How to Count It All Joy

“But Jesus called them to Himself and said, ‘You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave...’” (Matthew 20:24-26).

We're familiar with passages of Scripture and modern proverbs that tell us how to endure tough times. We've shared a lot of those already in these articles. What we're going to talk about today, however, might have escaped our notice before.

Tough times are tough and no one of us should pretend otherwise. James does write that we should count it all joy when we encounter various trials, to be sure (James 1:2). Jesus does say that we are in good company when people persecute us and say all kinds of evil against us on account of Him (Matthew 5:10-12). But how do you actually develop the kind of attitude to do those things? How is it possible to actually love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you (Matthew 5:44)? 

The only way it can be done is to sacrifice yourself and your feelings. Please accept this in the spirit it is intended. A lot of our complaints about having to endure suffering come from the attitude that this isn't fair. I shouldn't have to suffer like this. I need someone to remind me that God is always with me. Now, maybe what you and I are suffering really isn't fair. And maybe we shouldn't have to suffer like this. And maybe someone does need to remind us that God is always with us, but did you catch who the center of attention in each of these complaints is? It’s me...or you...whoever is making the complaint. 

Before I can obey the commands to “count it all joy...” or love my enemies and pray for those who persecute me, I'm going to have to make a decision. I'm going to have to decide that I’m not here to be served, but to serve. Was it fair for Jesus to die on the cross in your place? If you hesitated to answer that, let me give you the unequivocal answer: NO!!! It was not fair, but Jesus made the decision to serve, rather than to be served.

Let me leave you with this thought to begin your week. If you make the decision to be great by becoming a servant to all, or to be first by making yourself last (a slave), some unfair things might still happen to you today and this week. On the other hand, you will have much more strength to overcome the things that will threaten to overcome you. 

A young lady I was about to baptize many years ago, made a startling statement to me. She said she was afraid that if she went through with her baptism, the devil might get her. She wasn't aware, yet, of passages like James 4:7 which tell us that if we resist the devil he will flee. She was afraid of a very real enemy. I couldn't lie to her and tell her the devil didn't care whether or not she was baptized. I could tell her this, and I want you to know it, as well. Once she became a member of the family of God, she would have at her disposal a much more powerful arsenal and an army of brothers and sisters to back her (not to mention the King of kings and Lord of lords) in order to overcome evil with good.

It's hard to die to self, but that's the only way we can live. Look up at that cross in your mind's eye right now. See the love on His face as He stretches out His hands and dies for you. Then, follow His example and win an eternal victory! God loves you and so do I.

Donnie Bates

Our Refuge and Our Strength

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1). Truer words were never spoken.  There really is no refuge and strength other than God. There is no one else to whom we can turn when we find ourselves in trouble. And sometimes trouble seems to have us squarely in its sights. The psalmist continues: “Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change and though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea…” (Psalm 46:2).

Sometimes life gets pretty tough. Some who are reading this have endured (or are enduring) trials that would make the rest of us tremble. According to Psalm 46 there is a place of refuge to which you can go; there is a “very present help in times of trouble.” Even in those times when there seems to be no way out or no answer, there is a way out; there is an answer.

Psalm 46:4-7: “There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy dwelling places of the Most High. God is in the midst of her, she will not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns. The nations made an uproar, the kingdoms tottered; He raised His voice, the earth melted. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold.” The key to having this promise of refuge is to be part of the city of God; to be among the dwelling places of the Most High. According to Scripture, that means to be a member of the church, because the church is the city of God, or the temple (dwelling place) of God (Revelation 21:2; 1 Corinthians 3:16).

God’s word to those who resist Him is: “Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth” (Psalm 46:10). One of the reasons I may not find comfort or refuge as quickly as I would like (if at all) is that I’m still resisting Him. Perhaps I’m suffering the consequences of my own actions and have not repented of the sin of those actions. In all honesty, I don’t have any right to expect comfort or refuge if I have not repented of my sins. I need to “cease striving,” stop resisting the will of my heavenly Father. I need to “know” that He is God. I must realize just Who it is that I’m fighting and surrender. God will be exalted among the nations and in the earth, whether I stop striving with Him or not. It will be better for me to give up and let Him have control.

Notice how the psalmist closes this psalm: “The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold.” (Psalm 46:11). Whether you realize it or not, there is no better thing that anyone could say than, “The Lord is with us; He is our Stronghold.” Remember those words. Try also remembering them the way Paul said them: “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31). 

Concerning the word “Selah,” one scholar believed it meant “a solemn pause of hush and wonder.” Another called it an expression “of the tremulous soul,” as though the psalmist, in the midst of his description of God, would pause and say, “Just think of that!” God bless and...Selah. He loves you and so do I.

Donnie Bates