Encouragement
One of the lasting memories I have of my grandfather (a.k.a. “Pa-Pa”) is something he would like to say occasionally in his sermons. He would use the term “stickability”. In his definition, it was the ability to stick with God. That’s an interesting idea when you think about it. We already know that God is always with us and sticks with us closer than a brother. (Proverbs 18:24) God holds up His end of the relationship. Do we?
Sticking with God requires a lot of work on our part. There are so many things that can hinder us in that effort. In my own life as a teenager, I found it was easy to stick with God after a week at a church youth camp but soon lose that zeal once I encountered life in our fallen world again. Too many times I let my world influence me and drain my zeal instead of influencing the world with my stand for Christ.
Joseph was one that had an incredible ability to stick with God. Even while he was forgotten in prison after being falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife, you never read where he complained about his situation. Instead, Joseph is a of faithfulness to God when things weren’t going his way. This is a lesson that many of us have yet to grasp. Nothing is more difficult than continuing to do right when we aren’t being treated right in return. Joseph remained faithful and while it looked for a while that God had forgotten Him, God knew exactly where Joseph was the whole time and was preparing the time for Joseph to enter the scene to carry out God’s plan for Israel. Unfortunately, we sometimes sabotage God’s future plans for us by being impatient and making our own plans instead of following the path God is leading us through. The path may not look like anything we had pictured for our lives. It may look discouraging or lonely but the advantage in sticking with God is that He KNOWS what is ahead. We can only see a short distance ahead although we often give into the temptation to veer off of the path or even turn around and go back the way we came. We will never know the plans until we press through and remain committed to God.
Sticking with God requires our focused determination. It isn’t something passive. We must make the decision to actively stick with God and His purpose for our lives. NOTHING should deter us from our decision to remain faithful to God.
STICK WITH GOD REGARDLESS OF FAMILY
This may be a big shock to you, but not all of your family will rejoice that you are a Christian. Some will become almost as determined to hinder you than to encourage you. Family ties won’t get you into heaven. A family name might get you some power and prestige in the world but the only name that will count is YOUR name on the Lamb’s Book of Life. It won’t be your mother or grandfather. If all of your family forsakes you, you still must stick with God. Let them talk and gossip about you. Their opinion of you isn’t important. Don’t let your life’s goal to be a constant effort to please your family. Guess what? You will never do it. You can do what you can but as the song says: “Though no one joins me, still I will follow. No turning back. No turning back.”
STICKING WITH GOD ISN’T ABOUT YOUR CHURCH
I have often heard the question: “When is God going to do something in our church?” Sadly we have become so conditioned to make our relationship with God dependent on what happens in our churches. I have written about this often but it bears repeating again. We have this attitude completely reversed -- when God is doing something in our lives then it will reflect in our church. We only spend maybe 2-4 hours in church at the least. You need more than a church experience to get you through the other 164 hours in the week. Even if your church were to disband and close its doors, God will still be real.
STICKING WITH GOD WILL MAKE YOU A TARGET FOR THE ENEMY
The more you stick with God, the more plans the enemy has for you. Yes, I know it’s depressing to think about this. If you aren’t doing anything right then the enemy wouldn’t be bothering you would he? We want to think of the Christian life as an easy rocking chair experience until Jesus comes but the truth is that it’s like a Marine Corps Boot Camp. You will be challenged. You will be tested. As long as you and I are living in this world, it will be a constant battle in spiritual warfare. Whatever gives you problems will be the very that the enemy will continue to use against you. If you get weary in the battle and feel like giving up, just remember that there isn’t anywhere else to go.
STICKING WITH GOD ISN’T ABOUT DOING, IT’S ABOUT KNOWING
I have a problem with people that are only interested in what I can do for them. I would rather people appreciate me for me. Not what I can do for them. God is the same way. He wants a relationship with you. Yes, He’s certainly delighted in the things you do and the sacrifice you make for Him but all He wants is you. You and I can’t possibly do enough to earn His love anyway.
Stick with God no matter what. It will be worth it. Just think about all the pain and hurt you’ve endured already. Paul called these things “light affliction” (2 Corinthians 4:17) Compared against the backdrop of heaven, our afflictions are light. Of course, it is most difficult for us to understand this now. We won’t have the benefit of that understanding until this life is over. God loves you and me and He does hear every prayer. If He knows the seemingly insignificant details of a sparrow falling to the ground or how many hairs we have on our head, (Luke 12:7) it is without question that He is in tune to our heart and our conversations with Him.
Stick with God….you’ll be glad you did!
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