Be Encouraged

Acts 14:22 “… encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.” (ESV)

Have you wanted something so badly that you dedicated countless numbers of hours and sacrificed sleep to attain what you desire, but it seems like all you get is disappointment? You may get so tired and discouraged, but you continue to press onward, and in your pressing, you experience disappointment again. Have you been there before?

This Christian walk is not for the faint of hearts, it is not for those who are unwilling to be bold. This righteous walk requires courage, and it is only doable by faith.

When we desire to please God only, you and I will see and experience hardships and pain more often than "feel good" days. According to the English Standard Version of the Scripture, the apostle Paul says in Philippians 1:21 that “…to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Our concern should be to do the will of God as long as we have strength in our bodies so that when this life is over, we will be free from labor and resting with Christ. In Acts 14:19-20, we see that the apostle was beaten so severely that he was assumed dead; yet that didn’t retard, or hinder, Paul’s desire to continue doing God’s will.

The question set before us today is, do we want to please God or please ourselves? If you give up doing what God has called you to do, then you please yourself. If you continue to press your way in doing what God has called you to do, regardless of what you see or how you feel, then you please God first. 

To enter the kingdom of God, we must learn what it means to suffer with Jesus Christ and place faith only in Him, believing that He who promised is faithful.

I admonish all of us that we stay the course that God has us on, and don’t be so quick to give up when things aren’t going the way we think they should. Trust God with everything and every circumstance that He has called you to. Continue to pray to God in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; allow Him to do a perfect work in you, and through you!

God Bless You,
Minister R.O.H.