The apostle Paul wrote, “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:13,14).
These words of Paul should give encouragement to all striving to live the Christian life. It seems that some get so discouraged that they are ready to give up. This must not happen. Everyone gets discouraged from time to time.
One should remember the prophet Elijah under the juniper tree. He was so discouraged that he believed he was the only one left faithful to God. God told him there were 7,000 who had not bowed the knee to Baal. He was to get up and get started again.
When one gets discouraged he must remember he is not aloAne. Persecution of some form may come, but Jesus said, “Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you” (Matt. 5:11, 12).
When a Christian finds himself discouraged, it is time to take advantage of the blessings God has given to His children. Take the burden to God in prayer, delve into His word and offer up praise to God in song.
Singing is not just for in the meetinghouse. It is true as the words to “Sing and Be Happy” state, many times “we fail to see the rainbow.” Our lives are so blessed by God. We need only to look around us and we can see those in far worse situations that where we find ourselves.
If any follower of Christ had a reason not to sing and be happy it was the apostle Paul. Yet when we read of Silas and Paul chained and in prison, what were they doing? Notice Acts 16:22-25: “And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them. And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks. And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.” These men truly trusted in God’s promises and pressed for the goal of heaven.
Discouragements are going to come to everyone. The way we cope with them will show whether or not we are truly trusting in God or something else. God stands ready to help us if we will obey Him. God desires all men to be saved (I Tim. 2:4), and has provided the way for man to come to Him.
Jesus stated, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6) Just as building a physical building takes work, so does building a life for Christ. It takes commitment to study and grow. It takes learning to put all our trust in God and not in self. We trust in God’s word that if we obey the gospel He will forgive us of our sins (Acts 2:38). Then we must begin living the Christian life (Col 3:1-3).
When we are building on Christ, we can face the trials of this life, and know that heaven will be our home for eternity.
These words of Paul should give encouragement to all striving to live the Christian life. It seems that some get so discouraged that they are ready to give up. This must not happen. Everyone gets discouraged from time to time.
One should remember the prophet Elijah under the juniper tree. He was so discouraged that he believed he was the only one left faithful to God. God told him there were 7,000 who had not bowed the knee to Baal. He was to get up and get started again.
When one gets discouraged he must remember he is not aloAne. Persecution of some form may come, but Jesus said, “Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you” (Matt. 5:11, 12).
When a Christian finds himself discouraged, it is time to take advantage of the blessings God has given to His children. Take the burden to God in prayer, delve into His word and offer up praise to God in song.
Singing is not just for in the meetinghouse. It is true as the words to “Sing and Be Happy” state, many times “we fail to see the rainbow.” Our lives are so blessed by God. We need only to look around us and we can see those in far worse situations that where we find ourselves.
If any follower of Christ had a reason not to sing and be happy it was the apostle Paul. Yet when we read of Silas and Paul chained and in prison, what were they doing? Notice Acts 16:22-25: “And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them. And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks. And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.” These men truly trusted in God’s promises and pressed for the goal of heaven.
Discouragements are going to come to everyone. The way we cope with them will show whether or not we are truly trusting in God or something else. God stands ready to help us if we will obey Him. God desires all men to be saved (I Tim. 2:4), and has provided the way for man to come to Him.
Jesus stated, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6) Just as building a physical building takes work, so does building a life for Christ. It takes commitment to study and grow. It takes learning to put all our trust in God and not in self. We trust in God’s word that if we obey the gospel He will forgive us of our sins (Acts 2:38). Then we must begin living the Christian life (Col 3:1-3).
When we are building on Christ, we can face the trials of this life, and know that heaven will be our home for eternity.