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Maturing Despite the Odds: Three Truths to Remember in Suffering

How can I continue to mature when life brings so many struggles? Because LIFE, it does not stop. It just keeps coming, coming, and coming. If it is not one thing, it is another. Many can relate to these sentiments. Life seems more of a curse than a blessing. It can bring so many trials, tests, and troubles that death seems like the only escape. Even those that have faith in God can sometimes sink into this pit of discouragement, depression, and despair. The words of David become the hallmark of existence, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring? Psalms 22:1 (KJV) Some reading this article know this scripture oh so well. It forms the basis of thoughts and prayers. Why does God allow us to experience so many hard things? Why does it seem as if He is unresponsive to our prayers and requests? It feels as if He does not care about what we are going through. We know from David's words and the words of Christ on the ...
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A Qualified Christian: Being Fruitful in Christian Life and Service

  It should be the desire of every Christian to be a useful and productive servant of the Lord; that is, a worthy Christian. On any job, qualified individuals are sought to fill positions. We know that anyone that is qualified makes necessary adjustments and work hard to obtain the necessary skills. The same is true of the Christian. We have to be willing to adjust and work towards being a qualified and productive servant. Jesus’ words to the disciples reveal to us that He would have it no other way. Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Matt 5:13 (KJV)      With these things in mind, the question arises, “How can I become a qualified Christian?” Many steps can one use to maintain their usefulness to the work of Christ. If the Christian employs these steps, he will become and remain a qualified servant of Christ. Let...
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The Complete Christian: Seven Traits of a Mature Christ Follower

     Every Christian should ask this question: What makes me a Christian? And, if I am a Christian, what should define my “being” as a Christian? If Christians do not know their reason for being, they will not be all they can be in Christ Jesus. Christians have to understand that they can only define themselves based upon biblical standards. This is because culture and Christianity have varying viewpoints about what “being” a Christian is.      The Christian, then, has to learn to define their being in terms of their relationship with Christ (righteousness and character), rather than by the culture (which focuses mostly on external traits -strength, money, stature, beauty, family, etc).      Before going further, the Christian should understand: 1) A Christian’s being is not based upon external characteristics, but internal traits. 2) The Definition of a Christian is found in the image of God. 3) Culture (Secular or Church) cannot define a Ch...
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The Benefits of Christian Fellowship

From the beginning, we see that God's purpose for man never included perpetual solitude and isolation. When we consider the events of the garden of Eden, we see that God saw that it was not good for man to be alone. We sometimes focus on the romantic relationship of the first man and woman, but God said that He would give the man someone who is able to help him. This reveals that we all will need someone else in our lives as we try to live for Christ and do the will of God. We must appreciate the benefits of Christian fellowship. Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. Eccl 4:9-10 (KJV) Though Christ is able to do all things, He still entrusts the care of His body to other members within the Church. This is why the apostles continually challenged the people to love, prefer, and be compassionate towards one anothe...
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Why Me?: The Self-Defeating Question

Image by  StockSnap  from  Pixabay Well, here we are again: another day, another problem, another issue confronting me! Sometimes, things can go wrong for so long that your outlook on life can become bleak. Many end up asking the timeless, self-defeating question… “Why Me?” Why died I not from the womb? why did I not give up the ghost when I came out of the belly? Job 3:11 (KJV) As Job went through his testing… his outlook on life turned from joy into utter despair.  It got so bad until he wished he were never born. Though some will not admit it, even Christians who know the Lord experience these types of feelings. Though they might surface, the Christian still has to know that he is not alone and that God will deliver. We know from further reading of Job’s story that the Lord did deliver him and rescue him from his troubles and pains. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy. James 5:...
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The Road to Everlasting Life

Image by  Dorothe  from  Pixabay Everyone is on a road to an eternal destination. In life, different roads can be taken on a journey to reach a particular destination. Though we can compare our walk with Christ as a journey, there is only one way to reach our destination of heaven. You cannot enter into the kingdom of God any which way you choose. Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat. Matt 7:13 (KJV) Some promote the ideology that you do not need to go to church; that is, fellowship with other Christians or even receive Christ to enter into heaven. But, as Christians, we must stand on the truth that reception of Christ, fellowship with other Christians, and striving to live a life pleasing to Him is a perquisite for entrance into heaven. With the advent of personal GPS devices, people no longer have to depend on standard maps to reach their destinations. Now, they can...
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The Art of Endurance in the Christian Life

In athletics, there are events that measure success by the speed, strength, and ability. However, there are events, which are a matter of endurance, rather than pure skill or ability. In many of the strongman competitions, certain events not only require skill, but endurance. Not only must the competitor be able to lift or carry the weight, but also they have to do it for a sustained amount of time. Thus, their ability to lift or carry becomes secondary to being able to endure the weight. The same applies to the Christian today. We learn the scriptures and spiritual truth, but many do not know how to endure hardships and challenges. We gain skill, knowledge, and understanding, but in the time of testing do not last. Every Christian has to learn The Art of Endurance as they grow in God's grace and knowledge. Without endurance, the Christian can possess spiritual insight and knowledge, but cannot last long enough to see the fruits of it flourish in life. There are six aspects to the ...
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