We must remember that we are only trying to please Jesus as we learn to live like He did. (When we finally say we want to open’s God’s word and have it pierce our hearts we can start obeying Him for the reason of others to see what our Christianity looks like.) Paul says, “…I am willing to endure anything…” Is that how we feel? We can’t live thinking everything will be comfortable and nothing will be challenging for us to grow. We are here to remember that Jesus died for us and was raised on the 3rd day. (This is why we can have joy in all situations)
In John chapter 14:19-21 it says, “Soon the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Since I live, you will also live. When I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.”
Paul shared these next statements from 2 Timothy verses 12-13 and says they are trustworthy:
a. First: “If we die with Him, we will also live with Him.”
1. We need to remember that this world will entice us to want what we want but Jesus wants us to do what the Fathers wants.
Look at Romans chapter 6 verse 8 which says, “And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with Him.” (We need to enjoy the fact that we are united with our Lord Jesus Christ.)
b. Second: “If we endure hardship, we will reign with Him.”
1. We know satan will be lurking ready to devour. (When we say no to the things of this world and don’t let them sway us we know we will reign because Christ has given us victory.)
Look at Revelations 3:21 which says, “Those who are victorious will sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat with my Father on His throne.” verse 22 goes on to say “any one with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what He is saying to the churches.”
We must show our strength through Christ as we live because the world is watching to see if we are going to be different or the same as the world.
c. Thirdly: “If we deny Him, He will deny us.” (We can come up with any excuse in the world but we have free will and God will honor it if we choose to deny Him and choose the world.)
1. We don’t have to earn our way to heaven or do good works but we do have to believe and accept what Jesus did and die to self and live to honor God.
In Mark 8:38 it says, “If anyone is ashamed of me and my message in these adulterous and sinful days, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when He returns in the glory of His Father with the Holy angels.”
(When we deny Him we are saying no and the more we say no the harder it is for us to endure hardships and die with Him.)
d. Finally: The thing that makes God God and why we should love Him with all our hearts. “If we are unfaithful, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny who He is.”
1. Nothing we can do can separate us from His love, He is love. As long as we are alive He will continue to put things in our path to choose Him and know His Son and whatever we do He will love us. (The reality of this is His love doesn’t mean that we spend eternity with Him. That is done in Jesus Christ our Lord.)
*One commentary put it this way, “Even when believers fail the Savior, He remains loyal. For Christ to abandon us would be contrary to his faithful nature.” (He never moves away from us we move away from Him.)
Look at what Hebrews 10:23-29 which says, “Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep His promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of His return is drawing near. Dear friends, if we deliberately continue sinning after we have received knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice that will cover these sins. There is only the terrible expectation of God’s judgment and the raging fire that will consume His enemies. For anyone who refused to obey the law of Moses was put to death without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Just think how much worse the punishment will be for those who have trampled on the Son of God, and have treated the holy, as if it were common and unholy, and have insulted and disdained the Holy Spirit who brings God’s mercy to us.”
*We must surrender and remember that we can do this because of what Jesus did for everyone. The more we learn and seek the more we will understand. We all need to open God’s word and make it a priority to study and make a difference in our community because of who we are in Christ. Amen