Steadfast in Trials and Tribulations

[Christsfreeservant]

“Righteous are you, O Lord,​

and right are your rules.​

You have appointed your testimonies in righteousness​

and in all faithfulness.​

My zeal consumes me,​

because my foes forget your words.​

Your promise is well tried,​

and your servant loves it.​

I am small and despised,​

yet I do not forget your precepts.​

Your righteousness is righteous forever,​

and your law is true.​

Trouble and anguish have found me out,​

but your commandments are my delight.​

Your testimonies are righteous forever;​

give me understanding that I may live.” (Psalms 119:137-144 ESV)​

This word “righteous” denotes “divine approval, the approval of God, his judicial verdict” which “refers to what is deemed right by the Lord (after His examination), i.e. what is approved in his eyes” (Helps Word-studies). The word also carries with it the meaning of “virtuous, moral, blameless, upright, honorable, honest, respectable, and decent” (MS Office Thesaurus). Our God is 100% blameless, upright, honorable and trustworthy in all that he is and does and says. He is absolutely perfect in every respect, because he is God.

So God’s rules (his New Covenant commands), for us who believe in Jesus Christ to be our Lord and Savior, are also fully righteous in purpose and in character and in intent. They are for our good (our welfare) to keep us from walking in sin and in wickedness and to help and guide us in holy living. For as Christ’s followers, we are commanded that we must obey our Lord and his commandments to us, and that we must not make sin our practice, or else we will not inherit eternal life with God. And we must take this to heart.

So many people today, though, are not teaching this. They are teaching God’s grace as full forgiveness of all sins with no requirements for true repentance (turning from sin) and for walks of obedience to our Lord and to his commands. Many are teaching one verse (Romans 10:9) out of context and they are making that “the gospel” message, in entirety. And so they are giving people a false impression that all they have to do is say with their lips, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in his resurrection, and thus they are saved.

But that does not agree with the teachings of the New Testament, as a whole, with regard to the gospel of Christ and of our salvation from sin. The teachings on the message of the gospel and on what constitutes genuine faith and salvation are that we must die with Christ to sin and walk in obedience to his commands, in practice, and sin must no longer be what we practice. For Jesus gave his life up for us on that cross to deliver us out of our slavery (addiction) to sin so we would now obey him with our lives.

[Matt 7:13-14,21-23; Lu 9:23-26; Jn 10:27-30; Ac 26:18; Rom 2:6-8; Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-14; Rom 12:1-2; 1 Co 6:9-10,19-20; 1 Co 10:1-22; 2 Co 5:10,15,21; Gal 5:16-24; Gal 6:7-8; Eph 2:8-10; Eph 4:17-32; Eph 5:3-6; Col 1:21-23; Col 3:1-17; Tit 2:11-14; Heb 3:1-19; Heb 4:1-13; Heb 10:23-31; Heb 12:1-2; 1 Pet 2:24; 1 Jn 1:5-10; 1 Jn 2:3-6,15-17; 1 Jn 3:4-10]

But, if we are among those who believe in and who follow the gospel message taught in its full context, which requires that we deny self, die to sin daily, and follow our Lord in walks of obedience to his commands, we may be ostracized by the majority who are following after a diluted and altered gospel message based off Scriptures taught out of context and twisted to say what they do not say when taught in context. And we may face much rejection, persecution, and false accusations against ourselves.

But, regardless of how we are treated by those who prefer a very diluted and altered gospel message to the truth, in its fullness, we must stay the course. We must keep following our Lord in obedience to his commands, and we must continue to deny self and to die to sin daily and to honor God with how we live our lives, day in and day out. And we must seek his will and purpose for our lives and then follow him wherever he leads us in whatever calling he has upon our lives collectively and individually. No giving up!!

[Matthew 5:10-12; Matthew 10:16-39; Matthew 24:9-14; Luke 6:22-23; Luke 21:12-17; John 15:18-21; Jn 17:14; Rom 5:3-5; Phil 3:7-11; 1 Pet 1:6-7; 1 Pet 4:12-17; 2 Tim 3:12; 1 Thess 3:1-5; Jas 1:2-4; 2 Co 1:3-11; Heb 12:3-12; 1 Jn 3:13; Revelation 6:9-11; Revelation 7:9-17; Revelation 11:1-3; Revelation 12:17; Revelation 13:1-18; Revelation 14:1-13]

‘Til The Storm Passes By

By Thomas Mosie Lister

In the dark of the midnight have I oft hid my face
While the storm howls above me, and there's no hiding place
'Mid the crash of the thunder, Precious Lord, hear my cry
Keep me safe till the storm passes by

Many times Satan whispered
There is no use to try
For there's no end of sorrow, there's no hope by and by
But I know Thou art with me, and tomorrow I'll rise
Where the storms never darken the skies

Till the storm passes over, till the thunder sounds no more
Till the clouds roll forever from the sky
Hold me fast, let me stand in the hollow of Thy hand
Keep me safe till the storm passes by

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