What Do You Define As A Blessing?

Which "tract" would you rather receive? Which is most true to your experience?:

1.
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God has seen you struggling (with something), God says it's over. A blessing is coming your way.

or

2.
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Corrective Tract for the Prosperity Gospel:



Mark 8:34-36:
If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the
gospel’s will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?
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If you are a professing Christian, what do you do with your personal sufferings, struggles, and needs? Are we as Christians remembering on a daily basis that Jesus promised suffering in this life? However, He also promised never to leave us or forsake us, that He has sent the Holy Spirit to empower us to trust Him each and every day...no matter what our circumstances may be. He also promised that He will return. Life is not about what we gain while on the earth, about being secure, or obtaining peace...

Jesus said in John 17:3, "And this is eternal life, that they know you (God the Father) the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent."

The point of existence is to know and possess the person of Jesus Christ. Are you suffering...in any degree?...Do not lose heart. Jesus is found in suffering. A theologian once said, "Needs are my best riches, for I have these supplied by Christ. There is no sweeter fellowship with Christ than to bring our wounds and our sores to Him. Every day we may see some new thing in Christ. His love has neither brim nor bottom. I find that our needs qualify us for Christ."

Let us not fall into the temptation of thinking the same way our American culture does. Jesus does not promise health, wealth, and prosperity...As John Piper says, "He promises to give us Himself so that we do not need health, wealth, and prosperity in order to be happy, but can have so much invincible joy in who He is, that we can give up health, wealth, and prosperity in the sacrifices of love if God so calls."

Christian, daily run to Jesus and cling to Him. Let your suffering, struggles, and your needs draw you to His side...that is where you want to be.

If you're not a Christian, what are you doing with your personal sufferings, struggles, and needs?
You may say that you don't believe all this is true: that Jesus Christ came to the world to save sinners and that He even uses your junk to redeem you, that a person who claims to be God could actually satisfy all your needs and desires...but don't you wish it was?

Or are you (and I) just waiting on a "blessing" to come our way?

Grace and peace to you today!