DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- THE ANTIDOTE TO DISCOURAGEMENT

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – THE ANTIDOTE FOR DISCOURAGEMENT

"For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin." (Hebrews 12:3-4)

When times of discouragement and weariness come, it is well to remember Jesus, who endured such hostility from sinners that He was brutally crucified. We have not yet suffered bloodshed, striving against sin. Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, endured the cross and despised the shame for the joy that was set before Him (vs. 2).

I can understand how a person can get tired of striving against sin. It can be discouraging when we live a godly life that is in conflict with the sin around us. But is in these times that we need to cast again our eyes on the cross of Christ.

God says that those "who desire to live godly in Christ will suffer persecution" (II Timothy 3:12). Why would we think that the god of this world, Satan, would not bring bad things into the lives of those who don't obey him?

But there also the aspect of God's chastening that Paul speaks of in the rest of this chapter. Paul also acknowledges that God has purposes when He chastens His children. He desires to mature us and produce greater fruit in us – the fruit of righteousness (vs. 11). As the proverb says, "My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, nor detest His correction; for whom the LORD loves He corrects, just as a father the son in whom he delights" (Proverbs 3:11-12).

Life can be difficult. But when we are assured that there is a God in Heaven who is in control, we can rest in that truth and be comforted in our souls. There is joy in the midst of the turmoil of life that is set before us as we continue to live by faith in Him. Jesus endured the pain and the shame because of the joy that awaited him after the cross. The Joy of Heaven is the antidote to discouragement. God is God in all things – both the good and the bad, and we can rejoice in Him.

Listen to the words of the song: "Sometimes the day seems long, our trials hard to bear. We're tempted to complain, to murmur and despair. But Christ will soon appear to catch his bride away! All tears forever over in God's eternal day! It will be worth it all, when we see Jesus. Life's trials will seem so small when we see Christ. One glimpse of His dear face, all sorrow will erase. So, bravely run the race till we see Christ."

Love, Dad