DIS OR EN?
Monday, July 16, 2018
Exodus [GW]
6:6-9 "Tell the Israelites, 'I am the LORD. I will bring you out from
under the oppression of the Egyptians, and I will free you from slavery. I will
rescue you with my powerful arm and with mighty acts of judgment. Then I will
make you my people, and I will be your God. You will know that I am the LORD
your God, who brought you out from under the forced labor of the Egyptians. I
will bring you to the land I solemnly swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and
Jacob. I will give it to you as your own possession. I am the LORD.'"
Moses reported this to the Israelites. But they would not listen to him because
they were so discouraged by their back-breaking work.
Psalm 42:5-6a Why
are you discouraged, my soul? Why are you so restless? Put your hope in God,
because I will still praise him. He is my savior and my God. My soul is
discouraged. That is why I will remember you [Jehovah God] …
The GW
translation of Scripture shows “discouragement” in *26 verses, 21 in OT, 5 in
NT.
No argument, people
do get discouraged. Some individuals and groups plod in life and die
discouraged. Discouragement is in my past, but became classroom history and useful
tool. How so?
What is
discouragement?
Digging into the
word I understand discouragement meaning away/apart from active/solid courage/valor/daring.
Encouragement is precisely the opposite; with active/solid courage/valor/daring.
As result of personal
experience, observation, and Bible study and contemplation I see discouragement
or encouragement as commonly being in direct proportion to our standards; my
expectations of ought-to-have and my interpretation of success.
Digging into the
Word, I see that for the follower of Christ the choice of personal standpoint is
in inseparable proportion to faith; the measure of trust in self/others/this
world as opposed to blessed assurance via reliance on God in diverse
circumstances pleasing or punishing.
This attitude and
exercise is also directly connected to our authentically praying “Thy will be
done on earth as in heaven.” Earth being the abode of person, home, neighborhood,
workplace, nations . . . and assembled or disassembled Christian brethren.
Let us never
forget that “The following is written, "I believed; therefore, I
spoke." We have that same spirit of faith. We also believe; therefore, we
also speak. We know that the one who brought the Lord Jesus back to life will
also bring us back to life through Jesus. He will present us to God together
with you. All this is for your sake so that, as God's kindness overflows in the
lives of many people, it will produce even more thanksgiving to the glory of
God. That is why we are not discouraged. Though outwardly we are wearing out,
inwardly we are renewed day by day. Our suffering is light and temporary and is
producing for us an eternal glory that is greater than anything we can imagine.
We don't look for things that can be seen but for things that can't be seen.
Things that can be seen are only temporary. But things that can't be seen last
forever.” (2Cor.4:13-18)
EBB4
*As is my study habit I read and pondered all in context.
I encourage you to today join me in this practice. Ex.6:9; Num.32:9; Deut.1:28;
Jos.14:8; 1Sa.17:32; 2Kin.19:26; 2Chr.15:7; Ez.4:4; Job 22:29; 23:16;
Ps.42:5-6, 11; 43:5; Is.37:27; 42:4; 51:7; 54:4; Lam.3:20; Ez.13:22; Dan.11:30;
2Cor.4:1; 4:16; Eph.3:13; Col.3:21; 1Thes.5:14
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