Genesis 50:20

But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.

“We must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.”

Acts 14:22

God’s people have their trials. It was never designed by God, when He chose His people, that they should be an untried people. They were chosen in the furnace of affliction. They were never chosen to worldly peace and earthly joy. Freedom from sickness and the pains of mortality were never promised them. But when their Lord drew up the charter of privileges, He included chastisements amongst the things to which they should inevitably be heirs.

Trials are a part of our lot. They were predestinated for us in Christ’s last legacy. So surely as the stars are fashioned by His hands, and their orbits fixed by Him, so surely are our trials allotted to us. He has ordained their season and their place, their intensity and the effect they shall have upon us. Good men must never expect to escape troubles. If they do, they will be disappointed, for none of their predecessors have been without them.

Mark the patience of Job. Remember Abraham, for he had his trials, and by his faith under them, he became the “Father of the faithful.” Note well the biographies of all the patriarchs, prophets, apostles, and martyrs, and you shall discover none of those whom God made vessels of mercy, who were not made to pass through the fire of affliction.

It is ordained of old that the cross of trouble should be engraved on every vessel of mercy, as the royal mark whereby the King’s vessels of honor are distinguished. But although tribulation is thus the path of God’s children, they have the comfort of knowing that their Master has traversed it before them. They have His presence and sympathy to cheer them, His grace to support them, and His example to teach them how to endure. And when they reach “the kingdom,” it will more than make amends for the “much tribulation” through which they passed to enter it.

C. H. Spurgeon

COVID-19 Crisis Prayer - Pastor Mike

Today's Prayer

Crisis Prayer Topic:  What is Good

With so many and varied opinions in the world on what is the right thing to do and what is good, Psalm 92 provides us with great clarity.

“It is good to give thanks to the LORD and sing praises to Your name, O Most High; to declare your loving kindness in the morning, and Your faithfulness every night.”  Psalm 92:1-2

Pray we would determine to give thanks to the LORD and sing praises to His name, thereby choosing to do what is good.  Pray that our thoughts, speech, and actions would be a daily declaration of the loving kindness of our Lord.  Pray that the Lord would grant us great comfort and stability based on His perfect, unfailing faithfulness to us, every morning and evening.   Pray for active worship of the Lord in our lives. 

Praise Him for His great works.  For the depth and understanding of His thoughts.  Pray we would not be senseless or foolish regarding the works and thoughts of the Lord.  Thank the Lord for His promise that the righteous shall flourish like a palm tree.  That we shall bear fruit and be fresh and flourishing.  And that the fruit we bear as planted in the Lord will declare the LORD is upright. 

“He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him”