March 10, 2014

² When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
    and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
    and the flame shall not consume you.
Isaiah 43:2 (ESV) 

Hmm. . .  Let me see.  When I pass through the waters.  When I walk through fire.  Not "if", but "when".

The Christian live is not free from fire, flood, and famine.  Christians get cancer.  Christians get fired.  Christians get murdered.  Christians get cheated.  In fact, God promises that His children will suffer.  I am not an expert on other religions (in fact I am not even an expert in Christianity), but from what little I do know, no other religion promises persecution and suffering to its followers.


¹² Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,  2 Timothy 3:12 (ESV)

 ¹⁰ And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 2 Peter 5:10 (ESV)

⁵ And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?

“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,
    nor be weary when reproved by him.
⁶ For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
    and chastises every son whom he receives.”  Hebrews 12:5-6 (ESV)

God's children will suffer. We will be disciplined. There will be hard times.  But we will not be consumed, drowned, or overtaken.  If He allows troubles to enter our lives, He will give us a way to stand up under those burdens.

In fact, we are told in the New Testament that discipline is a sign of our sonship because God only disciplines His own children, just as an earthly father only disciplines his own.  And hard times are a sign of our spiritual growth because God will only allow those things to enter our lives for which He has prepared us.  He will only allow those challenges for which we have the spiritual maturity and strength.

If the waters are getting deep or the flames hot, first ask God to reveal any areas of disobedience in your life that may be prompting God's discipline.  If He reveals none, then know that He has prepared you for such a challenge, He has given you the spiritual resources to be victorious, and most of all, He will be with you through it all.