"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace.
In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33 NKJV
“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you."
John 15:18 NKJV
Jesus promises to prepare a place for each of us in His/ our Father's house. A glorious eternity awaits every child of God, everyone who receives Jesus as Lord and Savior. He took the punishment of us all, paying the highest price for our sins, past, present, and future. He accepts us just the way we are, cleaning and transforming us with the Holy Spirit.
This is the Good News, the essence of the Gospel.
Christianity 101, right?
But there is another part we don't like to think about much less talk about, a part that is not often preached about in our American often sugar-coated warm and fuzzy Gospel ...that part we all hope will be avoided, or at least minimized.
It is the part of our lives as followers of our Lord Jesus Christ that takes us through the valleys, and the deserts ...
It is the way of suffering, through the refining fires and through pruning...
Jesus told His disciples that they would indeed drink from the same cup (Matt.20:22).
To be sure, we, each of us, will go through fires of our own, we will not escape pain, trials and tribulations ....they are guaranteed.
Through it all He whispers to us..." peace... I'm with you ...don't worry about these things...don't fear a world who hates us...I have overcome the world!
In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33 NKJV
“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you."
John 15:18 NKJV
Jesus promises to prepare a place for each of us in His/ our Father's house. A glorious eternity awaits every child of God, everyone who receives Jesus as Lord and Savior. He took the punishment of us all, paying the highest price for our sins, past, present, and future. He accepts us just the way we are, cleaning and transforming us with the Holy Spirit.
This is the Good News, the essence of the Gospel.
Christianity 101, right?
But there is another part we don't like to think about much less talk about, a part that is not often preached about in our American often sugar-coated warm and fuzzy Gospel ...that part we all hope will be avoided, or at least minimized.
It is the part of our lives as followers of our Lord Jesus Christ that takes us through the valleys, and the deserts ...
It is the way of suffering, through the refining fires and through pruning...
Jesus told His disciples that they would indeed drink from the same cup (Matt.20:22).
To be sure, we, each of us, will go through fires of our own, we will not escape pain, trials and tribulations ....they are guaranteed.
Through it all He whispers to us..." peace... I'm with you ...don't worry about these things...don't fear a world who hates us...I have overcome the world!
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