Doing What is Difficult - 6/8/08am

Sometimes we are called on to do difficult things in the name of Christ. But we can look to the Bible and know that we are not alone in this, and that God has provided solutions and answers for us. He has provided examples to follow to help us do what is right, even when it is difficult.

I Corinthians 10:11-13 -Examples, not tempted beyond ability, a way out

Abraham: Doing what is difficult through trust
Genesis 12:1-9 -Abraham goes when and where God tells him
Genesis 22:1-14 -Abraham is willing to sacrifice Isaac as the Lord commands
Hebrews 11:8-19 -Abraham’s faith (trust) is accredited to him as righteousness
Looking through Abraham’s life, we see time after time when he trusted God enough to do difficult things.

Joseph: Doing what is difficult through focus
Genesis 39 -Joseph and Potipher’s wife
Joseph was tempted multiple times, yet he did what was right because he saw it as a sin against God. His focus was on God, and what the Lord wanted.

Esther: Doing what is difficult through bravery
Esther 3:8-11 -Haman’s plot to destroy the Jews
Esther 4:1-5:8 -Esther goes to the king to make a request
Esther 7:1-6 -Esther reveals Haman’s plot to the king
Knowing that she faced possible death, she was willing to go before the king. Her bravery and willingness to sacrifice her life, if necessary, saved her people.

Paul: Doing what is difficult through humility
Acts 26:9-10 -Paul casts vote against Christians in the Sanhedrin
John 11:45-53 -Sanhedrin (probably including Paul) decides to kill Christ
Acts 9:1-19 -Paul hears Christ and converts
Paul had to have the humility to recognize that what he had been doing was in opposition to God, and had to humble himself to reverse his stance and life’s work.

Christ: Doing what is difficult through love
Luke 22:39-46 -Christ is distressed and prays
I John 3:16 -Christ laid down His life out of love
Jesus was not looking forward to the crucifixion. Yet He knew it must be done. It was His love for us that caused Him to do so. Do we love each other to that point?

Are we willing to use these traits, and the traits shown by other examples, to do what is difficult in service to God? Are we willing to submit ourselves to His will in humility, to serve with love, put our trust in the Lord, bravely stand against sin, and remain focused on Christ?