Count Your Blessings #3
3) To use us to help others –
-Matthew 5:14 – Jesus tells us we are the light of the world.
-2 Corinthians 1:3-4 says “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.”
-Sometimes God uses people in my life that never say a word to me or do anything for me. Just seeing their godly example or hearing of their faith and perseverance in the midst of a trial encourages me and helps me to keep going even though the going may be quite difficult. In the midst of my trials, I aspire to have the same attitude as:
1) Paul in Philippians 4:11-13 – “I have learned the secret of being content in whatever the circumstance, in any and every situation. I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength (or sufficient grace).”
2) Jesus who said in Luke 22:42 “Father, not my will, but yours.”
3) My friend Ann who would hold out her life to God like holding out her hand with an attitude of “God, you put into it or take from it whatever you see best. I trust you!”
When we have this attitude, we are able to faithfully persevere and God gives us these promises for doing so: Revelation 21:3-4 tells us “There is a day coming when God will wipe every tear from our eyes. There will be no more death, mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things will have passed away.”
Luke 6:21 says there is a day coming when we will laugh!
James 1:12 gives us this promise in trials: “Blessed (happy) is the man or woman who perseveres under trial because when he or she has stood the test, he or she will receive the crown of life that God has promised for those who love Him.” In other words, God will not forget our faithfulness in trials. He will “bless” us for it. The Bible tells us there will be a reward!
