All authority was created through and for Him:
“For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.” Colossians 1:16

The Bible tells us over and over we are to be peacemakers:
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” Matthew 5:9
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” Romans 12:18
“Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.” James 3:18
In most instances, obeying the law would be keeping peace.

But sometimes keeping the law of the government is against God. Acts 4 tells of such an incidence:
“Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! 20 As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” Acts 4:18-20
Peter and John had to teach about Jesus, as do we.

Those who know Jesus understand justice:
“The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments, 16 for, “Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” (Isaiah 40:13) But we have the mind of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 2:15-16

The only way we can get true justice is from the Lord:
“Many seek an audience with a ruler, but it is from the LORD that one gets justice.” Proverbs 29:26
“Evildoers do not understand what is right, but those who seek the Lord understand it fully.” Proverbs 28:5

Jesus implied it was right to pay taxes, even though everything really belongs to God:
“Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. 16 They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are. 17 Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not?”
18 But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? 19 Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, 20 and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?”
21 “Caesar’s,” they replied.
Then he said to them, “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” Matthew 22:15-21 (read Mark 12:13-17 Luke 20:20-25).
We are keeping peace and earning the respect of outsiders:
“Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, 12 so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.” 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12

At times, we do not need to obey the law, but we are wise to do so. Jesus did not have to pay taxes, but He did so as to not “cause offense”. Some battles are not worth fighting:
“After Jesus and his disciples arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma temple tax came to Peter and asked, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax?”
“Yes, he does,” he replied.
When Peter came into the house, Jesus was the first to speak. “What do you think, Simon?” he asked. “From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes—from their own children or from others?”
26 “From others,” Peter answered.
“Then the children are exempt,” Jesus said to him. 27 “But so that we may not cause offense, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours.” Matthew 27:24-27

Our son-in-law asked a lawyer, ‘Is it lawful for the government to make all these restrictions concerning the coronavirus”.
The lawyer said, “no”.
Our son-in-law asked, “What can we do?”
The lawyer said, “Nothing, there are too many liberal judges. Canada is like Germany was is 1939.” Nineteen-thirty-nine was when Hitler was controlling the country. He was beginning to make evil laws against God and all humanity.

Right now, we are not allowed to sing in church. God commands us to worship Him. Someday we will have to stand up for what we believe and suffer the consequences. Some battles are not worth fighting. The problem is that there is disagreement as to what point we say, “Enough is enough.” We need to pray for Christians who are already suffering the consequences of injustice.

“Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist…” Ephesians 6:14
Our responsibility is to learn the truth, pray that the truth would be known and spread the truth, not just the truth about the gospel, but about political situations – the devil is busy spreading lies. We need to pray for and support those are fighting for what is right and just.
We need to live righteously: “…with the breastplate of righteousness in place,” Ephesians 6:14
take every opportunity to spread the gospel in word and deed with love:
“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5:15-16
to rely on Jesus and have faith in what He says:
“…take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.” Ephesians 6:16
to apply the advantages of being saved:
“My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words. 21 Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; 22 for they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body. 23 Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Proverbs 4:20-23
Ask and search for wisdom and take every thought captive to receive the mind of Christ:
“for, “Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 2:16
Memorize, study and speak the Word:
“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12
and to pray “without ceasing” 1 Thessalonians 5:17.
We should always pray for everyone, especially for the family of God:
“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.” Ephesians 6:18
Our prayers are powerful:
“The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” James 5:16
If we pray and repent our nation will be saved:
“if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 2 Corinthians 7:14
We should be praying for our government leaders for the good of all:
“ I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” 1 Timothy 2:1-4
We should pray for and support our leaders. We should obey them when their laws do not go against God. We should ask for wisdom and discernment for them. We should pray for wisdom when we have the opportunity to choose our leaders.

Mark records the same incident leaving out that Peter’s revelation Jesus was the Messiah, was from the Holy Spirt:
“Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, “Who do people say I am?”
28 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.”
29 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.”
30 Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him.
31 He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. 32 He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33 But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!” he said. “You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” Mark 8:27-33

Matthew especially makes it clear that we can hear from the Holy Spirit and then from Satan in the next moment. Peter obviously thought both his statements were his own conclusions. However, we, with the explanation of Jesus, can understand that this was not accurate. Peter’s statements came from completely opposite sources.

