What's Your Attitude During Trials?

Philippians 1:12;27; 2:13: "Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel . . . . Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ . . . . For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose."

As I reflect upon these verses, I am reminded of Paul's desperate situation in a Roman prison. During this painful time, Paul used this opportunity to write letters to the Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and to Philemon. Paul mentions in Philippians 1:13-14 that his being in chains has resulted in everyone in the palace knowing that he is there for his allegiance to Jesus Christ, and his imprisonment has led to the brothers of the faith being even more resolved to "speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly."

So in Paul's understanding of his circumstances, he knew that this trial in his life was actually serving the cause of Christ; in fact, God was using this situation to bring about greater kingdom good in that the gospel was being advanced. He then encourages the hearers of his letter to conduct themselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. That is, they are to maintain their commitment to Jesus Christ, understanding the awesome privilege of being adopted by God into His royal family. This awareness will motivate the faithful follower to see all trials and tribulations as experiences that can be transformed into kingdom-building opportunities, no matter how painful and discouraging they may be. And although we are not pleased that these events arise, we nonetheless understand that our ultimate purpose for existence is to glorify God our Sovereign Creator, and praise His name for His greatness and His wonderful grace and mercy.

We must remember that it is God "who works in us to will and to act according to His good purpose." Thus, in Paul's situation, God had willed that these events in his life occur (i.e. imprisonment), so that His good purpose of advancing the gospel would occur.

In our life experiences, we know that difficulties will come our way. Sorrow for these events is a natural emotional response to these losses (see Paul's response concerning Epaphroditus in 2:27); still, we are able to know through our intimate association with our Lord that He is orchestrating something that will accomplish great things for His kingdom.

Answered Prayer

I Peter 3:12; 4:7: "For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil . . . . Be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray."



For the follower of Jesus Christ, prayer is an incredible benefit. Prayer to God provides us the opportunity not only to express praise and thanksgiving to a Sovereign and loving Lord, but it also gives us the chance to share our burdens and needs. The Word of God mentioned above tells us that God hears the prayers of the righteous, namely those who are submitted to the Lord and are striving to be obedient to Him. This does not necessarily mean that God always answers our prayers according to our expectations, but He responds in a way that is consistent with His will and for His glory. For the true follower of Christ, whose number one purpose in life is to glorify God, submitting to the will of God for the glory of God is always best.

When those who perpetuate their own selfish desires seek the Lord to answer their prayer, God will not answer according to their demands. To do so would perpetuate the sinful behavior in the individual, and God will never contribute to the chronic rebellion against His Lordship.

Thus, followers of Christ are called to be "clear-minded" or focused upon God without the distraction of sinful pursuits. We are also called to be "self-controlled." We must suppress the selfish desires within us that would wage war for control of our lives. We must surrender to the Lord in all things, for then we can expect the Lord to be responsive to our prayers for His ultimate glory.

Show Me the Money

Psalm 73:2-3: "But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold. For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked."

Here we find Asaph struggling as he watched others enjoying their material wealth while he was plagued with financial needs. In verse 16, Asaph writes, "When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me." He struggled with this intense desire to have what others had. It was not until he had a close encounter with God that he realized that God was in control and ultimately would reward everyone according to his obedience to Him. As Acts 17:26 suggests, God determined the time in eternity when we would live on the earth as well as the setting in which we would live. After Asaph realized all these things, he confessed to the Lord that he had been senseless and ignorant before the Lord (vs. 22). With this paradigm shift, Asaph was able to understand that God was all he really needed. In verse 25, he wrote, "Whom have I in heaven but you. And earth has nothing I desire besides you . . . . God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." In verse 28, Asaph wrote, "it is good to be near God." Asaph was able to understand that intimacy with God was sufficient to sustain him through life. He knew that he might not have all of the material resources that others had at their disposal; but Asaph knew that purpose, fulfillment, peace, and contentment would only come through an encounter with the Sovereign Lord.

Racism

Numbers 12:1-2,9-10,13-15: "Miriam and Aaron began to talk against Moses because of his Cushite wife, for he had married a Cushite. 'Has the Lord spoke only through Moses?' they asked. 'Hasn't he also spoken through us?' . . . . The anger of the LORD burned against them, and he left them. When the cloud lifted from above the Tent, there stood Miriam-leprous, like snow . . . . So Moses cried out to the LORD, 'O God! Please heal her!' The LORD replied to Moses, 'If her father had spit in her face, would she not have been in disgrace for seven days? Confine her outside the camp for seven days; after that she can be brought back.' So Miriam was confined outside the camp for seven days."

