RESOLVE

 
October 15, 2020                                            RESOLVE
Habakkuk 3:17-19 “Though the fig tree should not blossom, and there be no fruit on the vines, though the yield of the olive should fail, and the fields produce no food, though the flock should be cut off from the fold, and there be no cattle in the stalls, yet I will exult in the Lord, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength, and He has made my feet like hinds’ feet, and makes me walk on my high places.
Job 13:15a “Though He slay me, I will hope in Him.
These two verse serve as an acid test for us; is our trust, our joy, our peace, our hope, and our confidence tied to circumstances. Difficult and trying times have a way of exposing our heart; what is on the inside comes out. I must admit that I would not like to live in days like Habakkuk describe-who would? I also must admit that I do not enjoy or like it what everything seems to go wrong. Obviously, Habakkuk and Job’s faith in God sprang from a knowledge of God that was the bedrock of their life; their faith was not diminished by the trying and difficult circumstances they faced. In our day, we often hear it said or implied that ‘if we just come to Jesus, everything will be fine.’ Many believe that if we believe right, live right, and have faith, we will somehow not experience difficulties. But, that is not true. In John 16:33 Jesus made it clear that we would have trials. “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” 1 Peter 4:12 makes the same point. “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.” Let us accept the fact that trials come our way, and they come our way because God allows it, and they do not necessarily come because we are living wrong or our faith is weak. It must be said that some trials are ‘self-made’ and some trials we do not bring upon ourselves, they are beyond our control; how we respond is in our control. An example of a self-made trial is that if I do not keep oil in my car engine-guess what! The good news is that God is able to use for good even the self-inflicted trials. (A bad engine does not even compare to such trials as we see in the above verses.) We will at some point come face-to-face with trials that test our faith and our steadfastness in the Lord. In such times, remember that a loving God has allowed it and it serves a test and it is something that He will use for good-even though we do not understand the why or how. Knowing in the deepest part of our being that God is our Father is key to having an unwavering faith even in the most difficult times.
Isaiah 41:10 “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”
Psalm 27:12 “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”
1 Peter 1:7 “that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold that perisheth though it is proved by fire, may be found unto praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
Blessings, Buddy