Three Bible characters have come to mind recently.
Yesterday we looked at Job, many believe the oldest book of the Bible. Job in a sense was the focus of a spiritual tug of war. God praising His servant Job and Satan trying to prove that he wasn’t anyone special and given the right circumstances ‘he would curse God to his face’.
Despite all the trials he went through and his wife and friends denigrating him, Job held fast to his integrity and came through his trials with his faith in tact.
David, the shepherd from Bethlehem, the youngest son of Jesse, raised up to be the second king of Israel. He was a warrior, harpist and psalmist. Quite a ‘gift mix’ there for those who’ve read the earlier blog.
David was a mighty warrior and fought many battles for the Lord. ‘The Lord gave him victory wherever he went’. He wanted to build a house for the Lord, but God said no, through Nathan the prophet, his son Solomon would do it. God told David that He would establish his throne forever, through the Messiah.
David however fell after that blessing, when he committed adultery with Bathsheba and murdered her husband Uriah. The child born to Bathsheba died and David had to flee for his life from his own son Absalom. He was cursed and stoned as he left Jerusalem for good measure, but he didn’t harm Shimei, the man so incensed at him. Like Job, he was restored and lived out his life as king.
Saul, later Paul, a religious bigot who persecuted and helped murder believers in the early church. Yet his Damascus Road experience was surely one the pivotal points for the whole future of the Church. All he accomplished in his own time, with severe testing and the legacy of his New Testament writings. Paul endured much and ended his life in Rome, a martyr for the Gospel( he’d started persecuting believers and ended giving up his own life).
We are all facing trials in our own walks, hopefully not as severe as the people I’ve spoken about. They suffered but held onto their faith. God rewards those who endure, both on earth and in eternity. Paul said, “For our light affliction which is but for a moment, works for us(and in us) a FAR MORE EXCEEDING and eternal weight of glory”. 2 Cor 4:17
May God give us grace to endure and to keep going forward, in spite of all that we face. He loves us and cares for us deeply and wants us to complete our race.
God bless you and grace for your race today wherever you may be.
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