How does this apply to us?
First, we must realize that no one person is right all the time. If we know a person is led by God, we can know that they are more apt to be wise in what they say and do. But not always. We should pray and seek truth for ourselves. We can know that a person who does and speaks evil is usually wrong and evil in what they say. But even the devil speaks the truth when it suits his purpose. It is important to know when truth ends and lies begin, or even the premise could be wrong. It is easy to be deceived; we have a tendency to believe what we hear.

Second, we must realize that we do not always speak and know the truth.  “Blessed are the poor in spirit…” Matthew 5:3 means that those who are blessed are those who rely on Jesus because they know they could easily make a mistake. We all make many mistakes, but God can use those mistakes to make us wiser – “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28. We should learn from other’s mistakes and not make the same mistake over and over. We should not condemn ourselves when we do make a mistake or even sin. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9
Another thing we can do is ask forgiveness for what do not realize we are doing wrong:
“Who can discern his errors? Forgive my hidden faults.” Psalm 19:12

All truth and wisdom come from God and all deception and evil come from Satan. We should pray that God will give us discernment. Discernment is extremely important so we will not deceive ourselves or those who hear see and hear us.

The most important thing we can do to acquire discernment is to know God. Paul prays for believers:
“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ – to the glory and praise of God.” Philippians 1:9-11

“God is love”:
“…God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sin.” 1 John 4:8-10
“…God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.” 1 John 4:16
God’s love is a sacrificial love based on what is good for the other person. When our actions and speech are based on wanting what is best for others, we are showing God’s love.

When Paul prays that our “love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight” he is praying that we become more and more like Jesus who is “in very nature God…” Philippians 2:6

Having discernment can often be based on what we know from the Bible is God’s will, but sometimes we don’t understood. When Peter rebuked Jesus, his motives were possibly because of his love for Jesus. But he was wrong in his rebuke. Peter going against what Jesus says would be wrong even if it didn’t make sense. Peter would come to realize that Jesus is always right when he fully understood who Jesus is. We can learn from Peter’s mistake that Jesus is always right.

We can know what Jesus thinks about every situation by asking for His wisdom which He promises to give:
“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.” James 1:5-8
The requirements for receiving wisdom is to believe in Jesus and believe what He says when He gives us wisdom.

Sometimes God’s will is not clear, Because God’s word is alive, it can have new meaning at a particular moment. For instance, I used to give milk from our cow to other Christians. Jim would take the jars to people on the way to work. I was complaining to God that sometimes we wouldn’t get back our jars (maybe they didn’t appreciate the milk), or that people were spending their money foolishly. I knew I shouldn’t judge how others spent money, but it was hard not to when I was giving them something. The Lord said to me, “The integrity of the upright will guide them…” Proverbs 11:3. The thought came to me to charge for my milk. I decided to charge a few cents more than the store (although they soon raised their price) because I considered my milk more valuable. When I started doing this our cow stopped producing as much milk. Our neighbor bought a little milk (I could deliver it) and one man bought the rest (Jim didn’t have to go out of his way much).

Jim drove the church bus to pick up people for church and for youth trips into the city for conferences, roller skating, etc. Another church member, a mechanic, kept the bus repaired, and Jim paid for gas. Sometime later Jim told me that he couldn’t afford the gas for the bus if it weren’t for the money we made from selling milk. I was thankful that I was doing God’s will; it validated what God had said to me.

Several times God has spoken to me directly from His word. Many times I know wisdom from people’s experiences that He relates in the Bible. Sometimes I know wisdom from the advice of another person.

Knowing God is a growing experience. Why would Paul pray, “that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight” if God expected us to already know everything?

