Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. (Hebrews 10:24)

The Holy Spirit gave me a Spiritual GEM in my personal devotions this morning.

Today’s scripture, Psalms 31:23-24 (NLT) exhorts…Love the LORD, all you godly ones! For the LORD protects those who are loyal to him, but he harshly punishes the arrogant. [24] So be strong and courageous, all you who put your hope in the LORD!

Consider…
There’s a hymn that should be a believer’s anthem in this evil world we live in. It’s lyrics declare…

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness
I dare not trust the sweetest frame
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name

On Christ the solid rock I stand
All other ground is sinking sand
All other ground is sinking sand

When darkness veils his lovely face
I rest on His unchanging grace
In every high and stormy gale
My anchor holds within the veil

His oath, his covenant, his blood
Supports me in the ‘whelming flood
When all around my soul gives way
He then is all my hope and stay

On Christ the solid rock I stand
All other ground is sinking sand
All other ground is sinking sand

It’s difficult not to see all of the prevailing evil around us and not wonder what God is doing or when He will intervene. Yet, Romans 5:3-5 (NLT) encourages us…We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. [4] And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. [5] And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

Reading verse 4 again highlights a reason the Lord allows us to run into problems and trials, faith development…

• Develop Endurance
• Develop Character
• Strengthen confident Hope

It occurs to me that most of us pray for God’s deliverance from our problems and trials, but His answer may be development.

The example the Holy Spirit gave me is the familiar story of Lazarus being raised from the dead. Recall, John 11:3-6 (NLT) testifies…So the two sisters sent a message to Jesus telling him, “Lord, your dear friend is very sick.” [4] But when Jesus heard about it he said, “Lazarus’s sickness will not end in death. No, it happened for the glory of God so that the Son of God will receive glory from this.” [5] So although Jesus loved Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, [6] he stayed where he was for the next two days.

This shows us that although God knows and cares about our situations, He doesn’t always immediately show up when we call Him. That’s a hard pill to swallow, but it’s true nonetheless.

The Holy Spirit buffed that Spiritual GEM with another that must be seen in context to Jesus’ delayed response. John 11:14-15 (NLT) says…So he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. [15] And for your sakes, I’m glad I wasn’t there, for now you will really believe. Come, let’s go see him.”

Do you see the GEM glistening in verse 15? I’m glad I wasn’t there, for now you will really believe.

That reminds me of Andrae Crouch’s Through It All lyrics…

[Verse 1]
I’ve had many tears and sorrows
I’ve had questions for tomorrow
There’s been times I didn’t know right from wrong
But in every situation
God gave me blessed consolation
That my trials came to only make me strong

[Verse 2]
I’ve been to lots of places
I’ve seen a lot of faces
But there were times that I felt so all alone
But in my lonely hours
Yes, those precious lonely hours
Jesus lets me know that I was His own
That’s the reason I say

[Chorus]
Through it all
Mm, Through it all
I’ve learned to trust in Jesus
I’ve learned to trust in God
Let me tell you that

Through it all, oh
Through it all
I’ve learned to depend upon His Word

[Verse 3]
So I thank God for the mountains
And I thank Him for the valleys
And I thank Him for the storms He’s brought me through
For if I’d ever had a problem
I’d never know that God could solve them
I’d never know what faith in God could do
That’s the reason I say that

[Chorus]
Through it all
Mm, Through it all
I’ve learned to trust in Jesus
I’ve learned to trust in God
Let me tell you that

Through it all, oh
Through it all
I’ve learned to depend upon His Word

Sometimes the Lord will let us go through the fire to take our faith higher. Like my one of my favorite verses says…

Blessed Assurance, Jesus is mine
He’s been my fourth man in the fire, time after time

I remember my beloved friend Gregory telling me a preacher said, stop asking God to get out of what He’s trying to step into. The message was about Paul and Silas’ praise party in prison.

Just in case you don’t recall, Acts of the Apostles 16:25-30 (NLT) shares…Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. [26] Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off! [27] The jailer woke up to see the prison doors wide open. He assumed the prisoners had escaped, so he drew his sword to kill himself. [28] But Paul shouted to him, “Stop! Don’t kill yourself! We are all here!” [29] The jailer called for lights and ran to the dungeon and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. [30] Then he brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

You see while we want God to deliver us, He wants to save others. 😱

Thus, the Lord may choose to develop rather than deliver us for the benefit of others.

