for from you has sounded out the word
of the Lord not only in Macedonia and
Achaia, but also in every place your
faith to Godward is spread abroad;
so that we ne3d not to speak any thing.
For they themselves shew of us what
manner of entering in we had unto you,
and how ye turned to God from idols
to serve the living and true God; and
to wait for his Son from heaven, whom
he raised from the dead, even Jesus,
which delivered us from the wrath
to come.
1Thessalonians 1:8-10
I did not have a chance yesterday to do my blog because I had to go to the doctor about my problem with poison oak. Medicine given to help and I sure do hope it does, this is miserable. 50% of my body is covered with this poison. Well, there are those who will pray for my healing and this in some sense is good, but God does not heal in small portions. Just look at Scripture and when Jesus healed it was instant. So, what about prayer? Good question: yes, I pray that God would have mercy and heal me, this is miserable, but there is something more important and that is that God will give to me peace and patience to allow this to pass. I and you have been given brains to think and even, as I did in this case by pulling out poison oak, and oleander without some stupid sense that my past immunity would protect me, it was not Satan, it was all me and my poor decision. But God is merciful and will give to those in need the ability to survive whatever comes, even to those in nations were they do not have all that we have in this nation. Those who are suffering and not due necessarily because of poor decisions. God is always with us and this is most important to know, to understand, that God has not taken us out of this world and all its problems, but will take us through them until we go to be with Him in heaven. On top of that my computer monitor stopped working but I had kept another one and put it in place so today I am back attempting to encourage all to remember we are children of God.
Paul reminded the Thessalonians about the faith, joy, and that their faithfulness spread throughout Macedonia, Achaia, in every place. They faced persecution, trials, sufferings, those things of life that affect us all in one way or another, but they remained faithful. They did not blame God for not removing all these problems. This word: Godward, in Greek means to have faith towards God, and this we too must have if we are to expect God's blessings, and aid in this fallen world. How did the Thessalonians, and any people who claim faith in God show this faith? They turned from idols, their manner of living was the same as their words, they were, and we too should be, serving the living God. Not just any god, but the true Living God. While we remain on this earth until death or until the return of Jesus we wait with faith because Jesus rose from the dear, God's Son, and Who will deliver us from the wrath that is to come.
Sometimes things that happen to us are due to what others have caused, but just as often we cause our own problems. Satan is blamed far too often when in fact it is due to us and not Satan. Deflection is not good when we attempt to absolve ourselves from what we may have or not have done. Here is where our faith comes in to play. God will aid us in our times of trouble to make it through and by this the Gospel is shown as to what manner our faith is, and what our God is. We are not removed from our humanity, we still have and are human and human frailties, but we have God who is greater than them all and will as He has done take us home to be with Him and then our humanity, while still human, is now clothed in a new body, incorruptible and all that Satan caused by his sinning, and the sinning of Adam and Eve will no longer plague you. Praise God for He is present and will answer your prayer that is a prayer of faith. What do we have to lose? Nothing! We are already conquerors just waiting for the trip home.
Behold, I will create new heavens
and a new earth. The former
things will not be remembered,
nor will they come to mind.
Isaiah 65:17
Obedience the hallmark of a Christian
Richard L. Crumb
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