◄ Mounting Pressure - Growing In Grace (9) ►

Growing In Grace - STUDY

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
Psa.119:105

 

World of Suffering

Fallen man lives in a fallen world.. a world of sin and a world of suffering. A saved sinner is still a fallen man, who lives in a fallen world. Suffering is due to other people’s sin or it may be self-inflicted but all suffering needs to be addressed. Self-inflicted suffering is often the result of our own volition – our own wrong life-choices.

Wrong Choices

Some pressures we face are a direct result of the wrong choices we make in our life. Other pressures we face are totally beyond our control and are not caused by our choices. Nevertheless, we are responsible for our actions, reactions and the everyday choices we make. Every day we exercise our volition in a myriad of ways. Some of our choices are good and some are bad, some are wise and others foolish. Have you ever made a bad choice in your life? I certainly have, and I doubt there is one person alive, who has not made poor use of their volition – relational choices; purchasing choices; moving choices; living choices. Just one simple bad choice can change the entire direction of a man’s life.

Lack of Knowledge

We are not robots and our capacity to choose can have a devastating result on our lives, but how easy to make bad choices and then blame God for our self-inflicted pain. There are a number of reasons that Christians make wrong choices. One of the most common reasons for bad choices is ignorance of God’s word. I wonder how many believers are under pressure today, due to lack of knowledge. So many of the issues we face in life are clearly outlined in God’s word – if we would but listen. Hosea writes: My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Hos.4:6, but how often people make important life-decisions, based on anything but the Word of God.

Ignoring God’s Word

Another common reason for bad choices is ignoring the word of God. One example out of many that quickly comes to mind is: be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers 2Cor.6:14, but how many believers have allowed their volition to smother the clear instruction we receive from the Lord. I’ve made many wrong choices in my life and suffered many painful consequences, and it hurts. Ignoring the word of God is painful, and too often is self-inflicted due to the ignorance of His word.. or wilfully ignoring His instructions –

Ignorance of God’s Word

How many times have we heard it said, If only I had known 20 years ago, what I know now, how differently I would have acted, and all too often the answer to our mounting pressure is given in the Bible. Ignorance or misapplication of God’s Word can be very costly, but instructions for godly living can be found within the pages of God’s word, and we would do well to take it to heart and apply it to our lives as the pressures of life continue to mount.

Encouragement in God’s Word

The apostle Paul lists the many perils that he had to face in 2 Corinthians 1: Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned – three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; journeys often; in perils of waters; in perils of robbers; in perils of my own countrymen. In perils of the Gentiles; in perils in the city; in perils in the wilderness; in perils in the sea; in perils among false brethren. In weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst; in fasting often, in cold and nakedness – and besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: is my deep concern for all the churches. But Paul discovered: My grace is sufficient, for my strength is made perfect in your weakness.

Wisdom in God’s Word

While ever we live in this fallen world of sin and suffering we will face mounting pressures, but we have the written word of God and the indwelling Holy Spirit of God to guide our path and to guard our ways and Christ has promised that His grace is sufficient. Never forget that God’s word is life and health and wisdom and truth and His grace is sufficient, for Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path –  forever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven