Focus on the Solution
Oswald Chambers said, if your eyes are on the problem, then you become the problem. The solution to the problem is not to focus on the problem but to focus on the Lord. Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in his wonderful face… and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of his glory and grace.
Despite the confusion of the world and the chaos and pandemonium around us… despite the rejection of the truth of the Word of God, we can focus on Jesus Christ instead of the world’s problems. The devil distracts us to divert our attention to the chaos, conflict and confusion of this world. Regardless of the problems the world inflicts, the solution to the problem is Jesus Christ… he is the meaning of life and the purpose of the Word of God.
Jesus said, in this world ye shall suffer tribulation, but be of good cheer for I have overcome the world. In the midst of the trials and tribulation of life, God will teach us that he alone is our sufficiency.
The world says that we should avoid persecution…. for persecution ridicules, bullies, offends and inflicts pain and humiliation. However Jesus said, blessed are they when men shall revile you and persecute you and say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake. For great is your reward in heaven.
In John 5:16, the Jews persecuted Jesus and tried to kill him. Jesus had healed a lame man on the Sabbath day which was against the law of the Pharisees. Jesus asked them, what is the right thing to do on the Sabbath? Is it right to do evil or to do good? What does God reqauire of you on the sabbath? According to Isaiah 58, Is not the Sabbath to clothe the naked, to feed the hungry, to give drink to the thirsty, and to welcome the needy into your house? Is this not much greater than doing the religious rituals of the Pharisees? The great law of the love of God is contrary to the rituals, traditions, and legalistic commands of the Pharisees.
What was the difference between Cain’s offering and Abel’s? Why did Cain kill Abel? Because his deeds were evil and his brother’s were righteous. Abel was slain because the darkness hates the light neither cometh to the light lest his deeds should be reproved.
Israel who had turned from God, persecuted the prophets whom God had called to teach them, reprove them and correct them. The religious leaders who plotted to murderer Jesus also tried to eliminate the disciples of Christ.
2 Timothy 3:12 says all who suffer for righteousness in Christ will be persecuted. Those who oppose the truth of the Word of God are wrong about God and they oppose followers of Christ who stand for God’s righteous standards of truth, mercy, grace, and love.
The adversary usually hides in darkness… he rarely shows his true colors. However, the “thought leaders” of this world indoctrinate the people to call evil good and good evil. They twist the truth of the Word of God into a lie. Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.
Are we ready to turn the other cheek, go the second mile, and bless those who persecute us? People will not notice how well we handle successes and victory. However, They will sit up and take note how we handle adversity.
DL Moody recalls that when he conducted a revival in England, he noticed an older gentleman on the front row who was standing, singing and raising his hands in joyful praise. His smile lit up the room. After the service Moody asked him, why are you so blessed? He said, years ago, when I was in India, I was in charge of a platoon of British soldiers. I was the worst of the worst. One night I had been drinking and stumbled into the barracks. I noticed one man fast asleep in his bunk. I knew he was a Christian and I despised Christians. I dragged him out of his bunk and onto the floor. In a blind rage, I kicked him with my muddy boots and punched him until he was bloody and nearly unconscious. Then I stumbled to my bed and fell asleep in a drunken stupor. When I woke up the next morning with a hangover, I tried to open my eyes…. The first thing I noticed was my boots spit shined and polished by my footlocker. I realized the soldier I had kicked the night before had crawled through his own blood to spit shine my muddy boots. That was the first time I had ever prayed. “God, that man has something I don’t have… I want whatever he has.” That’s when I had a change of heart. God answered my prayer and I’ve been a Christian ever since.
James and John went through Samaria to prepare the way before Jesus entered into Jerusalem. When the towns people rejected them, they asked Jesus, do you want us to send down fire from heaven to rebuke them? Jesus said, you don’t know what you’re asking…. He said, you’re of the wrong spirit if you seek vengeance and the wrath of God.
Jesus said, blessed are the poor in spirit and blessed are those who mourn…. Blessed are the peacemakers. Now is the acceptable year of the Lord. He came not to condemn the world…. The son of God came not into the world to destroy the world, but that the world through him might be saved.
The zealots of Jesus’ time thought it was their duty to drive out the Romans. However, Jesus didn’t come to make war but to bring peace… blessed are the peacemakers, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. There is no peace without the Prince of Peace. Peace is the result of reconciliation and Jesus is the one who reconciles…. He reconciles our hearts with God’s heart, for there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.
The Love of God compels a man to approach God’s throne of grace.. The wrath of God doesn’t call a man to Jesus Christ. Instead, it is the kindness, gentleness, goodness and love of God that calls a man to repentance.
Jesus said to his disciples, If they rejected you, they have rejected me. If they hate you it’s because they hated me. However, as Paul said, be not overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good. Jesus Christ himself is our example. For even while we were yet sinners, Christ died for the ungodly.
In Mark 12 what are the basic precepts? Thou shalt love the lord thy God with all thy heart, with, with all thy soul, and with all thy might and thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. Why? Because Love covers a multitude of sins…. Love is the fulfillment of the law.. Love is the nature of God himself.
What is it that you love most? Do you love God above all? To love God above all is to die to self.… The Apostle Paul said, That I may know him and the power of the resurrection, being conformed to his death, even the death of the cross. According to Galatians 2:20, for I was crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I but Christ liveth in me and the life that I now live I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.
The world says, get what you deserve… you deserve a break today. Therefore take it all in… grab for all the gusto you can get. Eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we die. Men of this world say, “I want my just desserts.” But be careful what you desire. Because if God gave you your just desserts, the wages of sin is death.
Contrary to the world’s doctrine, To die to self is to live for Christ. James and John were known as sons of thunder. However, our prayer is not that God would cast the lightning bolt of judgement down from heaven. Instead Jesus said, bless them that persecute you and say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake, for great is your reward in heaven. To love with the love of God is to be not overcome of evil but to overcome evil with good. Abraham Lincoln said, the best way to defeat your enemy is to make him your friend…. For love covers a multitude of sins. Through believing faith that works in love, greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world….
That despite the persecution of this world, we may live and love to the praise of the glory of His grace!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael
