ODB: Contract Faith
January 13, 2011
He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. —Philippians 1:6
READ: Romans 8:28-39
All things work together for good to those who love God. —Romans 8:28
Sometimes people who serve God live with an unstated “contract faith.” Because they give time and energy to work for God, they think they deserve special treatment in return.
But not my friend Douglas. He has lived a Job-like existence in many ways, experiencing the failure of a ministry, his wife’s death from cancer, and injuries from a drunk driver to himself and a child. Yet Douglas advises, “Don’t confuse God with life.”
When troubles come and doubts arise, I often turn to Romans 8. “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?” asked Paul. “Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” (v.35). In that one sentence, Paul summarized his ministry autobiography. He endured trials for the sake of the gospel; yet somehow he had the faith to believe that these “things”—surely not good in themselves—could be used by God to accomplish good. He had learned to see past the hardships to a loving God who will one day prevail. He wrote, “I am persuaded that [nothing] shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ” (vv.38-39).
Confidence like that can go a long way in helping overcome discouragement about how life hasn’t worked out the way we thought it would.
— Philip Yancey
Source: Our Daily Bread
Tweet This
Share on Facebook
Digg This
Save to delicious
Stumble it
RSS FeedRelated
ODJ: a noun or a verb
March 27, 2010 So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other (v.34). READ: John 13:31-38 A recent movie portrayed a teenage girl who got pregnant and had to decide what to do with her baby. Her relationship with her [...]
ODB: fragile existence
November 12, 2009 READ: Job 1:8-22 We should not trust in ourselves but in God. —2 Corinthians 1:9 The geological features at Yellowstone National Park fascinate me. But when I walk among the geysers, I’m aware of how close I am to danger. I am walking atop one of the largest, most active volcanoes in [...]
ODJ: a time to learn
January 28, 2011 Work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away (v.10). READ: 2 Peter 1:3-11 A video on YouTube captured a mother squirrel trying to teach her baby how to scale a cement wall. Over and over the [...]
ODJ: radical love
June 6, 2011 Love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you (v.27). READ: Luke 6:27-36 Julio Diaz stepped off the late-night subway en route to his favorite diner when a knife-wielding teen demanded his wallet. Diaz handed the wallet over; but as the mugger began to walk away, Diaz stopped him. “If you’re going [...]
Christian Courses
Day Of Discovery
Discover The Word
Discovery Series
Help For My Life
My Utmost For His Highest
Our Daily Bread
Our Daily Journey
RBC Ministries
WarungSateKaMu
Manasociety
雅米
Help me in Prayers Pal. . .that God through Christ in His infinite mercy will restore me back to normal. .it’s like my faith is down and I need to be delivered of doubt and unbelief. .PLS. .serious prayers pals. .thanks