Focused!

Focused!

Romans 8:18 AMP

[18] For I consider [from the standpoint of faith] that the sufferings of the present life are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is about to be revealed to us and in us! 

I believe one of the central themes of Paul's letter to the Romans is faith in the finished work of Jesus on the cross. That is what brought men like Paul to the saving knowledge of Jesus, and that is also what has brought me to the same experience of God more than 2,000 years ago. It is the starting point of any discussion one wants to have about the undeserved grace of God, expressed in the gift of Jesus to the world, and the ultimate price He paid on the cross of Calvary to offer full and free salvation to all men. If I paid nothing for it, and I have been invited to take hold of the free gift, where is the place for pride or self-glory?

That is what Paul referred to in the first chapter of his letter, where he stated, quite clearly, that 'For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith'. It is a journey of faith, which means that a lot of the things that would happen to me on this journey will not be planned and may not be fully understood on this side of eternity. For example, God has made several promises of safety and security, but then, how do I determine if I am truly safe and secure if nothing, at any time, threatens those senses of safety and security? How do you determine that God keeps His promises? 

If I ask God to teach me perseverance and patience, how does He do this without some uncomfortable pressure that will teach me how to respond the right way? It is clear that this present world is not able to grasp the various dimensions that God can use to teach His children the lessons He wants us to learn, but we have our entire lifetime on earth to apply the lessons our interactions and engagements with God bring us. It is clear that nowhere in the Bible does God promise us a life free from pressure, trials, or tough times. In fact, it appears to me that God needs to take us through these experiences, so we can be better prepared for the glorious experiences ahead. 

Jesus' life on earth was a good example of this: He was rejected by His fellow countrymen, a disciple betrayed Him for money, even though he had followed Him for more than three years, the cross came with its pain and shame, and all the disciples forsook Him and ran away. If He is the perfect example, how can we expect anything less? If we are set up for greater works, why would we think we can get away with just coasting along: no pain, no trial, and no preparation? Let it be clear: God may not be able to extensively use a vessel that He has not tested and found to be dependable, faithful, and committed to Him. Am I one? God's time of favour is here.