Taking up our cross daily does not seem fun. We ask ourselves, “What must I give up for this menacing God who created this universe?” Maybe the questions we ask ourselves are scarier than that. “What if there is no God?” we ask ourselves. Who or what can we turn to then? I have seen man treat his fellow man in most horrible ways. I have seen wars and rumors of war. I have seen men riot and destroy property and people. I have seen children mistreated and abused. Did they not even kill Jesus, the Son of God? Yet, I have seen the Amish community come together and raise a barn for their neighbor. I have seen people come from different states to help victims of natural disasters who have lost everything. I have seen people give to telethons to help people attend college. I have seen people who jump into the water to save people who are drowning.
If you have been mad at God for a long time, ask yourself "why"? Whatever happened or did not happen, did God really cause it? God so loved this world that He sent His only begotten son, Jesus, to die on a cross, so that we might be reconciled to Him. Is this the kind of God who puts sickness on a child? Why would God do that? The Bible tells us in Matthew 7: “If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” How much more does our Heavenly Father know how to give than our earthly parents? When God gave us His son Jesus, there was nothing else comparable with that gift.
Wait you say, I have done t0o many things in the past. I have sinned greatly. How can I start fresh? If you are a child of God, then all things have become new and you are a new creation. If you are not a child of God, why not choose to be one? Do you want to continue living the life of sin that has left you broke, disgusted and down, or do you want to lead a life of greatness following the Way of Jesus? The choice between Heaven and Hell between life and death, between victory and defeat seems easy. Choose life.
God is telling us to trust in Him and he will protect us. God will deal with all of your enemies, if you let Him. Bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you! When we forgive and pray for our enemies, we are clean, we are set free, and we have God's forgiveness. God said He would forgive us as we forgive others. Forgiveness, prayer, and love for our enemies are radical ways of living!
The only answer we have is God's peace. Jesus let us know that He was leaving His peace with us. This peace is offered without strings attached. If we are to live in these perilous times, we must seek someone greater than ourselves. People will let us down. Institutions will let us down. Our faith needs to be in nothing less than the God who made us. Our Father is aware of what is happening, it is no surprise to Him. God loves us all.
I believe if you are reading this, then God has lead you here. I believe you have greatness in you! I believe that your heavenly Father placed greatness inside of you. God will use you, if you allow Him. What a time we live in. Remember it was said of Esther that for such a time as this she was born. I say with great certainty you were born for such a time as this.
Imagine that you are entering an air-conditioned restaurant after being outside on one of the hottest days of the summer, and the first thing you reach for is a glass of ice cold water. Do you feel that water satisfying your thirst? Water quenches our thirst better than any other liquid could. Now imagine you are in the desert without the wonderful substance known as water. You are feeling the intense heat of the sun with no shade to be seen. At some point you will not be able to continue without water. Why am I talking about water? It might be because my family wants me to start drinking more of it! Water is necessary in the natural realm, but the "living water" Jesus spoke about is necessary in the spiritual realm. When we are experiencing this thing called life, sometimes it feels too much for us and we become stressed, depressed, disgusted, and downcast.
Is your walk with Jesus vital? Were you more excited about Him and His word in the past? Perhaps you have grown weary in well doing? Perhaps the business of life has captured your attention and you have departed from the "better part"? Martha was caught up in doing good things that needed to be done. People need to eat and the day Jesus visited there was certainly a crowd to feed. Martha saw Mary as wasting her time instead of helping. Mary was at the feet of Jesus listening intently to every word he uttered. Mary knew that life was in Jesus words. In fact, everything was in His words.
Finish Strong Never Quit 
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