Bearing it Cheerfully?

Hebrews 10:34 For you did sympathize and suffer along with those who were imprisoned, and you bore cheerfully the plundering of your belongings and the confiscation of your property, in the knowledge and consciousness that you yourselves had a better and lasting possession.  AMP

As I read this portion of a favorite Bible passage, Holy Spirit opened my eyes to it in a way that brought correction, along with a much better perspective.  The little phrase, “you bore cheerfully,” stopped me in my tracks, for I knew I had not borne cheerfully what I had been experiencing.  If I just stop at that phrase, though, I’m left wondering just how I’m to be cheerful in the midst of losses.  But God never leaves us hanging!  He finishes by reminding us of what we do have – always.  As if this wasn’t enough to get me back on the right track, the Lord spoke to my heart, “Be of good cheer.”

 

John 16:33 I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]  AMP

You see, it’s really all about focus or perspective.  My focus is not to be on that which is no longer.  No, my focus is to be on the “better and lasting possession,” Jesus Christ, and eternal life in Him!  It’s not that I’m to be happy about the devil stealing, damaging, or destroying what doesn’t belong to him.  It’s simply that my cheer – courage, confidence, certainty, and persistent perseverance (undaunted) – is in the overriding, overpowering Truth that Jesus has already overcome the devil; and, that He has already deprived him of power to harm me, having conquered him for me!

The belongings and property that have been plundered and confiscated this time are not things, for me, but relationships.  I don’t think I’m alone in this struggle, however, as I observe the body of Christ being pressed in all kinds of ways right now.  Even though it may be in a completely different area, you have probably been experiencing some sort of plundering and confiscation in your own life.  That’s why I wanted to share what the Lord ministered to me for strength and encouragement.

No matter what form the tribulations, trials, distresses have taken in our lives, the Truth is still the same.  We already have the victory in Christ, and these things have no power over us when we keep our focus on the One Who will never leave or forsake us, and Who has all provision for us!  It’s a lesson that seems to come back repeatedly – that I need to get my eyes up once again, that I’ve somehow lowered my view to only the here and now.  When I let the Word readjust my focus, however, the issues are still there, but they are not the center of my attention anymore.  Now I look on them through the lens of faith in Jesus and His Word, and I am able to bear whatever it is cheerfully.  That’s when I walk in victory – in Him!

Blessings to you in your victorious walk in Christ!

Kay

Abiding in Him

As I sought for something with which to encourage you this time, I picked up the book Secrets of the Vine, by Bruce Wilkinson.  I haven’t read this for several years, but remember it shedding light on some of the things I was experiencing at the time.  I flipped through the pages to see if any of the passages I had underlined might minister to you.  The following passage comes under the heading, The Person of Abiding, and proceeds from an extended teaching in which it is made clear that so much of what we do, calling it abiding, is merely a matter of works.

“Abiding is all about the most important friendship of your life.  Abiding doesn’t measure how much you know about your faith or your Bible.  In abiding, you seek, long for, thirst for, wait for, see, know, love, hear, and respond to . . . a person.  More abiding means more of God in your life, more of Him in your activities, thoughts, and desires.

In our Western-style rush to do and perform for God, we often falter at the task of simply enjoying His company.  Yet we were created to be dissatisfied and incomplete with less. . .”

May you allow yourselves to be drawn to the One in Whom you are to abide – the One Who loves you . . . and likes you!  May you truly be dissatisfied and incomplete without the pleasure and fulfillment of His company every day, my sisters.  I include myself in this prayer, as well.