If someone says the lives of genuine Bible-believers are easy or comfortable, they know nothing about it.
Once you have committed your life to God
(or re-committed it),
get your spiritual battle gear on and get ready for greater difficulties than ever.
Don't take it lightly
and hold on tightly.
(Ecclesiasticus 2:1-11)
1 My son, if thou come to serve the Lord,
prepare thy soul for temptation.
2 Set thy heart aright, and constantly endure, and make not haste in
time of trouble.
3 Cleave unto him, and depart not away, that thou mayest be increased at
thy last end.
4 Whatsoever is brought upon thee, take cheerfully, and be patient when
thou art changed to a low estate.
5 For gold is tried in the fire, and acceptable men in the furnace of
adversity.
6 Believe in him, and he will help thee, order thy way aright, and trust
in him.
7 Ye that fear the Lord, wait for his mercy; and go not aside, lest ye
fall.
8 Ye that fear the Lord, believe him, and your reward shall not fail.
9 Ye that fear the Lord, hope for good, and for everlasting joy and
mercy.
10 Look at the generations of old, and see, did ever any trust in the
Lord, and was confounded? or did any abide in his fear, and was forsaken? or
whom did he ever despise, that called upon him?
11 For the Lord is full of compassion and mercy, longsuffering, and very
pitiful, and forgiveth sins, and saveth in time of affliction.
The PLAN:
Prepare your heart and soul for temptation. Constantly endure. Don’t try
to rush the hard times away. Stick tightly to God and don’t leave. Handle
dishonor with patience. Believe. Set in mind to do the right thing in advance
of potential trials. Trust. Wait. Live in him. Don’t go off the path. Look
forward to everlasting goodness.
The PROMISE:
Call on God during troubles and never be confounded, forsaken, or
despised by him. Receive much compassion, mercy, and forgiveness from God. Be
saved in time of affliction.
There are many temptations and pressures which are guaranteed to be
experienced by those who live biblically holy lives, but difficulties will be
less surprising for those who are ready—expecting, looking out for, watching,
on stand-by, on guard. This passage urges servants of the Lord to “prepare”,
not for a leisure cruise, but for stormy seas. Ecclesiasticus 2:8 encourages
those who fear the Lord to believe him and, “…your reward shall not fail”.
(Ecclesiasticus 2:5)
For gold is tried in the fire,
and acceptable men in
the
FURNACE OF ADVERSITY.
See also:
Zechariah 13:9, 1 Peter 1:7
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