Suffering and Riches

"By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, ²⁵ choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, ²⁶ esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward."

Hebrews 11:24-27

Isn't the eternal perspective Moses maintained amazing?  He willingly chose suffering with the people of God rather than enjoying the passing pleasures of sin.  He saw reproach for God's sake - for Christ's sake - greater riches than the treasures of Egypt!  Moses had not received his heavenly reward in full when he obeyed God at great personal cost, yet faith in God enabled him to see beyond his own pains and to the goodness of God who called and empowered him.

I must be honest:  my flesh never holds reproach for any reason in high esteem!  Who rejoices when others disagree and express their strong disapproval of them or their beliefs?  If we have faith in God like Moses, Christians should.  This understanding will revolutionalise the life of a Christian and how we deal with suffering, trials, and persecution.  Jesus said in Matthew 5:10-12, "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. ¹¹ Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. ¹² Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you."  The disciples filled with the Holy Spirit understood this.  When they had been beaten for doing good, they rejoiced to have been counted worthy to suffer shame for Christ's sake (Acts 5:41).  With their suffering God provided more abundant consolation.

Everyone in this world suffers, but only those whose suffering is mixed with faith in God benefit spiritually and are richly blessed.  Whilst in New Zealand, God brought to mind a person navigating a field of tall weeds.  Walking through weeds causes all manner of painful, prickly thorns and stickers to poke through socks and shoes.  When a person comes through the other side and feels the discomfort of the sharp plant matter clinging to socks and even piercing flesh, the person takes the time to pull out each one.  These stickers are a painful nuisance, and we would never think to place them carefully in a container as mementos of our journey.  No!  We throw them to the ground as rubbish, and the pain caused by them teaches us to avoid the tall grass in the future.  The painful irritation was only a waste of time, and no practical benefit or what could be conceived as blessing was received.

When our suffering for Christ is mixed with faith in Him, God redeems and makes precious even our pains we experience as we follow Him.  Those painful circumstances God can redeem as priceless spiritual gems which cling to us as we walk in obedience to Jesus.  Consider the great implications of this!  Instead of fearfully avoiding persecution or potential trials we can wade right in, knowing God has great treasures of grace for us to receive and enjoy.  Do you esteem the reproach of Christ greater riches than all the gold and treasures of the nations?  Since God has set aside great rewards for you believer, are you willing and committed to endure trials of faith so you might receive your full reward to the glory of God?  Blessed and rich beyond measure are such who make God their refuge!  Upheld by God through faith we should not grit our teeth, but we can rejoice according to Christ's command.

Mixed with Faith

Faith is such an important part of our Christian life.  The scriptures tell us whatsoever is not of faith is sin (Romans 14:23), and without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6).  In the midst of trials our faith in God is tested, and it is this God-ordained tested process which brings us to spiritual maturity.  In the midst of suffering our lack of faith is often revealed to us, and we like the disciples can plead according to the will of God, "Increase our faith."  All people will suffer in this life, but only those who choose to trust God despite pain will discover the joy of the LORD is their strength.

Faith is also critical for us to receive the wisdom and benefits God provides through His Word.  Consider the passage in Hebrews 4:1-2:  "Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. ² For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it."  The children of Israel heard the word of God from Moses in the desert after He delivered them from bondage in Egypt.  Though the Word of God never lacks power or sharpness, the unbelief in the hearts of the Hebrews rendered it unprofitable.  Unless the Word of God is mixed with faith, it provides no practical benefit.

Reading the Bible is never an end in itself.  If we refuse to believe or obey what God says to us, we will remain without hope in this world - despite our knowledge or grasp of doctrine.  If we believe what we read, our lives will be lived in obedience to the scripture.  For instance, if you believed your glass was filled with deadly poison, you would not drink it unless you wanted to die!  Reading God's Word without putting it into practice - without it being mixed with faith (and faith without works is dead) - it dulls us to the truth of God's message.  We can be steeped in truth without it ever permeating our souls, and this should be most concerning.