We can think God’s thoughts or speak God’s words one minute and think Satan’s thoughts or speak Satan’s words the next minute. We need grace for ourselves and others. We should also have the discernment and wisdom to know the difference between God’s voice and Satan’s:
“My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to a man’s whole body. Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” Proverbs 4:20-23

We are not to judge or “look down on your brother (fellow Christian)” God will judge everyone. We are to do what we can to help others to serve God:
“…You, then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. It is written:
“‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.’” So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God. Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s way.” Romans 14:9-13

We should be compassionate, remembering that, except for God’s grace, we could be doing the same thing we see others doing:
  “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” Colossians 3:12-13
“Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.” 1 Thessalonians 5:15

It wasn’t important to the Apostle Paul how any human court judged him; he could not even trust his own judgment. Only God’s judgment mannered:
“I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me.” 1 Corinthians 4:3-4

Yet we are to judge ourselves according to God’s Word:
“But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment.” 1 Corinthians 11:31

We should try to obey the Lord:
“But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment. 32 When we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world.” 2 Corinthians 11:31-32

His discipline shows that He loves us:
“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, 6 because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as a son.” Proverbs 3:11-12 Hebrews 12:6-7

We should not compare ourselves with others:
“We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise.” 2 Corinthians 10:12

Some people are given the authority to judge. In the Old Testament, God asked His people, the Jews, to bring punishment:
“You must destroy all the peoples the Lord your God gives over to you. Do not look on them with pity and do not serve their gods, for that will be a snare to you.” Deuteronomy 7:16

Today, He appoints “the one in authority” to bring judgment:
“For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.” Romans 13:4-5 (1 Peter 2:13-14)

We should obey the authority God has chosen. The only time we should not is when their commands goes against God’s commands:
“Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him?…” Acts 4:18-19

We should correct and rebuke one another in accordance with God’s Word:
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,” 1 Timothy 3:16

Especially pastors are given the authority to reprove or rebuke; Paul commands Timothy and Titus to correct and rebuke – they are even told how:
“Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.” 2 Timothy 4:2
“These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.” Titus:2:15

We can know whether we should obey the commands of the authorities, whether we should correct or rebuke someone or if we should repent ourselves – we have the “mind of Christ”:
“for, “Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ,” 1 Corinthians 2:16 Isaiah 40:13

We must judge or discern correctly. We can know the mind of Christ because we can ask for wisdom from God:
“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be
given to you.” James 1:5

We need to protect ourselves and others against the cruelty of others, but our actions should not be vengeful:.
“Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.” Romans 12:19

Only God can make a correct judgment:
“For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” Matthew 23:13 Luke 14:11, 18:14
“For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.” 2 Corinthians 10:18

Although we are not to judge hypocritically, we must judge or discern. We are warned not to follow “strange teaching” – we have to know God and His will so we stand for truth:
“Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings…” Hebrews 13:9

We are to know “sound doctrine” and be able to speak against the sin of lawless people:
“We also know that the law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, 10 for the sexually immoral, for those practicing homosexuality, for slave traders and liars and perjurers—and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine 11 that conforms to the gospel concerning the glory of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me.” 1 Timothy 1:9-11

Paul urged Timothy to “command certain people not to teach false doctrines”:
“As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer.” 1 Timothy 1:3

We have to consistently live our lives and speak truth for our own good and the good of others:
“Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.” 1 Timothy 4:16

Paul tells Titus to not only “encourage others by sound doctrine” but to “refute those who oppose it”:
“He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.” Titus 1:9

The best way to expose the false is to teach the truth:
“You, however, must teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine.” Titus 2:1

We must discern what “the fruitless deeds of darkness” are so can “expose them”:
“Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.” Ephesians 5:11

After two warnings, a “divisive person” in someone to avoid. There warnings are for their good and the god of others, giving them a chance to change:
“Warn a divisive person once, and then warn them a second time. After that, have nothing to do with them.” Titus 3:10

A “divisive person” causes division, not unity:
“How good and pleasant it is when God’s people dwell together in unity!” Psalm 133:1

A “divisive person” is often concerned with “godless myths and old wives’ tales”:
“Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly.” 1 Timothy 4:7

A “divisive person” often has the characteristics described in the following verse:
“If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, 4 they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions 5 and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.” 1 Timothy 6:3-5
Everyone makes the decision of how to spend their time and money. It is our duty to decide which charity to whom we give.

