John 16:33
“In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world.”
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If I would have followed what the Bible says in a “literalist” sense, I would be a blind man with no arms and hands today – what with all the temptations surrounding me during my adolescent years and even today. Pornographic materials. Taking something not belonging to you. Alcoholism. Lustful gaze. They all trouble us – our minds and our hearts. And I am talking about Matthew 18:8-9, “So if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off… And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out…” Literally-speaking, though, this means not entertaining temptations, to a point that we avoid them totally.
We all live in a troubled world. But that doesn’t mean that we have to accept them in our lives. We need to come to the point in our lives where we relinquish to God whatever others - or our circumstances - would take from us. Being a Christian doesn't make us somehow immune from the ills and afflictions of our common fallen humanity, nor does it guarantee us protection from evil acts which others may perpetrate.
Trouble and disaster – whatever their cause – are never the final word. Be still! The Lord is God! The Lord is in our midst! God is our refuge and strength! Put our trust in Him! Live under his grace! Know his peace in this troubled world!
Our greatest challenge for this age, then, is to live as God commands, to proclaim the gospel of the Kingdom of God in all the world, to make disciples in all nations and to care for the disciples God adds to His Church today.
Almighty Father, may You enlighten our mind to think only of whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is fair, whatever is pure, whatever is acceptable, whatever is commendable – and if there is anything of excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy – may we keep thinking about these things (Philippians 4:8).
Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.
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