Trusting God Through the Trials - Isaiah 26-27 and Philippians 2
God does not want us as believers to just endure the trials of life. He wants us to live victoriously as we go through all of the ups and downs of life. He is there for us to supply what we need in every case. Israel went through many trials, and they were mostly because of their own sin. Still, God did not cast them away. He held out hope for restoration, and He did restore Israel to the Promised Land after the Exile to Babylon, and He will restore them to the Land at the end of time, too. However, in the midst of their trials He gave a very special promise in Isaiah 26. He promised to keep the mind of each person who trusted Him in "perfect peace." That was not just when things were going well. That was in all instances, if they would trust Him. This is a reference to the peace that is beyond understanding that Paul refers to in the New Testament. I pray that each of us knows that peace today.
Think about the context of the book of Philippians and what Paul said to those believers. He was in jail, but he was able to rejoice. They were enduring persecution, but he was calling on them to show the fruit of trusting Christ by being strong and unified. He gave them Jesus as their example. He was persecuted and killed in a terrible fashion, but He remained faithful. He humbly accepted the will of the Father, and He was exalted for His faithfulness. We must follow His example. We must be lights to the world, not in our own strength but His. Paul pointed out Timothy and Epaphroditus as two faithful servants who endured trials and remained faithful. What will Christ say when we stand before Him? Will He acknowledge our faithfulness through the trials of life, or will He have to point out the failures? I pray that we will be faithful and proceed in the peace and the strength of the Lord, until we see Him.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Isaiah 28-29 and Philippians 3.
Think about the context of the book of Philippians and what Paul said to those believers. He was in jail, but he was able to rejoice. They were enduring persecution, but he was calling on them to show the fruit of trusting Christ by being strong and unified. He gave them Jesus as their example. He was persecuted and killed in a terrible fashion, but He remained faithful. He humbly accepted the will of the Father, and He was exalted for His faithfulness. We must follow His example. We must be lights to the world, not in our own strength but His. Paul pointed out Timothy and Epaphroditus as two faithful servants who endured trials and remained faithful. What will Christ say when we stand before Him? Will He acknowledge our faithfulness through the trials of life, or will He have to point out the failures? I pray that we will be faithful and proceed in the peace and the strength of the Lord, until we see Him.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Isaiah 28-29 and Philippians 3.