Trouble

​Bad doctrine is like poisoned food.  It may taste good.  It may leave the stomach feeling full.  But in the end, it will cause indescribable agony.  Have you ever turned on your radio or television and heard a preacher promise you that if you will just put your trust in Jesus your troubles will leave you?  Perhaps, you’ve been reprimanded as lacking faith because you continue to struggle with issues.  Has anyone suggested to you that all you need to do is claim in Jesus’ name the solution you want and trouble will not visit you?  Okay, so why did Jesus say,“ I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world” (John 16:33)? Who was James writing when he penned, “Is anyone among you suffering? He should pray. Is anyone cheerful? He should sing praises” (James 5:13a)? 

Meditation
2 Corinthians 1:3,4--Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort. He comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any kind of affliction, through the comfort we ourselves receive from God.
 
Brothers and sisters, if we think that life in Christ means trouble-free living, we’re going to be quite disheartened with our loving Father.  God never promises us that life in Jesus will be affliction-free.  Quite the opposite—Scripture warns us that if we follow after Christ we can expect trouble.  Our hope is not that today will be free of problems!  Our hope is that He Who made today is greater than anything that can be thrown against us!  

Are you in the swamp of sickness—God still loves you.  You may die. But you will live forever with Jesus in a perfect body if He is your Lord.  Do you routinely suffer at the hands of corrupt people?  You are not alone—conniving religious leaders crucified their Savior!  Are you weary of being weary, tired of trauma and exhausted with ordeals that seem pointed like God has it out for you?  Rest assured He’s your Father and like any loving dad, He will quickly comfort you if you’ll let Him.  Why do I say this?  Because no trouble I’ve ever experienced no matter how tragic has ever come even remotely close to negating the ever-powerful love of God.  Because Paul, who went through far worse than I’ve experienced, could write with fervor,  
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Now we have this treasure in clay jars, so that this extraordinary power may be from God and not from us. We are pressured in every way but not crushed; we are perplexed but not in despair; we are persecuted but not abandoned; we are struck down but not destroyed. We always carry the death of Jesus in our body, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who live are always given over to death because of Jesus, so that Jesus’ life may also be revealed in our mortal flesh. (2 Co.4:7-11).
 
Inspiration
God does not keep a man immune from trouble; He says—“I will be with him in trouble.” . . . Never let cares or tribulations separate you from the fact that God loves you.—Oswald Chambers inMy Utmost For His Highest
In the presence of trouble, some people grow wings; others buy crutches.—Harold W. Ruoff
Some people approach every problem with an open mouth.—Adlai Stevenson
When dishes are washed, the pots have "goop" on the bottom.  One then takes a scouring pad and scrapes the "crud" free.  The released "goop" is the offscouring.  Ugh! Well, dear refined, highly polished Christian, this is the term the Holy Spirit uses to picture the Christian who is taking his stand for Christ in this wicked world.  He is the "offscouring," the "goop," and "crud" off the bottom of the pan in the world's eyes.  Has this been true in your life?  Why not?  God wrote this verse and said it would be so if you lived the life. Forget about your image. Let go, and let God have His wonderful way in your life.—Jack Van Impe
 
©2001 Daniel York  ARR. Reveration is the weekly devotional ministry of First Cause.  If you would like to receive these devotionals go to www.firstcause.org and click on the “Click here to receive weekly devotionals” box.  Unlimited permission to copy this devotional without altering text or profiteering is allowed subject to inclusion of this copyright notice.      
 
Ecclesiastes 12:10-The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and to accurately write words of truth.  (Holman CSB)