The disliked promises concerning Faith: Comfort & Caution (Warning)! Part 2

 

The disliked promises concerning Faith: Comfort & Caution (Warning)! Part 2 There once was a manager of a minor-league baseball team. He was so angry at his centerfielder that he benched him and grabbed a glove, placing himself in that position. A ball was hit to him, it took a bad hop and hit the manager in the mouth. Then a fly ball, and it bounced off his forehead. The third was a line drive, it went past his glove and hit him in the eye. Furious, he ran back to the dugout, grabbed the center fielder by the uniform, and shouted. “You idiot! You've got center field so messed up that even I can't do a thing with it!”  - Discipleship Journal God loves us and desires us to feel safe in His love. However, we are not yet in His presence, we live in a fallen world. He understands we will struggle in our flesh with evil and our own sin nature. God wants us to understand the benefits (which we focus on sometimes exclusively) and the costs!   …Jesus said to him, “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:61–62 Luke 21:17 “And everyone will hate you because you are my followers.”   1 John 3:13 “So don’t be surprised, dear brothers and sisters, if the world hates you.”   John 15:20 “Do you remember what I told you? ‘A slave is not greater than the master.’ Since they persecuted me, naturally they will persecute you. And if they had listened to me, they would listen to you.”   Matthew 10:34-36 “Don’t imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth! I came not to bring peace, but a sword. ‘I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. Your enemies will be right in your own household!’” Also * John 15:19   Does this message sound strange to you? If it does, you have also been influenced by the one-sided teaching of the Health Wealth Prosperity movement. The life of a disciple includes both benefits and costs! Many followers quit discipleship because they were not taught the complete picture.   Sadly, what so many disciples fail to understand is our greatest growth is produced during our sorrows, losses, and the tough times. That is where faith, trust, and anticipation become the path to maturity. These life skills help you navigate life so you can work through circumstances instead of being controlled by them.     The So What: The true “Wholeness” movement was begun by God at Creation! His plan is for humans to mature into Spiritual Adults. Salvation is by Grace Totally! He did all the work! However, maturity is still by Grace, (His work) along with our sweat (our obedience) God’s plan has always been a partnership. God created man to exist forever, but there are two destinations: In His presence or separated from Him. Our choice!