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What does it mean to be faithful in Gospel living? What are some of the difficulties that we must recognize and overcome? In this article, I want to encourage you as you seek to faithfully follow Christ in your daily life. All scriptures are from
The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible, BSB
Copyright ©2016, 2020 by Bible Hub
Used by Permission. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.
Difficulty 1: Complaining and grumbling in our daily lives
This is an issue that I battle everyday. We all face difficulties, trials, and irritations at work and in our personal relationships. Human nature leads us to complain, grip, grumble, and doubt when faced with overwhelming stress and difficulties. This is a national and world wide problem. The constant strain of high prices, ongoing pandemic, and supply chain issues makes life more difficult. We live in an uncertain world during difficult times.
Many are burned out, frustrated, anxious, and exhausted. The natural tendency is to complain and lash out at others. When the days are long, hot, and frustrating it’s hard to stay focused on the positive. This is a vicious cycle that drains us and destroys our witness.
We wrongly assume that past generations had it easier or that things were simpler. We will read a passage of scripture and think that it’s impossible to do it so we just ignore or skip over it.
The Way forward through complaining and grumbling is surrender to God’s Plans
The way forward is to surrender self to Christ. We align ourselves to His plans instead of our ways/plans. This is easier said and written than practiced. This is a daily choice and battle that requires self-denial, sacrifice, and perseverance. We demonstrate faith in the difficulties of life. Paul commands us in Philippians 2:14-16:
14Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine as lights in the world 16as you hold forth the word of life, in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain.
Got questions explains this in detail:
https://www.gotquestions.org/Bible-complaining.html
In summary, we demonstrate our faith to the lost world by not complaining and proving ourselves faithful in “holding firmly to the word of life.” We chose to obey God and submit to His ways instead of trying to arrange for our own comfort in difficult situations. I know that this is difficult! But it’s what God commands. Paul writes that he is being poured out as a drink offering. He is writing this letter (Philippians) from a prison. He has many reasons to complain and grumble, but he doesn’t! He recognizes God’s gracious activity in his impossibly difficult situations.
Psalms 103 and 145 are great prayer resources to recenter yourself on God’s goodness. Giving thanks and worshiping God is appropriate and necessary during difficult times. God is good all the time even when things are going badly around us! Focusing on Him takes the focus off of self and others! Recall God’s Goodness, Faithfulness, Exceeding Mercy, and deep love for you! Trade Satan’s lies for God’s Powerful Living Words of Truth!
Be the Salt and Light for the world–This is our Purpose
Jesus teaches at the Sermon on the Mount Matthew 5:13-16: emphasis mine
13You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its savor, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.
14You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they set it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Jesus clearly states the purpose of our lives. We are to be both salt and light. Salt is a preservative and anti-septic. It keeps things from rotting and becoming infected with bacteria. Light is referring to the oil lamps that were used to light homes after dark. How we live matters! Our neighbors, coworkers, and others are watching us. Are we being a “force” of good and light? Often our actions speak louder than our words.
Avoid Self-Pity, and Encourage others
Focusing on self and complaining/grumbling leads to rebellion against God. We see this in Exodus and Numbers. Even though God is physically present (cloud and pillar of fire) with all the many miracles, the people rebelled and complained. When God’s will or command(s) is clear, we are tempted to rebel instead of obey. We must be ready to obey and trust when asking God for discernment or clarity.
We need to recognize that we have the same sinful nature as the Hebrews. We are all sinners who daily battle our sinful nature. The author of Hebrews warns us in Chapters 3 and 4 that we need to take care that we don’t have “an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God 3:10” We must walk by faith and not by sight lest we walk away from God.
Encourage others
Hebrews 3:13 reminds us to encourage each other. Encouragement helps us to recognize God’s presence and truths when facing difficulties. As God works in our lives, we need to share with others. This can be a written note, a time of prayer with someone, and/or fellowship. God puts us into a community for a reason! He intends that we serve and encourage each other along this journey of faith during the joys and difficulties of life. How can you encourage those God has placed in your life? That’s why I write these articles.
