What is our default reaction whenever we face difficulties or hardships in life?
Next time when you are faced with a difficulty in life,
rather than simply complain about it,
or compromise your faith and go with the flow,
or just shy away from giving a definite answer,
You can choose be bold,
You can choose to stand firm to what you believe in.
We can choose to stand firm because God believes in us and has chosen us.
When Paul writes to encourage this young church that’s under hardship and persecution, the first word he gives to uplift them is the fact that "they are chosen".
Nevertheless, believing we are chosen by God is not something brainwash ourselves with.
“We know, dear brothers and sisters,
that God loves you and has chosen you to be his own people.
For when we brought you the Good News,
it was not only with words but also with power,
for the Holy Spirit gave you full assurance that what we said was true.”
(1 Thess 1:5 NLT)
“And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.”
(1 Thess 1:6-7 ESV)
Following Jesus doesn’t always make life easier.
Sometimes it makes it harder.
But that is the kind of faith that changes hearts.
God can use our weakness to speak to others.
Our brokenness become someone else’s spark of hope.
Following Jesus doesn’t make life easier.
But it makes life real, authentic, transparent, free, and joyful.
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