In the passage above, we find that the brother and sister of Moses, who presumably had significant influence in the Israelite camp, resented Moses' marrying a Cushite woman. The people of Cush were dark-skinned people from regions south of Palestine. Was Miriam and Aaron resentful of the fact that Moses has not married one of his own kind? Was this racism? Genesis 9:6 states that all persons are made in the image of God and have immeasurable value. Moses' brother and sister should not have resented Moses' decision to marry a woman who did not look like them. They used this resentment as an opportunity to question if Moses should be leading them.

The irony in this passage is God's response of judgment against Miriam by striking her with leprosy (as white as snow). God gave her the opposite complexion of Moses' wife, which resulted in her being cast outside the camp as unclean for a period of seven days. Whereas Miriam wanted to ostracize Moses' wife for being different, she in effect was separated from the people for her sin.

Today, we still find racism evident throughout the world. One race or color of people hold in contempt another race and vice versa. This pandemic problem is counter to God's desire that all people be treated with respect. God created humans as the pinnacle of His creation made in His image. For this reason, all humans should be treated with dignity and respect, irrespective of race or color.

Integrity

Mark 12:14: "You aren't swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth."

In this passage, the adversaries of Jesus, the Pharisees and the Herodians, acknowledged that Jesus didn't succumb to the pressure of his peers or even the religious establishment, but He spoke truth (the way of God) despite how unpopular that may have been to the culture at the time. These religious leaders even recognized Jesus as a man of integrity. Although that platitude was an enticement by them to get Jesus to conform to their insatiable desire to control Him, Jesus did not play along. His first words to them were, "why are you trying to trap me?"

Followers of Jesus Christ should be bold in their proclamation of truth in our world, and not succumb to what is popular or politically correct. No matter how society treats with contempt the person to lives by Godly truth, God Himself will be well pleased, and that is what is most important. Donald Miller in his book, Searching for God Knows What has said it well: "If we are going through religious motions to get people to think of us as religious, praise us, and all that, we are receiving our false redemption from a bunch of people who are going to be dead in fifty years. This is a shabby replacement for an eternal God." (pg. 203).

Grace

Psalm 49:7-9,11-15: "No man can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for him-the ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough-that he should live on forever and not see decay . . . . Their (the wicked's) tombs will remain their houses forever . . . . Man, despite his riches, does not endure; he is like the beasts that perish. This is the fate of those who trust in themselves, and of their followers, who approve their sayings . . . . They are destined for the grave, and death will feed on them . . . . But God will redeem my life from the grave; he will surely take me to himself."

Here's the Gospel Message from God! No one but God can redeem your life. Neither you nor any other person or thing are able to save yourself from the judgment of God for your sin and rebellion. The Word says that the ransom for a life to be saved from death is costly. And only the Lord Himself could provide the payment for your sin. This is why He HAD to come to the earth to die on a cross for your sins. Only Jesus Christ is the perfect atoning sacrifice for our sins (I John 2:2). If you place your faith and trust in anything or anyone other than Jesus Christ, your life will not be ransomed . . . it is TOO costly for anyone else to pay.

The peril of most today is that they believe that if they simply are a good person, God will welcome them into heaven. WRONG! The Bible tells us that none of us are righteous; no one seeks after God (Romans 3:10-11). All of our supposed "righteous acts" are in fact like filthy rags before a Holy God (Isaiah 64:6). This is why we MUST surrender ourselves to the mercy of God through submission to Him as our Lord and receive His precious COSTLY payment of Himself for our sins. Any other attempted remedy for our salvation will not be enough.

Perseverance

Job 19:25-27: "I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him . . . . How my heart yearns within me!"

What a great word of strength from Job. He had lost his family, his fortune, his health, and his fame. He was suffering from his physical pain, and he was alienated from his friends. His servants would not respond to his summons for help. His wife scorned him, and little boys would jeer him in the street.

Yet with all of this, Job found strength in these truths:

1. God lives.
2. God is Job's Redeemer.
3. God is in control. "He will stand in the end."
4. Job would be with God after death.

And for these truths, Job's heart yearned for the day of his deliverance. His hope in God sustained him through the perilous times. Job knew that his earthly purpose was not to experience happiness or success, but to glorify God . . . even if that meant suffering and pain.