We must be prepared for a time when the vast majority of people will be against Jesus and His teachings:
“For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.” 2 Timothy 4:3

Many people we should have nothing to do with because of their characteristics:
“But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.” 2 Timothy 3:1-5

There are some people who we should not bother to tell about Jesus. Jesus expects us to have the wisdom to tell who those people are:
“Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.” Matthew 7:6

How can we know someone will not appreciate the truth unless we judge or discern? The best way is to ask Jesus. I knew a pastor’s wife who said that she always spoke to people about the Lord unless the Lord told her not to.

It is important who we choose as our friends. We do not want our character corrupted:
“Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” 1 Corinthians 15:33
We do not want to be led astray:
“The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.” Proverbs 12:26
We do not want to come to ruin:
“One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin…” Proverbs 18:24
We do not want to learn the ways of a hot-tempered person and get ourselves ensnared:
“Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person, do not associate with one easily angered, or you may learn their ways and get yourself ensnared.”  Proverbs 22:24-25

We should choose friends who are discerning and be open to just criticism:
“A rebuke impresses a discerning person more than a hundred lashes a fool.” Proverbs 17:10

Jesus wants us to know His heart and be His friends along with those who also believe:
“If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other.” John 15:7-17

We judge or discern all the time, especially ideas. We often judge people unfairly or hypocritically; our judgments are often based on our prejudices or misunderstanding. Our decisions should be based on the commands of Jesus – the Living Word:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning.“ John 1-2
All men are valuable because they were created in the image of God. They were created with a free will:
“Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” Genesis 1:26
Mankind chose with his free will to follow Satan (Genesis 3). In doing this mankind gave over his authority to rule the earth:
Satan is the cause of all evil – he was created with a free will and he chose to turn away from God, to worship himself, to cause others to worship him:
“You said in your heart, “I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly… I will make myself like the Most High.” Isaiah 14:13-14
“You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created till wickedness was found in you.” Ezekiel 28:15
Because Adam and Eve chose to listen to Satan, their children and all mankind is born with a sin nature:
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…” Romans 3:23
However, Jesus who is God and sinless, died to pay the penalty for our sins – mankind can be redeemed:
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” John 3:16-18
The decision to believe in or follow Jesus is the most important decision a person can make.
Everyone is equal and valuable to Jesus. But those who believe in Him become His children and will be in heaven with Him forever:
“He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” John 1:10-13
Jesus wants all men to be saved from sin and its consequences:
“…he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9

Our goal and judgments should be based on the goal and judgments of Jesus:
“…God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” 1 John 4:8-11
We need to treat everyone with respect, kindness and love, especially those who believe:
“Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” Galatians 6:10

Since “…God is love…” 1 John 4:8, 16, the fear of man is the opposite of love:
“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” 1 John 4:18
The fear of man has to do with the consequences of not living up to what people expect of us.

In his book Breaking Intimidation John Bevere talks about the fear of God – giving God the respect, praise and obedience He deserves. If we fear God, we won’t fear man – being anxious, avoiding rejection and confrontation.

The fear of the Lord is trusting in Him. It is putting hope in His unfailing love:
“But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,” Psalm 33:18
“the Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.” Psalm 147:11
“Let those who fear the Lord say: “His love endures forever.” Psalm 118:4
God delights in those who fear Him.

Those who fear the Lord are blessed forever. His righteousness is with their descendants:
“But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children” Psalm 103:17

He will keep at peace those who trust in Him:
“You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is steadfast because you trust in him.”

Evil is avoided for those who fear the Lord:
“Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for; through the fear of the Lord evil is avoided.” Proverbs 16:6
The advantages are endless for those who believe in Jesus. Their sins are blotted out, and they have the inheritance of a life forever with Jesus who loves them so much in a perfect heaven.

Fear of man is prevalent. The person who doesn’t believe in Jesus almost always is motivated by the fear of man. Even the person who does believe in Jesus is often motivated by the fear of man.

