Quitting is Not an Option

[Jesus speaking] I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.
John 16:33 NLT

We can trust His truths. ALL of them. Coming to Christ is the easy part - it IS as simple as ABC. You have probably heard of the ABC's of Salvation. A - Admit that you are a sinner and need a Saviour. B - Believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that He died to pay for your sin and rose again on the third day to bring us into eternal life. C - Confess to someone your decision to accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour of your life. Romans 10:9-10 reads, ...if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

However, daily living for Him is a whole 'nother story. It is difficult, to say the least, but He told us it would be. We think we have it hard. We think it is difficult for us to choose to walk the Christian way - that the persecutions are too difficult. In countries other than America, we have seen that to be true. In America, no such thing.

Paul - one of the greatest men to ever walk the earth to preach the Good News of Jesus - suffered beyond words after he became a Christian. In 2nd Corinthians 11:23-29 NKJV, Paul tells us,

• From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one.
• Three times I was beaten with rods; 
• once I was stoned; 
• three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep;
• in journeys often, 
• in perils of waters, 
• in perils of robbers, 
• in perils of my own countrymen, 
• in perils of the Gentiles, 
• in perils in the city, 
• in perils in the wilderness, 
• in perils in the sea, 
• in perils among false brethren; 
• in weariness and toil, 
• in sleeplessness often, 
• in hunger and thirst, 
• in fastings often, 
• in cold and nakedness— 
• besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches. 

Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation?

The only thing that saved Paul from being crucified was the fact that he was a free-born citizen of Rome. They beheaded him instead. And yet in spite of the horrendous sufferings, quitting was not an option for Paul. It's not an option for us, either.

Prayer:

Father,
           Change our hearts, O God! Replace our focus on what's wrong and guide us to be grateful for the good in our lives, starting with our salvation. Thank You, Father. O for a thousand tongues to sing praises to my King... In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen