Overcoming unbelief AND having a healthy fear of the Lord
Saturday, January 4, 2014 by Unknown
Let's look back in the Old Testament to God's own people, the Israelites for some perspective-
His people, the Jews were slaves to Pharaoh and were tortured and made to work like mules. Moses redeemed the people God had set apart for Himself and taken them away from Pharaoh by God's mighty hand and now they were FREE! Yet, freedom didn't feel so good to them. They wandered aimlessly (or so they thought) for forty years!
You may have had your pain for some years now but just imagine 40 years of it. Doesn't feel so good, so they started complaining. In Numbers 14 verse 2 we hear that ALL the Israelites grumbled. They didn't grumble to God, but Moses about their freedom! Do you do this? Do you grumble about your pain to others without going to God? It's easy to do, isn't it...You see God had a purpose for them in the desert, yet they wanted to go back to captivity!!! You and I can be seen doing
THE SAME THING.
Our unbelief is staggering when we think about it. Do we trust God's plan for our lives wholly? Even when it causes pain? Do we thank Him for the blessings even with the pain we feel? Or are we like God's chosen people blaming and grouchy about where we are in life. They saw miracle after miracle and still had unbelief welling up in their hearts...Sounds familiar today. We need to STAY in God's word and away from the negative voices we hear about our pain- "This isn't fair!", "You should be healthy!" "Why are others healthy and I am not?" and so forth...Instead we need to remind ourselves of God's promises. Here are a few:
Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”
Isaiah 41:10 fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Zephaniah 3:17 The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.
1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
They kept looking back when God wanted their focus on Him! Where is your focus today? Is it on the world and what it has to offer? Or on the God who created you and loves you?
