…that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.
—2 Corinthians 4:10
“We have to develop godly habits to express what God’s grace
has done in us. It is not just a question of being saved from hell, but of
being saved so that “the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.” And
it is adversity that makes us exhibit
His life in our mortal flesh. […] No matter how difficult something may be,
I must say, “Lord, I am delighted to obey You in this.” Instantly, the Son of
God will move to the forefront of my life, and will manifest in my body that
which glorifies Him. […] The moment you obey the light of God, His Son shines
through you in that very adversity[…] You
must keep yourself in the proper condition to allow the life of the Son of God
to be manifested in you, and you
cannot keep yourself fit if you give way to self-pity. Our circumstances
are the means God uses to exhibit just how wonderfully perfect and
extraordinarily pure His Son is. […] It
is one thing to choose adversity, and quite another to enter into adversity
through the orchestrating of our circumstances by God’s sovereignty. And if
God puts you into adversity, He is adequately sufficient to “supply all your
need” (Philippians 4:19). Keep your soul properly conditioned to manifest the
life of the Son of God. […] let the Word
of God always be living and active in you.” CHAMBERS
Isn’t it curious that today’s Christian culture measures
spirituality by affluence and the absence of trouble .. the same measure used
by the carnal world, yet the Word of God tells us that just the opposite is
true? “Do not love the world or the
things of this world” (1 John 2:15-17) “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on
earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But
store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not
destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.” (Matthew
6:19-20) What do you value in this life?
What do you put your trust in?
Your bank account or your God?
Most Christians don’t want others to know they are having
problems as if it is a confession of sin .. recall Job’s friends response to his
troubles. The world’s wisdom says if you
are doing right .. you will be happy and trouble free. But the Word says … “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. But rejoice inasmuch as you
participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his
glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are
blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. If you suffer, it
should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as
a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise
God that you bear that name. 1 Peter
4:12-16
Our old nature does not want to be put through fiery
ordeals. But we all face them to one
degree or another … at some time or times in our lives. The world does not want to know if our faith
has value in the good times … the light of Jesus shines the brightest when the
saints persevere in troubling times. It
is in your response to those times that the world sees that there is a God in heaven
who is our strength in times of trouble.
Psalm 59:16 “I will sing of
your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my
fortress, my refuge in times of trouble.”
Are you facing trouble today? Don’t
look around for a way to escape … instead look up! ELGIN
Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)
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