Following are a few biblical examples of people giving in to the fear of man:

King Herod locked John the Baptist up in prison because John had told him it was not lawful for have Herodias who had been his brother Phillip’s wife, yet Herod respected John and listened to him often.
On Herod’s birthday Salome, Herodias’ daughter, danced for him and pleased him so much he promised to give her whatever she asked for. She asked her mother what she should ask for, and Herodias told her to ask for the head of John the Baptist. Herod did not want to do this but because of his oath and his guests (fear of man), he gave her what she requested (Matthew 11:2-19 Mark 6:14-29).

Jesus’ disciple Peter is an example of a man who truly loved Jesus giving way to the fear of man. He denied that he knew Jesus three times when Jesus was falsely accused before being crucified. Peter feared that he, too, would be condemned. Thankfully, Peter came back to follow Jesus and did mighty things for God (Matthew 26-75 Mark 14:27-72 Luke 22:31-62 John 13:35-38 18:15-27). Jesus prayed for Peter (Luke 22:31-32) – how often does the great love of Jesus who intercedes for us, cause us to repent.
Peter was reinstated by Jesus and given a mission (John 21:15-21) (“….Feed my lambs.” verse 15 “…Take care of my sheep” verse 16 “…Feed my sheep” verse 17) He wrote two books of the Bible (1 & 2 Peter) showing he fulfilled that mission.

The example of Pilate shows the struggle between the conviction of God and the temptation of the devil – in this case, the fear of man:
“…Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee…during the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas…” Luke 3:1-2 when Jesus was crucified.

Jesus was brought before Pilate by the Jewish leaders because they didn’t have authority to kill Jesus (John 18:31):

Signs to Pilate that Jesus is God and signs that Pilate was responding:
1. Jesus told Pilate what He said about Himself was true. Pilate knew the Jews were expecting a Messiah (Matthew 27:22,  Luke 23:2).
Jesus answered when Pilate asked Him: “Are you the king of the Jews?” “You have said so,” Jesus replied. (Matthew 27:11 Mark 15:2 Luke 23:3).
Jesus went on to explain as recorded in John:
“Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
34 “Is that your own idea,” Jesus asked, “or did others talk to you about me?”
35 “Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “Your own people and chief priests handed you over to me. What is it you have done?”
36 Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.”
37 “You are a king, then!” said Pilate.
Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”
38 “What is truth?” …” John 18:33-38

2. Jesus didn’t respond as other men would have:
Jesus didn’t answer a single charge against Him: “to the great amazement of the governor” (Matthew 27:14 Mark 15:5). Pilate could see He was no ordinary man.

3. Pilate could see that there were supernatural elements:
“While Pilate was sitting on the judge’s seat, his wife sent him this message: “Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him.” Matthew 27:19 This from a reliable source – his own wife.
The Jewish leaders told Pilate that Jesus claimed to be the Son of God:
“As soon as the chief priests and their officials saw him, they shouted, “Crucify! Crucify!”
But Pilate answered, “You take him and crucify him. As for me, I find no basis for a charge against him.”
7 The Jewish leaders insisted, “We have a law, and according to that law he must die, because he claimed to be the Son of God.”
8 When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid, 9 and he went back inside the palace. “Where do you come from?” he asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer. 10 “Do you refuse to speak to me?” Pilate said. “Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?”
11 Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.”
12 From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free,..” John 19: 6-12

4. Pilate tried to get the crowd to accept another solution: “ So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you: Jesus Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah?” Matthew 27:17

5. Pilate “knew it was out of self-interest that they had handed Jesus over to him.” Matthew 27:18 Mark 15:9-10
He knew that Jesus was innocent, and that the Jews wanted Him killed for their own interests.

