Friday, February 5, 2021

Don’t focus on the pain but the reward ahead!

 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. James 1:12 

 

To endure several temptations is one challenging part of a believer. It will reveal how faithful you are to God. 

The scripture tells us to count it all joy when we fall into divers temptations. Certainly, many would not be joyful when they passed through trials, but the scripture says we should count it all joy because there is a reward ahead of us. Christ also faced this challenge of enduring trials of His faith. He had wished the trials and suffering to stop. If however, God put those trials and pains He ought to have away, He would not be rewarded and even the world wouldn’t be saved from their sins. 

Because Jesus endured the pain to death, He was highly rewarded. 

 

Philippians 2:8-9 “And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name”

 

Jesus is our role model. If He can pay the price of endurance to the end, you can also do it. Amidst the phase of temptations, believers tend to worry about how they will overcome their trials, forgotten when the scripture said; “He that endures to the end shall be saved.” 

 

You should be aware that every temptations and challenge are transient. The challenges are meant for you to overcome them so you can be promoted; to know if you are worthy enough to receive the prize at the end. Paul said this in 

1 Corinthians 9:24;

“Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.” 

The race in this context connotes your pains, endurance, and sufferings when you are betwixt temptations. We all are in a race here on earth, only those that ran well will be rewarded on the last day. Don’t give up keep pressing on.

 

Dear reader, I believe you have been blessed this morning. Are you tired of enduring that pain or tired of waiting to get something from the lord, the scripture says you should count it all joy when you are faced with these challenges? Your problem is temporal; endure to the end, there’s a prize for you.

 

Prayer: Father, help me to run the race well in Jesus' name.