Worth The Effort-Part 2

 

     So, last week's blog kind of went in a different path than my original intent.  This week I want to follow up with verses that God uses to encourage us to put in the effort, when we doubt doing so.

Psalm 119:28

My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word.

Galatians 5: 13-15  "You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.  For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other."

Galatians 5:17  "For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. "

Galatians 6:9-10  "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers."

Hebrews 10:23-25   "Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.  And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds,  not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching."

     All of these verses, spur off of the command to 'Love one another' and to continue on.  As long as we have breath from God, we are to fulfill His plan thru the works that He gives us the opportunity to do.  We will doubt and grow weary, but He will sustain us thru His Word.  Finish your race strong.

Worth The Effort?

 

     Do you ever question the time and effort you put into things and people?  That's the devil knocking at your heart and conscience, saying 'it's not worth it'.  Life, along with its joys and highlights, also contains difficulties. Frustrations occur, illnesses come, and our health fails with time. Our bodies feel the signs that life on earth is not perfect and that we are not meant to be in this body for eternity.  Psalm 73:26  "My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."  God encourages us to love, interact with and fellowship with our fellow man.  

     "In Psalm 73, the psalmist Asaph laments the unfairness he sees in the wicked prospering, seeming to have no struggles, and being free of care. Asaph’s heart failed within him as he couldn’t understand God’s ways. Many today also become frustrated at God for allowing good things to happen to bad people. But they must, like the psalmist, realize that their perspective is off. When Asaph “entered the sanctuary of God; then [he] understood their final destiny”. While some people appear to prosper without God, there are consequences for the wicked: eternal life in hell and earthly costs, too. Having an eternal perspective gives us hope even when “my heart may fail” in disappointment or frustration."  [gotquestions.org]

"Our flesh will fail; each of us will have to face death. Yet the believer has hope for eternity. Christian hope is rooted in the salvation and eternal life available through Christ. This hope does not disappoint because nothing can take our salvation and hope away, regardless of life’s circumstances." [gotquestions.org] 

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

Romans 5:5 "And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us."

     As for myself, I can get easily discouraged by people.  I can understand how non-believers see those who claim to be Christians as hypocrites.  Many people's talk and walk don't match up.  I support some in their talents, but yet I often get a snub in normal life.  I'm so thankful that my hope is founded in Jesus and not in people or this life here on Earth.  Wicked ways touch all of us, but we must choose to love anyway.  The devil seeks to divide and destroy our relationships, but with the love, like Jesus' in our lives, we can overcome.  My favorite  verse of encouragement...

2 Corinthians 4:16-18  "So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For ithis light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."