January 2016 Words of Life (Week 3)

Words of Life

For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.    Matthew 11:30

          Iniquities, and not righteousness, bring forth afflictions (Psalm 107:17).  God never intended for us to sin and commit iniquities.  Psalm 38:4 says that our iniquities are like a heavy burden and are too heavy for us.  According to Jesus in Matthew 11:30, He never wanted us to carry those heavy burdens.  Not only are iniquities heavy burdens, they entrap and entangle us too (Proverbs 5:22) God wants to bless us, not entrap and entangle us.  However, we must realize that our iniquities separate us from God (Isaiah 59:2) which removes His protection and blessings from us (Jeremiah 5:25). There is hope, because we serve a loving God.  If we truly repent, the Bible says that He will pardon all of our iniquities (Jeremiah 33:8 & Psalm 103:3).  To pardon means that He releases us from the consequences of our iniquities.  Praise God!

          So if iniquities bring affliction what about Hebrews 5:8 which says of Jesus, “though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.”  Jesus was obedient well before His death on the cross.  So what suffering is this talking about?  The evil in the world that will come against us as we choose to follow God.  It is opposition or challenges.  We can be at peace knowing that God will not allow challenges that we cannot handle (1 Corinthians 10:13).  Think of it this way.  Say you have a star athlete, we will call him the righteous one.  The opposing team is going to double team this player in an attempt to stop him.  Because the star athlete has excelled, he will face more opposition.  This analogy is applicable to your Christian walk in the world and could end 2 ways; you can give up and let the enemy win or you can let God fight His battle by trusting Him (2 Chronicles 20:15).   Righteousness may bring opposition/challenges, but challenges are really opportunities for God’s light to shine through you.  View your opposition as opportunities for God. Seek God and He will show you what to do that will bring Him the glory (Psalm 50:15).

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