If you suffer for doing good and endure it patiently,
God is pleased with you!
1 Peter 2:20
Jesus showed them His hands and feet. And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, He asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” They gave Him a piece of broiled fish, and He took it and ate it in their presence. He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about Me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” Luke 24:40-44.
God’s Word assures us: Those who sow in tears will reap with shouts of joy! Those who go out weeping will surely return with shouts of joy! (Psalm 126:5-6 BSB). Jesus has told His disciples, “Now you will grieve, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy,” John 16:22.
“Fear not, My people! Be glad now and rejoice, for God has done amazing things for you,” Joel 2:21 TLB. “They opened their mouths wide as for the rain. I smiled at them! They did not believe it, for they were discouraged and had no confidence. But the light of My countenance encouraged them and lightened their spirits. My look of approval was precious to them, and they drank in My words like spring showers. As their Chief I corrected them. As their King and the One Who comforts those who mourn, I instructed them, and chose the way for them to go,” Job 29:23-25 AMP.
We were like men who dreamt! Our mouths were filled with laughter, and our tongues with songs of joy (Psalm 126:1-2). How awe-inspiring are Your deeds, O God! How great Your power! (Psalm 66:3 TLB). Nothing can stop us now! The Lord has shown us His grace! He has made us steady as a mountain.
Though our courage had suddenly gone, and we were terrified and panic-stricken, You, O Lord, have turned our sorrow into joy! Yes, You wiped away our mourning, and clothed us with joy so we could sing praises to our Lord and Savior. O Lord our God, we will keep on thanking You forever! (Psalm 30:6-12 TLB).
The Lord has done great things for us! He has vindicated us! Come, let us declare in Jerusalem all the Lord our God has done (Jeremiah 51:10 TLB). Salvation for Israel has come out of Zion! (Psalm 53:6). The Lord has restored our wealth and happiness. He bestows twice as much on His people (Job 42:10 TLB). In all things He causes us to prosper just as our soul prospers (3 John 2 BLB). For only when the Lord Himself restores us can we ever be really happy again (Psalm 53:6 TLB).
Yes, the Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy (Psalm 126:3). For the Lord has made us rich with faith, and we don’t need a thing! We were wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked, but God’s Word counsels so we become rich. The Lord has given us white clothes to wear that cover our shameful nakedness (Revelation 3:17-18). We have received an anointing from the Holy One to know and understand the Truth (1 John 2:20).
We apostles are witnesses of all the Lord did throughout Judea and Jerusalem. God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with Holy Spirit and with power. Then He went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.
But that made no difference, for they put Him to death by hanging Him on a cross. But God, He raised Christ to life on the third day, and allowed Him to appear, not to the general public as before, but to us whom God had chosen in advance to be His witnesses.
He has ordered us to preach everywhere and to testify that Jesus is the One appointed by God to be Judge of all – the living and the dead. Christ is the One all the prophets testified about, saying everyone who believes in Him will have their sins forgiven through His name (Acts 10:38-43 NLT).
Those who share in a relationship with Jesus, who have experienced God’s Word of Truth transform their lives from the inside out – know, that they know, that they know they have crossed from death to life (John 5:24). Though the prince of this world has been condemned (John 16:11), he will never stop coming at us, especially those who repent and turn to the Lord, to steal and kill and destroy Good (John 10:9).
When a person experiences God’s Word of Truth delivering them from the consequences of our sins – depression, fear, anger, despair…this is when the eyes of our heart are opened, and benefits from the Lord are received – salvation, healing, deliverance, peace, joy, contentment, humility, faith, hope, grace, mercy…For Jesus comes so we may have life, and have it to the full (John 10:10).
When a person is set free from sin and fear and self-indulgence along with the consequences they cause, because of our lack of faith in God, there is no doubt holiness (wholeness) will be reaped. And the result of becoming faithful servants to God – the crown of eternal life received (Romans 6:22-23).
Faith in God and His Word gives us entrance through the Gate, Christ Jesus, and we will come in and go out and find pasture. We will find rest because God’s Word of Truth gives us peace of mind and heart.
The wages of sin is death. Death to confidence so we struggle with low self-esteem. Death to peace so we seek control and manipulate. Death to restraint so boundaries become weak or non-existing. Death to Truth so deceit and delusion and perversity flourishes. Death to Hope so skepticism, desperation, doubt and despair ensure all sorts of troubles occur.
In every situation we face no matter how convoluted and complex, there are only ever two choices. Good or Evil! Right or wrong! Our words and our actions can encourage and uplift life with Good, or our words can persecute and bring death to what money can’t buy – Contentment.
Like seeds that are planted to produce a great harvest, words are planted within the soil of our soul to become a harvest of what? Life that bestows an eternity of peace and joy and gladness, or Death that bequeaths an eternity in the absence of all that is Good.
For those who choose Good, and the only One Who is good is God (Mark 10:18), Christ Jesus has become in our eyes the One who brings contentment (Song 8:10). For God’s Word of Life bestows godliness so the very best and greatest gain can be enjoyed – Contentment (1 Timothy 6:6).
The only involvement God’s faithful servants should have with Death should be for Christ’s sake, so that His life would be revealed in our mortal body (2 Corinthians 4:11). The Apostles spread the Good News of God’s love and grace and forgiveness; as a result, ever since, Life has been abounding profusely. Where then O Death is your victory (1 Corinthians 15:55a):
James was put to death by the sword (perhaps beheading) by Herod.
Peter was crucified upside down in Rome.
Matthew was martyred in Ethiopia by a sword.
Nathanael was flayed to death by a whip in Armenia.
Thomas was put to death in India by a spear.
James the son of Alphaeus was martyred in Egypt.
Simon the Zealot was put to death in Persia.
Thaddeus was martyred in Persia with Simon the Zealot.
Paul was beheaded by Nero.
John was the only Apostle to die a natural death.
The sting of Death is sin (1 Corinthians 15:56). Therefore, no one can live and not see death, or save themselves from the power of the grave (Psalm 89:48). For the ransom for a life is too costly, no payment is ever enough – that they should live on forever and not see decay. Yes, no one can redeem the life of another, or give to God a ransom for them (Psalm 49:7-9).
But God’s Word, Christ Jesus, “I will ransom them from the power of the grave! I will redeem them from death,” Hosea 13:14. “So be earnest and repent! Here I am! I stand at the door of your heart and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with them, and they with Me.”
“Those whom I love I rebuke and disciple. And those who overcome, I will give the right to sit with Me on My throne, just as I overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne,” Revelation 3:19-21. “Those who overcome will not be hurt at all by the second death (Revelation 2:11) – the fiery lake of burning sulfur (Revelation 21:8)!
As for me and my household,
We will serve the Lord!
Joshua 24:15