“If you continue to cry out “why” when you are in peril or going through rough times, you will miss what I am doing in your midst. You will also miss My mercy in action. If you truly understand that every event, every situation, every season at all times has a purpose, you will find peace as you are going through even the roughest of times. Generations that have little pressure in their lives manufacture another gospel, one other than the true Gospel. Instead of remaining in a position of humble service and complete obedience, they demand of Me and create Me in their own image. They require Me to perform My Word for their benefit instead of submitting to My Word for the benefit of My overall plan.
“Difficult times purify the rebellious, selfish heart. They then are a benchmark for future generations to observe and come to repentance for their own rebellion. Embrace and see through any times that challenge you. See My mercy in action as you cry out to Me for My presence and strength. I am keeping you close to Me. I am giving you perspective. I am guarding your heart from a rebellious path to destruction. A heart that desires independence of Me in any way is on the road to spiritual death. Needing Me desperately has a way of changing that.”
Luke 9:23-25 AMP
23) And He said to all, If any person wills to come after Me, let him deny himself [disown himself, forget, lose sight of himself and his own interests, refuse and give up himself] and take up his cross daily and follow Me [cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying also].
24) For whoever would preserve his life and save it will lose and destroy it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he will preserve and save it [from the penalty of eternal death].
25) For what does it profit a man, if he gains the whole world and ruins or forfeits (loses) himself?”
John 18:11 AMP
Therefore Jesus said to Peter, Put the sword [back] into the sheath! The cup which My Father has given Me, shall I not drink it?
At times, when I am overcome by the loud noises and boastful attitudes of people in the church who have gained much, consume it upon themselves, and request more, I attempt to find a way to bring things back into God’s perspective. I remember one time when I was feeling sorry for myself. I wanted more than I have, and desired to push God faster and maneuver my situation in my own strength, so that the many needs of my life and our ministry might be met. I wanted to be removed from the pressure that I was under and was asking God to help me find a way to be delivered from the desperate times I felt I was in.
Instead of patting me on the back and stroking my whimpering heart, my gracious Lord led me to a book about the saints of God who were imprisoned for their faith during the Cuban revolution that brought Castro to power. Reading about the giants of faith - the humble missionaries in their imprisoned hellholes, who served others and lived the life of Jesus before demonic tormentors - has put the Gospel back in perspective and made me fall on my face in repentance for my evil, demanding heart.
In the most unbelievably horrible conditions, few of them asked “why.” Most of them cared only for their Lord to be glorified, and that those who were lost – so lost that they would inflict the kind of pain on another human that the prisoners experienced - would see Jesus in them and be saved.
It seems, at times, that I have learned little and forgotten much about the true Gospel of Jesus Christ. Without knowing it, I have been distracted by what appears to be God’s hand of provision yet denies the true wealth of desperately needing Jesus for every moment of life.
I am sorry, Lord,
Jim Corbett
