Easy Isn’t Always Easy!!! A Word from THE WORD!!! #486

We’re all familiar with the old saying, “no pain, no gain”; it can be traced back to the 17^th century, and even Benjamin Franklin is credited with using the saying.  What does it mean to us as Jesus’ children and disciples?  Well, the “easy believeism” doesn’t take into account the whole counsel of God, for God warns us that following Him will cost us something of ourselves.  No, not a cost to be saved, or to keep our salvation, but when we come to Jesus, and identify with Him and His Word, there is a cost (a cost that many not only deny but refuse to align with—I’ll let God’s Word speak for me!)!  Let’s let Jesus speak first, then we’ll consider some other biblical teachings on this very thing.

“These things I command you,

that ye love one another.

18 If the world hate you,

ye know that it hated me before it hated you.

19 If ye were of the world,

the world would love his own:

but because ye are not of the world,

but I have chosen you out of the world,

 therefore the world hateth you.

20 Remember the word that I said unto you,

The servant is not greater than his lord.

If they have persecuted me,

they will also persecute you;

if they have kept my saying,

they will keep yours also.

21 But all these things will they do unto you

for my name’s sake,

because they know not him

that sent me.”  John 15:17-21

 The question that we need to consider is, “Are we His servant?”  So much is taught today about what we have the “right” to demand of God?  I beg to differ, Jesus says we are not to be of the world but be as our Lord Jesus was; and Jesus made it quite clear what our focus is to be in the model prayer, let’s consider just the first few lines.

“After this manner therefore pray ye:

Our Father

which art in heaven,

Hallowed be thy name.

10 Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done

in earth,

as it is in heaven.”  Matthew 6:9-10

A practice that helps me refocus my praying may help you too; as I quote this passage I pray “Father…”, Thy kingdom come, IN ME…Thy will be done IN ME!  My call, our call, is to seek God’s will and kingdom, Matthew 6 ends with an amazing imperative, may it bless and speak to you as it so often does to me!

“Therefore

take no thought, saying,

What shall we eat? or,

What shall we drink? or,

Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

32 (For after all these things

do the Gentiles seek:)

for your heavenly Father knoweth

that ye have need of all these things.

33 But seek ye first

the kingdom of God,

and his righteousness;

and all these things

shall be added unto you.

34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow:

for the morrow shall take thought

for the things of itself.

Sufficient unto the day

is the evil thereof.”  Matthew 6:31-34                                                  (Be sure and check out what the “therefore” is there for, see verses 24-30 at least!!!)

Peter also gives us some great insight to measure our heart by.

“Servants, be subject to your masters

with all fear;

not only to the good and gentle,

but also to the froward.

19 For this is thankworthy,

if a man for conscience toward God

endure grief,

suffering wrongfully.

20 For what glory is it, if,

when ye be buffeted for your faults,

ye shall take it patiently?

but if, when ye do well,

and suffer for it,

ye take it patiently,

this is acceptable with God.

21 For even hereunto were ye called:

because Christ also suffered for us,

leaving us an example,

that ye should follow his steps:

22 Who did no sin,

neither was guile found

in his mouth:

23 Who, when he was reviled,

reviled not again;

when he suffered,

he threatened not;

but committed himself

to him that judgeth righteously:

24 Who his own self

bare our sins in his own body

on the tree,

that we,

being dead to sins,

should live unto righteousness:

by whose stripes ye were healed.

25 For ye were as sheep going astray;

but are now returned

unto the Shepherd and Bishop

of your souls.”  1 Peter 2:18-25

And in closing a lengthy passage from the author of Hebrews, which is often left out of our confidence in the first part of Hebrews 11, about faith and those who prospered in it; it shows us the difficulty sometimes of simple yet strong faith in our Lord; hence our title, easy isn’t always easy.  But serving God is above and beyond the greatest gift I have ever received—the gift that cost Jesus His life’s blood—why are we so often hesitant to pay a price for following HIM?

“1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for,

the evidence of things not seen…

…. 6 But without faith

it is impossible to please him:

for he that cometh to God

must believe that he is,

and that he is a rewarder

of them that diligently seek him…

…. 36 And others had trial

of cruel mockings and scourgings,

yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:

37 They were stoned,

they were sawn asunder,

were tempted,

were slain with the sword:

they wandered about in sheepskins

and goatskins;

being destitute,

afflicted,

tormented;

38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:)

they wandered in deserts,

and in mountains,

and in dens

and caves of the earth.

39 And these all,

having obtained a good report through faith,

received not the promise:

40 God having provided some better thing

for us, that they without us

should not be made perfect.”                                      Portions of Hebrews 11:1-6 and 36-39

The phrase “without us”, meaning that they wouldn’t be the only ones to suffer!  May we truly follow our Lord where ever it may lead.  Easy or not!!!

Amen and Amen!!!