Friday, Feb. 26: Praise Him!

Many pastors today are spreading a prosperity message. One of the fallacies of this teaching is that Jesus grew up wealthier than anyone around Him, based on the gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh brought by the Magi. It’s easy to see why this message of earthly prosperity is prevalent, as it seems easier. “Name it and claim it” goes hand-in-hand with “blab it and grab it!” Yet having discussed some promises that give a believer power, we need to notice a promise that is noticeably absent. God has not promised that our Christian lives will be easy. Every one of the disciples of Jesus died as martyrs, except for John, and John was placed in a cauldron of burning oil! If God offered riches to everyone who turned to Him, wouldn’t everyone come for that reason alone?


Instead, Jesus told us:


18 “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you.
John 15:18-20


Jesus also told us:


3 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33


So, don’t be surprised when life is difficult! When it is difficult, stand on the promises we already have discussed, and follow the advice in this Bible verse:


16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NKJV)


It doesn’t say to give thanks for all the seemingly wonderful things in your life. It says to give thanks for everything. Can you imagine having your child die and thanking God for the event? Job did. In fact, he thanked God for not just the death of one child, but for the death of all 10 of his children. God deserves our praise and our thanks. This relies heavily on the first two promises. If we have accepted Him into our lives, and He has forgiven our sins, we don’t need anything else! If we truly believe that all things will work together for our good, then even the death of a child, the loss of a job or the brokenness of our lives will be for our good. We just need to thank Him for it.


You might find yourself in a dark hole you never dreamed you would be in. Yet how dark can it be with Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior? He is the Light of the world, and light cannot exist with darkness. The place you are in might seem dark, but all you have to do is open your spiritual eyes and see the Light!