All tagged difficult

Simplicity and Trust

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Simple Faith

How simple and trusting is our faith? My devotional reading this morning was focused on the simplicity of faith, and as I studied the truth of this concept I uncovered the depth of my similar belief. Yet, I began to see how I often followed the mantra I hear in commercials on television as they sing... "I want it now!" (NFL), or "It's mine!" (Diet Coke), or perhaps "I want it all!" (Dr. Pepper). I could see that I was applying this urgency to my relationship with the Lord, and wanted every truth in a scripture, every revelation of God, instantly... now!

Entering by the Narrow Gate of Faith

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Narrow Gate

In preparing for his final days, Paul wrote to Timothy and gave him instructions and warnings regarding the preaching and teaching of the gospel. Amongst these warnings was one that we find coming to fruition today; he warned him about not yielding to the temptation to water down the message to suit the whims and passions of the people. He warned that many would wander into myths. As we seek out our own salvation do we look for the narrow gate of true faith, or the earthly gate of myth that is thrown wide? Fewer will enter by the narrow gate and find eternal life, while a horde will rush the convenient earthly gate that means nothing but death. Are we being deceived?

No lesson is learned without facing the problem

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Lessons of Faith

We face the greatest lessons of Christ, and our Heavenly Father in the hard, and tempting moments of our lives. We learn the commandments and how to obey them when we come face to face with the temptation to disobey them. A man in the desert alone is not tempted to commit adultery, just as a child who is given his fill of candy isn’t prone to steal it. It is only when David stood on his roof and saw Bathsheba that he was made to face his desire to commit adultery, and it is when a child stands penniless before the candy counter that the thought of stealing crosses his mind. What were, or are, the circumstances that have led each one of us to learn such hard lessons regarding one of God’s commandments?