Song of Solomon 8:7 – Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it.
THEME OF THE DAY: NO MATTER HOW HARD OR LONG. The Lord Jesus said it would be so – “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). The Apostle Paul also reminds us of their inevitability – “When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:21-22). And James would equally weigh-in with the truth of living as a follower of Christ in this fallen world – “Count it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you meet trials of various kinds” (James 1:2).
Tribulations and trials are part of the Christian life; a huge part. They will come. They are necessary. They cannot be avoided or altered. They have very good purposes in the lives of God’s children. But before we delve into today’s theme, we need to do some soul-searching. If we are finding life fairly manageable with trials not very intense or easily handled on our own, be concerned. If the trials we are encountering are simply inconveniences that unsaved people go through in life, be very concerned. And if difficult times in life are met with a complaining spirit, not with a spiritual and eternal mindset looking for the spiritual growth from the difficulties be very very concerned. No growing disciple of Jesus Christ goes care-free and comfortable in this life. None. Every true follower of Christ will meet intense trials and increasing tribulations in a society hostile to Christians and Christianity. It is the Way of the Master. These tribulations and trials are designed to accomplish deep spiritual work in our hearts and minds. They come from the hand of our God who knows through suffering difficult and sometimes lengthy trials, the sinful dross of the world will be burnt out of us. The goal in trials and tribulations is two-fold. First, our development in Christ-likeness, Then to deepen our fellowship with the Lord that only comes from time in the fiery furnaces of trials and tribulations.
So in the furnace of affliction by way of trials and tribulations how do we handle them with a heart of submission and a mind looking for the spiritual lessons in them? It is found in today’s scripture. Think back to a tough period of trial we went through. Our hearts did indeed feel like we were drowning; like we would not endure. We even cried out “God, I cannot take this. Please, deliver me.” And what happened? We were sustained. We were kept. We were given strength to spiritually prosper. The source of strength? Not ourselves. That is one of the key purposes in God sending us trials and tribulations. He will do whatever it takes to get us to really believe we are totally helpless without Him. Trials not only purge worldliness, but also self-sufficiency. No, the source of strength carrying us through dark and hard times was the love of God. Go back and ready Solomon’s words. Now read my expanded paraphrase – “No matter how deep the trial you are in may feel, regardless of the force of the raging flood of suffering in your trial, neither can overcome and drown out God’s love which is strong enough to sustain you no matter how hard or long the trial may be.”
Brothers and sisters, we cannot avoid trials. Nor can we be deceived to think life as a Christian should be one of ease and comfort. The Lord promised us just the opposites so don’t despair. When those tough times come, and they will, run to His loving arms. Our Lord who sent the trial will be with us in the trial empowering us with His always sufficient love no matter the difficulty or length of the trial.
PRAYER: “Father, I so praise You that Your steadfast love never fails.”
QUOTE: “The love of God is strong enough to sustain us through any trial or sorrow” Song of Solomon 2:16 – My beloved is mine, and I am his…