09/04/08

Blessings and Afflictions

"If you fully obey the LORD your God and carefully follow all His commands I give you today...you will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country." - Deuteronomy 28:1-3

When we hear the Good News, we hear a lot of promises of goodness and protection etc... And most of us do experience it ... for some time... What happens latter when things start going shaky? Is it that Word of God is not true?

The Word of God in many scriptures promises protection, prosperity, peace etc...

Psalms 34:15, 17
15 The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.
17 The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.

But we see that although we make good efforts to walk in God's way we still face problems. In fact the Word of God assures you that if God loves you, you will face problems!

Psalms 34:19
19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.

But it also says that His loved ones who walk in His ways will not be drowned by their problems. God will deliver His loved ones from them all.

Why does God do this? When He loves righteousness and hates evil, then why does He allow problems to the righteous (in fact at times is also the source of them)?

Psalms 7:11-12
11 God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.
12 If he turn not, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready.

When we say we are righteous, it means we are on the highway of righteousness. We have started our journey on it.

Isaiah 33:8
8 The highways lie waste, the wayfaring man ceaseth: he hath broken the covenant, he hath despised the cities, he regardeth no man.

On this highway there has to be constant movement, one can not stand still here. To keep the acceleration on God externally influences us. As we are tried we are expected by God to keep moving forward and not to go back. If we go backwards, we attract the wrath of God on us. If you read Psalms 7:11-12 the words "with the wicked" are not part of the original script (all text written in italics in KJV are added to make scripture readable). If we read the scripture without them then it will read as: 'God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry every day if he turn not, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready.'

God is working on us patiently and He wants us to reach our destination which is perfect righteousness as man - Jesus Christ.

So if we are walking on the highway of righteousness and face difficulties, do not be sad, but rejoice!

Firstly it is assured our problems will not overtake us.
Secondly we know that God is in hurry with us to become like His Son Jesus.


[ Prayer Starter ]

Father in Heaven, thank You for all what You are doing in my life. I choose to always stay on the highway of righteousness. You have given me Your Holy Spirit to hold my hand and help me in my walk. Holy Spirit, help me to walk in integrity and honor with You always. In Jesus' Name. Amen.


The Word of God was given free to us, therefore we should also share it freely with others.
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