Difficulty 2: Our Selfish Nature
James points out the root of our difficulties with others: James 4:1-4 emphasis mine
A Warning against Pride
1What causes conflicts and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from the passions at war within you? 2You crave what you do not have; you kill and covet, but are unable to obtain it. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3And when you do ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may squander it on your pleasures. 4You adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore, whoever chooses to be a friend of the world renders himself an enemy of God.
Our sinful nature is a strong force in our lives that must be recognized and dealt with appropriately. Our tendency is see ourselves as better than we are and to see others as “worse” than we are. We are all selfish in nature. This is because of the original sin. We are caught in a war against ourselves and others. The world wants our friendship and promises a false way of life.
The concept of world refers to the systems that opposes God. This is human sinful nature, satanic, demonic forces, and all that is against God. The “world” falsely promises peace, stability, prosperity, and ease of living. Yet, the cost is high. To be of the world is to be against God.
James 4:5-10 Solutions
5Or do you think the Scripture says without reason that the Spirit He caused to dwell in us yearns with envy? 6But He gives us more grace. This is why it says:
“God opposes the proud,
but gives grace to the humble.”
Drawing Near to God
7Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9Grieve, mourn, and weep. Turn your laughter to mourning, and your joy to gloom. 10Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you.
God graciously sends His Holy Spirit into the lives of His people. Holy Spirit convicts, guides, and empowers us to live with/for God. James advises us to:
- Submit to God-trusting in His grace
- Resist the devil–this means to counter his lies with God’s truths–apply God’s Word to your life and seek Christ first
- Come close to God–turn away from the world and sin to Christ
- Cleanse and purify your heart–this means to repent of the evil and seek God– Psalms 51 is an excellent prayer
- Humble yourself before God–admit your need for God to sustain and cleanse
The concept of “double-minded” is a word picture. This term refers to a person who is conflicted between two natures or “souls”. This person can’t or won’t decide on who or what to follow. Got questions describes this:
“A double-minded person is restless and confused in his thoughts, his actions, and his behavior. Such a person is always in conflict with himself. One torn by such inner conflict can never lean with confidence on God and His gracious promises. Correspondingly, the term unstable is analogous to a drunken man unable to walk a straight line, swaying one way, then another. He has no defined direction and as a result doesn’t get anywhere. Such a person is “unstable in all he does.””
https://www.gotquestions.org/double-minded.html
Consider God’s Grace and Mercy
When we study God’s Word and experience conviction, it hurts us in a productive way. First, we realize that we need God’s grace and mercy. God is Perfectly Righteous and Just. He can’t overlook our sins and evil nature. God graciously sent Jesus to Perfectly and Completely Atone for our sins. Jesus renews our hearts and saves us through His life, death, and resurrection.
To value grace properly we must recognize and acknowledge our desperate need for Christ’s Redemption. Every single person deserves to be eternally separated from God. God is Merciful and Forgiving! Let us consider each day how we can be more like our Heavenly Father and Jesus instead of being like this world!
If God has changed you then you need to share your testimony with others! If God hasn’t transformed or renewed you then you need to carefully consider if you have ever encountered Him! Walking an aisle at church, praying a “repeat after me” prayer doesn’t save anyone–God’s grace is what saves us. Salvation occurs when a person trusts upon God’s grace and mercy in total dependence on God for His Redemption. Salvation is a miraculous work of God. Good works and religion don’t save anyone!
First and foremost, a person has to be convicted of his/her sins and cry out to Jesus for salvation. This is more than just an emotional decision we make to “choose” God. God radically changes all those He saves! No change, no redemption has taken place. What are the fruits of your life? The redeemed don’t live for sin and self-pleasure, but for God’s glory and honor. Which road are you walking on? The narrow road of Christ is the only one that leads to heaven. Who are you living for?
https://www.gotquestions.org/way-of-salvation.html
May God encourage you as you face trials and difficulties!
Encouragement for your faith journey 