–If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.— Matthew 16:24

It was never meant that God’s children live a life of ease. They have a cross to bear. That cross is not the sufferings common to all people, but the problems, pressure, and pain associated with doing the will of God –the disciple’s difficulties. Our cross is the price we pay for doing what is right. Those who follow Christ will, without a doubt,encounter trials as a result. So, instead of being surprised by our sufferings we should expect them. J. C. Ryle put it like this:

All the children of God have a cross to carry . They have trials, troubles, and afflictions to go through for the Gospel’s sake. They have . . .
  trials from the world,
  trials from the flesh,
  trials from the devil.

They have trials from relations and friends–hard words, hard conduct, and hard judgment.

They have trials in the matter of character–slander, misrepresentation, mockery, suggestion of false motives–all these often rain thick upon them.

They have trials from their own hearts.

They have each generally their own thorn in the flesh, which is their worst foe.

This is the experience of the children of God. Some of them suffer more–and some less. Some of them suffer in one way–and some in another. God measures out their portions like a wise physician, and cannot err. But never, I believe, was there one child of God, who reached Heaven without a cross!

Several years ago someone wrote a song called,”Learning To  Lean”. It had a good message about trusting God and was very popular. However, since faith comes by hearing the Word (Romans 10:17), maybe someone ought to write a song about learning to learning. Ignorance is killing us (Hosea 4:6).

Charles Swindoll wrote: “Slice it any way you wish; ignorance is not bliss. Dress it in whatever garb you please; ignorance is not attractive. Neither is it the mark of humility nor the path to spirituality. It certainly is not the companion of wisdom.

On the contrary, ignorance is the breeding ground for fear, prejudice, and superstition . . . the feeding trough for unthinking animals . . . the training field for slaves. It is blind and naked (Tennyson), the mother of impudence (Spurgeon); it brings despairing darkness (Shakespeare), never settles a question (Disraeli), nor promotes innocence (Browning). And yet it remains the favorite plea of the guilty, the excuse of the lazy, even the Christian’s rationalization for immaturity.”

Lots of folks need to read that.I’ve met a good number of people, preachers included, who boasted about not being educated. Like the old country preacher who said to the Professor of a Bible College, “The Lawd ain’t got no use for yer book learnin”. To which the wise professor replied,”Nor has He any greater use for your ignorance”. While many are too proud of their education and too critical of those who don’t have it, even more are too content being ignorant.

Contentment in our ignorance is a dangerous state. It is for this reason that Jesus often rebuked people for not knowing what they should have known. For the same reason, Paul often expressed his desire that his readers not be ignorant (Rom. 11:25, 1 Cor. 10:1; 12:1; 15:34, 1 Thess. 4:13). We would all do well to do as the Bereans did when they “searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so”(Acts 17:11). The fog of confusion that engulfs our nation today is the result of ignorance. It is unnecessary and inexcusable. We have a desperate need to learn to learn, and that starts with and stays with the Word of God.

Power belongeth unto God– Psalm 62:11

We never know what great challenge we might be forced to face, but we can rest assured that God is able to help us be victorious. He enables us to do our duty even though it is difficult. This article “A Good Thing” serves as a good reminder:

There is no power — past or present, spiritual or physical, heavenly or earthly — that does not come from God. The only autonomous, self-sufficient being is God Himself. All power belongs to Him, so He is omnipotent, all-powerful.

This is a great comfort to those who recognize their own frailty and face countless daily challenges that are above their own ability or strength to overcome. However, it is also convicting to every one of us that has entertained the notion that we can thrive, or even survive, without God’s strength.

Every other source of renewal, every other aid to which we might turn, will eventually fail us. But in the all-powerful God is everlasting strength (Isaiah 26:4). How wise is the one who therefore puts their “trust in the Lord forever.” How foolish is the fist that is shaken at this God, or the restless one who wanders away from Omnipotence!

It is this very attribute of God’s omnipotence which is given to us believers as inspiration to disciple the nations in the name of Christ. Jesus declares, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth” (Matthew 28:18) and so commands “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations” (19).

Rest in the everlasting strength of the one true God today. Go in the power of Jesus Christ today.

 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.–John 14:27

As we enter into a new day, many of you will come face to face with confusing and difficult situations. That’s why it is so important that we prepare for the day by reminding ourselves of who we are and what we have in Christ. In the hour of need this becomes a life-saver. This article from Turning Point helps us in this regard:

In his devotional book  By the Still Waters , Vance Havner tells of attending a small service in a little church on a cold February night. The people were local farming folk, and a time was given for sharing testimonies. The last to speak was a humble woman plainly dressed who rose and simply said: “I praise the Lord for a deep, settled peace. The world did not give it to me, and the world can’t take it away.”

“That testimony lingers with me,” wrote Havner. “I think of scholars and sages ransacking libraries and perusing heavy philosophies, searching for the secret of peace, while the plain, farm-woman had been enjoying it through the years.”

There’s much we don’t comprehend. The plans that God has foreordained for us are beyond our understanding, but we know that when we are with Him, there will be peace and rest and joy such as we have never imagined.

The world didn’t give it, and the world cannot take it away.

 There are thousands of earth’s rich and renowned who would give it all for the childish confidence of the soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose.

Severe problems often call for extreme measures. Just anything won’t do for everything. The solution for the situation must be sufficient. That is never more true than when the problem is sin. This is a situation for which there is only one solution Absolutely nothing else will do.And when we consider what it takes to provide a cure we see how horrible sin is. Michael Williams wrote:

Knowing the cure tells you a lot about the gravity of the disease. In the cross we see what was needed to cure the wound of sin, and we see what lengths God was willing to go to cure it. Thus we see its true character as something so reprehensible to God, as something so unfit for inclusion in God’s covenant kingdom, that his own Son must suffer. And finally, it is then that we see God’s character as the one who goes all the way, who bears the full burden of the covenant upon himself. We see a love beyond all love.