COPING WITH CHALLENGES AS A FOLLOWER OF CHRIST

BIBLE PASSAGE:
“You will be hated by everyone because of me,
but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.”
(Matthew 10:22)

MEDITATION:
I’m sure we can all agree that life has its challenges.
Sometimes our difficulties are a result of our own decisions and actions.
However, there are times when our misery is caused by others.
As followers of Christ, we are not immune to troubles.

Whenever we openly express our faith, we can become witnesses to lost souls.
At the same time however, living out our faith will offend others.
Have you ever noticed how another person can be very friendly,
but if you happen to mention a particular sin in the scriptures,
they can quickly become very confrontational and defensive.

During your conversation, you may not even know they are
involved in this sin, but you can tell by their reactions that
they do not want to hear anything about their sinfulness.
It’s as if they feel you are pointing a finger at them,
even though you are unaware of what they are doing.

Apparently they have justified their actions and exonerated
themselves from guilt, regardless of what is written in God’s Word.
And now, they have been reminded that they cannot pardon themselves;
only God has that authority to do that, because His laws are being broken.

The lost will defend their actions,
but Christians who have succumbed to a particular sin seem to become
even more vehement in their reactions when they are guilty of sin.
We can see how Satan can affect the minds of believers
and render them ineffective as servants of God.

He has the capability of convincing people that they have received salvation
even if they have not surrendered to the Lord and His Will.
He teaches them how to use scriptures, or portions of scriptures, to convince
themselves that they are children of God, while they continue to sin against Him.

When believers fall victims to sin, it creates disillusionment in the minds
of lost souls, because they see the hypocrisy of faith in the believer’s lifestyle.
Why would they want to make commitment to God when they
see a lack of commitment by someone claiming to be His follower?

So, what do we do when faced with problems and difficulties?
God comforts those who are people of faith, obedience, and commitment
with these words, “the one who stands firm to the end will be saved”.
Just like the saints we read about in Hebrews 11, we too
have the capacity to maintain our faith in the midst of adversity,
because we know what is waiting for us at the end of our journey.

ACTION:
Read Hebrews 11 and see what it says about people of faith.
All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive
the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance,
admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. (Hebrews 11:13)

They kept looking past the temporal problems of the earthly life
and remained focused on their eternal rewards.
Of course that doesn’t mean we isolate ourselves and do not have joy in our lives.
God wants us to enjoy the life He has given us, but to do it in the right way.
And when we do, we will be blessed, and will be a blessing to others
in ways we may never know about on this side of heaven.

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, help me to remain steadfast in the midst of problems
and when tempted by Satan. Forgive me for the times I have failed and
strengthen me for the days ahead. Through the aid of the Holy Spirit,
help me to be consistent about my faith. Remind me that my life is a
witness to others and that I have a heavenly reward reserved for me.”

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