The Struggle...

I have had several interesting conversations with people lately. Particularly with things they have been told in the past about the Bible, the character of God, or traditions in the churches they are attending or have attended in the past. It usually always leads to the statement: “Well, this is what I have always been told.” Can I tell you that statement scares me to the core. My response is usually, “I understand, what does the Bible say about what you believe?” The response too many times is: “I don’t really know. It’s just what I have be told.”
Allow me to share a principal I have learned that has never let me down yet. I never take a stand on anything that I can’t back up with scripture. Let me explain why. At some point in our walk with Jesus Christ, our faith, what we believe, will be questioned. Someone will ask why we believe what we believe. Someone will disagree with what we believe. Someone will make fun of us for what we believe. When that time comes, a struggle will begin between ourselves and our faith.
I have talked to so many people who wish they never had to struggle. They have said they wish they were just told the truth in the beginning and never had it questioned. But I have learned that the struggle is one of the best things to strengthen my faith. Because when I am questioned, when I am challenged, I dig for the truth.
I want to be able to say, “Here is the scripture from God’s Holy Word that leads me to believe this.” God’s Word is my source for how I live my life. If I base my beliefs on my or other people’s opinions, I am not fully submitting myself to the teachings of Jesus Christ. Instead, I am setting myself up as the ruler of my own life and if I have given my life to Jesus, I am not my own. I am bought by His blood. I am redeemed from myself.
I understand where these people are coming from. No one really likes the struggle because it is hard. But Jesus knows how to make us more sure in our faith.
And not only that, but we also rejoice in our afflictions,because we know that affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. This hope will not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured out in our heartsthrough the Holy Spirit who was given to us. – Romans 5:3-5
Don’t run from the struggle. Thank God for it.

In Christ,
jon walton


The Struggle...