Main Point and Overview:
The American church has mis-defined Christianity into a “life gets better” experience that is simply not true. As you journey through the New Testament, you find a universal theme of perseverance in the face of challenges. Our time on this earth as Jesus’ disciples guarantees us that we will face “pushback” from those who do not want their selfish ideals attacked or removed. For the outspoken Christian, he will not be popular in the culture. In fact, he will be the target of the enemy. It is also true that the broken world that we live in leads us into other trials such as health failure, emotional discouragement, financial disaster, and much more. Sometimes it’s the result of injustice, and sometimes, it’s the result of poor decisions on our part. No matter the reason, we are guaranteed to face tribulations in this life. It’s how we handle them that defines what’s inside of us. The half-brother of Jesus had much to say about practical, Christian living. He opens his letter to the church attempting to solidify her mindset. Prepare yourself mentally! It’s going to be challenging! He reminds us that we have a source of wisdom that we can draw upon, and that joyful perseverance is the proof of authenticity!
The American church has mis-defined Christianity into a “life gets better” experience that is simply not true. As you journey through the New Testament, you find a universal theme of perseverance in the face of challenges. Our time on this earth as Jesus’ disciples guarantees us that we will face “pushback” from those who do not want their selfish ideals attacked or removed. For the outspoken Christian, he will not be popular in the culture. In fact, he will be the target of the enemy. It is also true that the broken world that we live in leads us into other trials such as health failure, emotional discouragement, financial disaster, and much more. Sometimes it’s the result of injustice, and sometimes, it’s the result of poor decisions on our part. No matter the reason, we are guaranteed to face tribulations in this life. It’s how we handle them that defines what’s inside of us. The half-brother of Jesus had much to say about practical, Christian living. He opens his letter to the church attempting to solidify her mindset. Prepare yourself mentally! It’s going to be challenging! He reminds us that we have a source of wisdom that we can draw upon, and that joyful perseverance is the proof of authenticity!
Posted in Devotional