Christian Fellowship Community Group
A safe place for Christians who Love Jesus Christ to meet and ask for prayer and share scriptures from the bible. We value the posting of Christian music, poems, stories and also personal testimonies. Please let us know your needs, concerns and have some fun getting to know each other. We treat each other with respect.
We Must Accept Circumstances of Life According to God's Will.
A meek and humble person will accept persecution, mistreatment, suffering, or hardship without rebelling against God and without doubting His wisdom. We will accept the fact that He has chosen to allow this to happen for His good purposes.
A. Note the Examples of Moses and Jesus
Example of Moses:
Numbers 11:10-15 - Moses had problems most of us would never submit to. People constantly complained about his leadership, even though he was just doing what God said. How many of us would have stood for it? No wonder he was called the meekest man on earth! In fact, it was a complaint against him that occasioned the statement that he was so meek (12:1-3).
Example of Jesus:
Acts 8:32,33 - He was led as a sheep to the slaughter [Isaiah 53:7f].
Matthew 26:39 - Was it hard for Jesus to go to the "slaughter"? Did this take meekness? He said, "Not my will but thine be done."
Philippians 2:8 - Jesus left the glory of heaven, humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of the death on the cross. Consider how much humility and meekness would be required for one to willingly leave the glory of heaven to come to earth to live as a man and die as a criminal to save others.
B. Application to Us
Hebrews 12:2-6 - Jesus was our example. We should be willing to submit to suffering just as He did. We have suffered nothing like He did, yet we often tend to rebel against our problems.
Deuteronomy 8:1-5,15,16 - God allows circumstances that chasten us in order to keep us humble, submissive to His will, and dependent on Him. This will do us good in the end.
We want to control our own lives. I get panicky when I feel unable to do anything about problems I don't want to face. But facing hardships, that we cannot solve alone, helps make us humble. We see our weakness and we turn to God for help. Then we appreciate Him and see our need for Him.
This does not mean we should blame God for causing all problems that come, nor does it mean we only have problems when we sin. Sometimes our problems are caused by our own sins. But sometimes, like Job, we have not sinned, but God allows Satan to cause hardships. Satan is ultimately responsible for the existence of troubles, but God uses them to make us humble.
2 Corinthians 12:7-10 - Paul's thorn in the flesh kept him from being overly exalted. Satan, not God, brought the problem. But God allowed it to remain, because it produced good for Paul. So our problems may be allowed because they keep us from becoming proud and self-reliant.
This does not mean we should put ourselves in hard circumstances, nor that we avoid improving our circumstances. If we can escape our problems, we should do so and give thanks to God. But if He chooses to allow the problem to continue, we should not blame Him but appreciate the lessons such problems can teach us.
Hardships work for our good if we endure faithfully. The meek and humble person realizes this and submits without rebelling or being bitter against God.
A meek and humble person will accept persecution, mistreatment, suffering, or hardship without rebelling against God and without doubting His wisdom. We will accept the fact that He has chosen to allow this to happen for His good purposes.
A. Note the Examples of Moses and Jesus
Example of Moses:
Numbers 11:10-15 - Moses had problems most of us would never submit to. People constantly complained about his leadership, even though he was just doing what God said. How many of us would have stood for it? No wonder he was called the meekest man on earth! In fact, it was a complaint against him that occasioned the statement that he was so meek (12:1-3).
Example of Jesus:
Acts 8:32,33 - He was led as a sheep to the slaughter [Isaiah 53:7f].
Matthew 26:39 - Was it hard for Jesus to go to the "slaughter"? Did this take meekness? He said, "Not my will but thine be done."
Philippians 2:8 - Jesus left the glory of heaven, humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of the death on the cross. Consider how much humility and meekness would be required for one to willingly leave the glory of heaven to come to earth to live as a man and die as a criminal to save others.
B. Application to Us
Hebrews 12:2-6 - Jesus was our example. We should be willing to submit to suffering just as He did. We have suffered nothing like He did, yet we often tend to rebel against our problems.
Deuteronomy 8:1-5,15,16 - God allows circumstances that chasten us in order to keep us humble, submissive to His will, and dependent on Him. This will do us good in the end.
We want to control our own lives. I get panicky when I feel unable to do anything about problems I don't want to face. But facing hardships, that we cannot solve alone, helps make us humble. We see our weakness and we turn to God for help. Then we appreciate Him and see our need for Him.