Quickly, when I think of God developing my endurance, I hear Milton Brunson’s choir singing…

The race is not given, to the swift nor to the strong,
But to the one that endures, until the end,
They’ll be problems,
And sometimes you walk alone, but I know, that I know that I know,
It will work out, yes it will for the good of them

Choir: For the good of them,
Lead: For the good of them.
Choir: For the good, of them
Lead: Who loves, the, Lord

That conjures up everyone’s favorite coping verse, Romans 8:28 (NLT)…And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

However, did you realize the purpose referred to is explained in the very next verse? Romans 8:29 (NLT) explains…For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them TO BECOME LIKE HIS SON, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.

That leads me to Christ’s endurance development key found in Hebrews 12:2-3 (NLT)…We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. BECAUSE OF THE JOY AWAITING HIM, HE ENDURED the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. [3] Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up.

Jesus was endured temporary pain for eternal gain. That’s why James 1:2 (NLT) tells us…Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.

James 1:3-4 (NLT) further explains…For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. [4] So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

Today, let the Lord develop your endurance so that you can truly have a blessed assurance, that Jesus is mine!

We also highlighted the Lord developing our character. The Holy Spirit reminded me that 1 Peter 1:7 (NLT) explains…These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.

It’s hard to accept, but sometimes the Lord will lead us into test and trials. Remember what God told Satan regarding Job? Job 1:8 (NLT) shares…Then the LORD asked Satan, “Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth. He is blameless—a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil.”

And Matthew 4:1 (NLT) admits…Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil.

Let’s be clear, God doesn’t tempt, but He will attempt to reveal and develop our true faith in Him. You see God knows our true character, even when we don’t. Like Marvin Sapp sings…

He saw the best in me
When everyone else around
Could only see the worst in me

When you don’t see your deliverance, look for His character development and commit to responding like the Hebrew Boys in Daniel 3:17-18 (NLT)…If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. [18] But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.”

Sometimes God wants to develop our ‘even if’ character. Like Mercy Me lyrically testifies…

They say sometimes you win some
Sometimes you lose some
And right now, right now I’m losing bad
I’ve stood on this stage night after night
Reminding the broken it’ll be alright
But right now, oh right now I just can’t

It’s easy to sing
When there’s nothing to bring me down
But what will I say
When I’m held to the flame
Like I am right now

I know You’re able and I know You can
Save through the fire with Your mighty hand
But even if You don’t
My hope is You alone

Sometimes God is develops our ‘even if’ and ‘not my but thy’ character by not immediately delivering us from the problems and trials we run into. Focus on passing the test He’s taking you through to prove what He means to you.

Lastly we highlighted the Lord strengthening our confident Hope of salvation. Simply said, that means although we may not know when, we know God will save us from our situation. Whether in glory or as another page in our story, God will save us.

The Holy Spirit said to let the Psalmist close us out with this confirmation…

Psalms 121:1-8 (NLT)…I look up to the mountains— does my help come from there? [2] My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth! [3] He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber. [4] Indeed, he who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps. [5] The Lord himself watches over you! The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade. [6] The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon at night. [7] The Lord keeps you from all harm and watches over your life. [8] The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever.

As I read that I hear the late Psalmist Richard Smallwood bearing witness…

Lord, I will lift
Mine eyes to the hills
Knowing my help
Is coming from You
Your peace you give me
In time of the storm

You are the source of my strength
You are the strength of my life
I lift my hands in total praise to You

I also hear him lyrically pleading in today’s song on the LORD’s behalf.

Bonus ending, the Holy Spirit reminded me that Cody Carnes encourages us to remember in the midst of these problematic and turbulent times…

Christ is my firm foundation
The rock on which I stand
When everything around me is shaken
I’ve never been more glad
That I put my faith in Jesus
‘Cause He’s never let me down
He’s faithful through generations
So why would He fail now?
He won’t

I’ve still got joy in chaos
I’ve got peace that makes no sense
So I won’t be going under
I’m not held by my own strength
‘Cause I’ve built my life on Jesus
He’s never let me down
He’s faithful in every season
So why would He fail now?

He won’t
He won’t
He won’t fail
He won’t fail

Put ALL of your hope in the LORD, He’s the only one who can be trusted with it!

Today’s song is…
Trust Me

Blessings 4HG (1 Corinthians 10:31)