You've probably heard before what Jesus said in Matthew 7:24-28:  "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: ²⁵ and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. ²⁶ But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: ²⁷ and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall."  We all want to be the wise man, right?  The reality is, we aren't always who we want to be.  God made us to walk, but with walking comes the real potential of falling.  And fall we do.  And stay down and not know how to get back up again.

Thank the LORD that when we place our faith in Christ He is a Deliverer and Restorer.  A professional baseball player who is out of form does not need a new revelation or superhuman abilities:  he needs to go back to the basics and practice the fundamentals.  In our Christian walk it is much the same.  In our struggles, we don't need to search the world for new revelations.  God reveals Himself when we seek Him!  We should ask ourselves, am I trusting God?  Is faith being mixed with the truth of Bible I am reading?  Is this fact evident through me putting God's Word into practice?  Praise God for His Word, and for sending the Holy Spirit who helps us in our weakness.

The Clean Heart

I've been thinking lately about the importance our examining our motives according to God's Word as we draw near to Him.  As critical as it is to come to God at the beginning in humility and submission to His will by grace through faith, so we must continue in this posture in seeking the fullness of His Spirit.  We can at any point of our Christian pilgrimage begin to unknowingly entertain selfish motives.  Our desires can degrade to what God can provide for us or do our will rather than humbling ourselves to seek His.  Instead of selfless desire for the glory of God, we can be focused on our problems, pain, or how God should end them for us.

God will not become a means to our end.  God knows what we need, but will acquiesce to our greed and selfishness to chasten us back to Him.  This sobering reality is demonstrated in Psalm 106:13-15:  "They soon forgot His works; they did not wait for His counsel, ¹⁴ but lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tested God in the desert. ¹⁵ And He gave them their request, but sent leanness into their soul."  If we willingly forget God's works and do not seek Him, pray God does not grant your request.  The excitement of the prayer answered will soon be swallowed up in despair and spiritual drowsiness and weakness.

The sacrifices of the LORD are a broken heart and contrite spirit, not insatiable demands of the proud or self-righteous. Joel 2:12-13 says, "Now, therefore," says the LORD, "turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning." ¹³ So rend your heart, and not your garments; return to the LORD your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness; and He relents from doing harm."  Praise the LORD He hears our cries, and He is able to make our hearts pure before Him when we repent.  His hand which breaks us can also heal and restore.  James 5:11 reads, "Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord--that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful."

The Voice of the LORD

"The voice of the LORD makes the deer give birth, and strips the forests bare; and in His temple everyone says, "Glory!"

Psalm 29:9

In my recent study of Psalm 29, this verse stood out among others in this chapter which speaks often of the powerful and far-reaching impact of the voice of God.  It struck me the sound of God's voice impacts people differently, even as it causes the deer to give birth or stripping a forest bare.  One is left exposed and broken by the God's voice, and the other is startled into bringing forth new life.  Recognising God remains in control regardless of any circumstances we face is an abiding comfort in the life of a follower of Jesus.

The heart strengthened by faith in God as revealed in His Word is convinced He makes all work for good in the life of those who love Him (Romans 8:28).  Despite storms, pain, and trials, God's people are able to rejoice in Him regardless.  It is one thing to read about the faithful people of God who were blessed to endure, but it is God's will for all people to personally experience the upholding power of God's Spirit.  At the voice of God, all those who worship God in the beauty of His holiness say, "Glory!"  Paul was able to rejoice despite persecution, unjust imprisonment, and slander.  He said in the face of death, "Rejoice in the LORD always!  Again I will say, rejoice!"  He had the ability to see the power and sufficiency of Christ in the midst of the trial without focusing on how he had been mistreated, his pain, or what potential misfortunes awaited him.  He was no believer in luck or "fortune" but in the sovereign power, goodness, and wisdom of His glorious Saviour.

God is speaking today.  Are you listening?  Whether His voice strips you bare of deceit and reveals sinful motives or awakens in you new desire to worship and draw near to Him, listen and obey.  The God who made man's mouth also made His ears.  The God who confounded the languages at Babel has the authority and power to be clearly understood by all.  It is when we quiet our hearts before Him we can hear His still small voice which strikes through our souls like a bolt of lightning.  Speak O LORD, for you servant hears (by your grace)!