This does not mean we should blame God for causing all problems that come, nor does it mean we only have problems when we sin. Sometimes our problems are caused by our own sins. But sometimes, like Job, we have not sinned, but God allows Satan to cause hardships. Satan is ultimately responsible for the existence of troubles, but God uses them to make us humble.
2 Corinthians 12:7-10 - Paul's thorn in the flesh kept him from being overly exalted. Satan, not God, brought the problem. But God allowed it to remain, because it produced good for Paul. So our problems may be allowed because they keep us from becoming proud and self-reliant.
This does not mean we should put ourselves in hard circumstances, nor that we avoid improving our circumstances. If we can escape our problems, we should do so and give thanks to God. But if He chooses to allow the problem to continue, we should not blame Him but appreciate the lessons such problems can teach us.
Hardships work for our good if we endure faithfully. The meek and humble person realizes this and submits without rebelling or being bitter against God.
Another young woman told me that she had a picture of Jesus and me sitting on the mat together.
Sometimes our sufferings lead us to a deeper knowledge , love and walk with Jesus. I have learned this.
I still struggle with accepting the suffering though.
Don't get me wrong!! There are times when I ask, "But, why me, Lord." There are times I cry. There are times when I am very....depressed.
But, then I remember:
2 Corinthians 12:9 (KJV)
And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
The water is slooowly receding. I'm reminded that I asked the Lord to help me be more patient....
Today's In Touch Devotional gives the example of Joseph and ties-in with this too. If Joseph didn't humble himself and trust God, his family would not have been saved from starvation. I honestly can't say I would have been able to do the same in those circumstances.
Here is the devotional if anyone is interested
Joseph’s enslavement lasted for 13 years and went from bad to worse. He lost his favored position in Potiphar’s household and went to prison when the master’s wife told lies about him. His hope for release from jail died when the king’s servant forgot his promise (Gen. 40:14, 23). The future looked bleak.
Despite the evidence of circumstances, God was carrying out His plan to bless Joseph and benefit his family. Joseph was His appointed person to rescue them from the coming famine. To accomplish this, he had to learn the Egyptian language and culture, develop leadership abilities, and mature spiritually. The Lord’s plan accomplished all of this.
Joseph learned two helpful lessons. First, the Lord is a faithful companion who uses our troubles to prepare us for His work. When the time came, Joseph was fully trained to become second-in-command to Pharaoh—the Egyptian king even testified that God’s presence was with Joseph (41:38).
Second, when the Lord accomplishes His purposes, the difficulty will end. At God’s chosen moment, Joseph was freed from jail, rewarded with a high-ranking appointment, and reconciled with his family. Though his boyhood was gone, he was greatly blessed by living in the center of the Father’s will.
Adversity can be painful, but the Lord uses it to further His purposes and equip us for His plan. What is He trying to teach you in the midst of your trials? Are you cooperating with Him? Remember, even Jesus suffered in order to fulfill God’s redemptive purpose (Matt. 16:21).
Here is a link to the devotional: http://www.intouch.org/magazine/daily-devotion#.U-txcWPQBEI
Compost, sorry to hear about the flooding and rain going on during your move (((HUGS)))
It reminds me off a joke I once heard:
A man was in prayer one day when he suddenly stopped and asked, "God, what's a million dollars like to you?"
God said. "oh, that! Well it's just a penny to me."
The man continued to pray. He suddenly stopped to ask, "God, what's a millions years like to you?"
God replied, "That's just a moment!"
The man continued to pray. Suddenly he said, "God, I sure could use a penny!!"
God gently said, "Give me a moment!"
God's timing is soooooo different from ours. But, His timing is perfect!!
LOL MT. I'm reminded of a little story. A Brother living in a monastery prayed to God for strength and patience to deal with annoying people, one in particular. It seems one of the other Brothers annoyed him. This Brother was a deliberate sort of guy. His slow motion, languid style made Annoyed Brother crazy. For the next few weeks, the Annoyed Brother kept finding himself forced to work with Slow Motion Brother.
Annoyed Brother asked God, why do you keep throwing me in with Slow Motion Brother? I'm crazier than ever!
God said, you asked me to help you grow stronger and more patient in dealing with him, so I gave you lots of opportunities.
God has a WONDERFUL sense of humor!!!! And timing!!!!
Praise God!!!!
Thank you Misred for clarifying the story location and also for the devotional, I enjoyed reading it.
Thank you Mary. For the joke (Its A good one) and for that verse from Corinthians keeps coming back to me over and over, by different people in my life. Reminders from God.