Wherefore lift up the hands
which hand down, and the feeble
knees; and make straight paths
for your feet, lest that which is
lame be turned out of the way;
but let it rather be healed.
Hebrews 12:12-13
There are times in our lives when despair overrides us and depression sets in and we feel helpless: our hands hang down and our knees are feeble. Yet, we are called to
persevere and to have patience. It is easy to tell someone who is going through some trial to be patient, to endure, and this is a chastizing of God as though the person has sinned. It may be the person has sinned for we are all sinners in one form or another and we are susceptible to the consequences of our sin. Often it is not our sin that is causing this trial, this seeming chastizement, it is rather due to the sin of another person. Remember there is a cause and an action, a consequence that affects more than the person themselves. Albeit sin is the cause for this and the cause for chastizement any chastizing from God is for our good and the good of others. As Joseph spoke: But as fro you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive" (Genesis 50:20). We do not always see the reason but we know who holds the reason to cause it to bring forth good. Jesus spoke these words of comfort: "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer: I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). This trial of our faith being that which we will all face if we are Authentic Christians and even though serious it be a source of joy: Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ" (1Peter 1:6-7)
What is the conflict you are going through? The examples given show that much of the trials and conflicts were because the people of God sinned. There are sins: i.e., homosexuality, adultery, fornication, drunkeness, etc., that cause much trial and need for deep serious chastizing. There are other sins that creep in as doctrines, not truthful doctrines, not the Gospel as recorded in Scripture, but another gospel that is not the Gospel at all. We who call ourselves Christian must fight against such ones who will but their false teaching cause men and women to fall from the truth. We must stay far away from those practices that are not Scriptural even though the leaders of such preach that it is leading people to practice a belief that is not pleasing to God. There are sinful practices, customs, and habits that must be brought under the teaching of Jesus Christ. Authentic Christian must not faint under this evilness, or to faint due to their being chastized for falling under such false teaching, no, we must teach them and how they can bear up under such trials that may come. We lead them to the truth of Scripture as reveals in Scripture. We are the means that caused the Gospel to be spread throughout the world. We are the means to help others in their time of chastizing. We do not forget that the hand of God is present in all things and He is the Only True Wise One and has the answer for all.
These are the things that ye shall do;
speak ye every man the truth to his
neighbor; and love no false oath: for
all these are thing that I hate
saith the LORD.
Zechariah 8:16
Live your faith according to truth
Richard L. Crumb
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