The "Sweetness" of Life!

I used to believe that being a Christian meant I would have a perfect life, free from trials, pain, persecution, and sickness. 

2 Timothy 3:12

Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

I Thessalonians  3:3

That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto.

2 Corninthians 12:10

Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak then am I strong.

John 17:14

I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

Psalm 34:19

Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.

Where is the testimony if we have a life full of peace and joy while everything is perfect?  We are all happy when we get our way - there is no mystery to that!  But when a person suffers great loss or goes through trials and persecutions, and in the midst of it all they are full of peace and joy, that is a testimony of God's grace! 

2 Corinthians 7:4

Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.

Putting our faith and hope in Him and not being fearful while the storms of life are raging, is a witness to all watching, of a power that is unknown to the unbeliever.
I do not envy those who have to face their trials alone.  The pain that is found in this life is a burden I would never want to bear by myself.  Nevertheless, our need to have a peace that passes all understanding should not be our motivation in pursuing a relationship with Christ.  We need Him because we are sinners - every one of us!  Without His blood sacrifice to cover our sins, we will die with our sins unforgiven and spend eternity apart from Him.  (See my page titled " Are You Good Enough to go to Heaven?")
For those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior, the trials and persecutions of this life become a catalyst that brings us into a deeper relationship with Him.  While trials may be very hard to go through, there is a "sweetness" that causes us to be grateful for them because they bring us a greater awareness of His presence.  And His presence is what we want.....what we long for! :)

Proverbs 27:7

The full soul loatheth a honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.

Walking

In Websters 1828 Dictionary the word "walk" (in scripture) is defined as:  to live and act or behave; to pursue a particular course of life.
I find that I am often forgetting who I should be following and walking after.  Instead I tend to follow my own plans and ideas and do not yield myself as a servant of the Lord.

Some reminders:
Eph 2:2 - we used to walk according to the course of this world
Eph 4:1- walk worthy of the vocation where with ye are called
1 Thes. 2:12- walk worthy of God, who has called you unto His kingdom and glory
Col. 1:10- walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing
Eph 4:17 - walk not as other Gentiles walk
Romans 6:4 - walk in newness of life
Jer. 10:23- it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps
1 Thes. 4:1- ye have received of us how ye ought to walk
Eph. 5:8- walk as children of the light
Isa. 2:5- walk in the light of the Lord
Isa. 30:21-this is the way, walk ye in it
Jer. 6:16 - ask where is the good way, and walk therein
1 John 2:6- walk even as He walked
Acts 9:31- walk in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost
Eph. 5:15- walk circumspectly
2 Cor. 5:7- walk by faith
Eph. 5:2- walk in love
1 Thes. 4:12- walk honestly toward them that are without
Prov. 13:20-if you walk with wise, you shall be wise
Mich. 6:8- walk humbly with thy God
John 8:12- walk not in darkness
Romans 8:1- walk not after the flesh
Prov. 28:26- Whoso walketh wisely, shall be delivered
Dan. 4:37- those that walk in pride He is able to abase
2 Thes. 3:6- withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly
1 John 1:6-7- if we walk in darkness we do not have fellowship with Him, if we walk in the light, we have fellowship and His blood cleanses us.

Pray for God's grace to live and behave (WALK) as He did!!

The Gospel

I received this via email.  It's really good!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPIOkdNL-QQ