Devotionals

As a Christian, I often encounter circumstances and situations I don't understand. For instance, why do bad things happen to good people? Why do godless marriages last when Christian marriages fail? Why do good Christian people seem to go astray? Most of all, why does God love us in spite of it all?

I'm thankful for God's Word that reminds me of the answer to all of these questions.

why do bad things happen to good people? I firmly believe that bad things to don happen to God’s people. “Oh, no,” you say, “that’s just not true. You don’t know what I’ve been through in the last year. I’ve lost everything. Don’t tell me bad things don’t happen to God’s people.”  I understand what you’re saying, but we have a different understanding of God’s basic promise in Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

I do believe that God’s people can be in bad circumstances. I don’t think even one Israelite felt that slavery in Egypt was a good place to be. But I do undertand that years of slavery allowed them to come out of Egypt much stronger.  And I understand that God used that time to protect them from greater harm. Could they see it? Probably not. The circumstances were bad, but it was in their best interest in the long run. Same thing happened when Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery. He even said years later, “But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass , as it is this day, to save much people alive.” What looks bad, trusted in God’s hands, will work out for your good. Joseph saw it as a good thing, but even that good circumstance was the beginning of the slavery that would last for generations to come.

Why do godless marriages last when Christian marriages fail? We have an enemy, and he seeks to destroy the things of God. Our enemy is not particularly intersted in godless marriages. They are no threat to him, and many of them will fail on their own. The ones that do last will not bring glory to God, so why would the devil waste his time fighting against that marriage? But the union of two people who love God will bring glory to His name, and therefore, it becomes a target for our enemy. If Satan can bring down a marriage AND a ministry with one stone, he wins two victories in one battle. Christians, your marriage faces an enemy that worldly marriages do not face, plus we have to fight all of the same battles they do. Don’t make the mistake of believing that a marriage built on Christ is secure; it is a spiritual battlefield, and if you don’t fight for it daily, you will lose.

Why do good Christian people seem to go astray? Again, we have an enemy that the world doesn’t have. I’ve seen godless people living godless lives struggle with circumstances and situations, and it occurs to me that they’ve never even faced a true spiritual battle. As Christians, we battle the same circumstances and situations, and though the world may find comfort in alcohol, drugs or illicit behavior, we deal with those same struggles plus the temptation to deal with them in a way that will honor Christ. Many avenues of temptation open up before us daily. It’s a whole new world out there. Temptations come at us through television, internet, text messages. There’s almost no escaping their attack. Discontent and a lack of understanding of God’s love for us lead us down one of those roads, and before we know it, we’ve not just drifted off the narrow road, but we’re headed in a completely different direction!

But the final question, I guess I’ll never understand. Why does God love us in spite of it all? Why, when we’re so wretched and vile? Why, when it cost Him His only begotten Son? Why, when we still give in to the temptations of this old world? Why, when we betray and reject Him daily? Why does He still say, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden , and I will give you rest .” (Matthew 11:28). Why does He still cry, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34)

I guess Andre Crouch said it best: “I don’t know why Jesus loved me. I don’t know why He cared. I don’t know why He ever sacrificed His life, Oh but I’m glad, so glad He did!”

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• Tags: faith, strength, understand

• Posted by: Karen Tinsley Nelson