reaping where thou hast not
sown and gathering where thou has not scattered” Matthew 25:24. If we must judge, was this a
true reflection of our Master? Friends, the Lord has sown His life for us,
released an abundance of His mercy, grace and kindness. In the light of all He
has done, all He is asking from us is to live a life well pleasing to Him. Is
this too much to ask? Friend, this same Jesus is coming back again just as the
land owner returned in Matthew 25; what would your account be? No matter how
tough our times are or how rough your situation may look, by simply
calling to remembrance all He has done for, in and through you, I assure you
passion for daily obedience will once more return into your heart. God bless
you.
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