6. Pilate tried to convince the crowd that Jesus had done nothing wrong: “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate.” Matthew 27:23

7. Pilate tried to get rid of the responsibility; “he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!” Matthew 27:24

Signs that the devil was trying to get Pilate to have Jesus crucified and  Pilate responded:

1. He was influenced by an ungodly man of his status: “On hearing this, Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean. 7 When he learned that Jesus was under Herod’s (“…tetrarch of Galilee…Luke 3:1) jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time.
8 When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see him. From what he had heard about him, he hoped to see him perform a sign of some sort. 9 He plied him with many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer. 10 The chief priests and the teachers of the law were standing there, vehemently accusing him. 11 Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him. Dressing him in an elegant robe, they sent him back to Pilate. 12 That day Herod and Pilate became friends—before this they had been enemies.” Luke 23:6-12
Why did Pilate and Herod become friends? Herod, no doubt, strengthened Pilate’s unbelief:
“Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed.” Acts 4:27
Herod, Pilate, the Gentiles and the people of Israel were all guilty is Jesus crucifixion.

2. The powerful chief priests and elders persuaded the people whose rebellion could change Pilate’s decision:
“But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed.”
21 “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” asked the governor.
“Barabbas,” they answered.
22 “What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” Pilate asked.
They all answered, “Crucify him!”
They all answered, “Crucify him!”
23 “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate.
But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”
When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!”
25 All the people answered, “His blood is on us and on our children!”
26 Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.” Matthew 27:20-26

“But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas instead.
12 “What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews?” Pilate asked them.
13 “Crucify him!” they shouted.
14 “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate.
But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”
Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.” Mark 15:11-15

“Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people, 14 and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him. 15 Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death. 16 Therefore, I will punish him and then release him.”
18 But the whole crowd shouted, “Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!” 19 (Barabbas had been thrown into prison for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.)
20 Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again. 21 But they kept shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”
22 For the third time he spoke to them: “Why? What crime has this man committed? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore I will have him punished and then release him.
But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed. 24 So Pilate decided to grant their demand. 25 He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will.” Luke 23:13-25

“When Pilate heard this, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judge’s seat at a place known as the Stone Pavement (which in Aramaic is Gabbatha). 14 It was the day of Preparation of the Passover; it was about noon.
“Here is your king,” Pilate said to the Jews.
15 But they shouted, “Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!”
“Shall I crucify your king?” Pilate asked.
“We have no king but Caesar,” the chief priests answered.
16 Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified.” John 18:13-16
Pilate gave in, against his better judgment to the fear of man.

“The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go.” Acts 3:13
Pilate had decided to let Jesus go, but because he did not believe in Jesus as God, he gave in to Satan’s plan.

Satan thought he had won, but God through Jesus’ crucifixion had won the greatest battle of all time. He died in our place so we could live forever with Him.

The Jewish people were held responsible for the crucifixion of Jesus. They pronounced a curse on themselves:
“All the people answered, “His blood is on us and on our children!” Mark 15:25

Some day Jesus will come back and the remnant of the Jewish people will repent and glorify Jesus who will be their King forever:
“And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son.” Zechariah 12:10
“Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.” Isaiah 9:7

We do not want to be like  or Peter at the time he denied Jesus or Herod or Pilate. From these examples we can see how powerful and evil is the fear of man. We can fall captive to its subtle (or not so subtle) temptation easily. That is why we should pray as Jesus said we should, “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’ Matthew 6:13 The evil one is trying to lead us into temptation, and we need Jesus’ help to defeat him.

Sometimes people imply that the God of the Old Testament is not the God of the New Testament – that God changed. That is not true. Similarities between the Old Testament and the New Testament are more important than the differences.

“Both testaments reveal the same holy, merciful, and righteous God who condemns sin but desires to save sinners through an atoning sacrifice. In both testaments, God reveals Himself to us and shows us how we are to come to Him through faith (Genesis 15:6; Ephesians 2:8).” gotquestions.org

Both testaments are about Jesus. In fact, Jesus is the Word:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life… The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us…” John 1:1-14

“the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption to sonship; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of the Messiah, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen.” Romans 9:4-5

“And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.” Colossians 1:18

Following are a few examples of God saying the same thing in the OT as in the NT:

GOD DOES NOT CHANGE
OT
“God is not a man, that he should lie, nor the son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?” Numbers 23:19
NT
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Hebrews 13:8

THE WORD OF THE LORD ENDURES FOREVER
NT QUOTING OT
“For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. For, ‘All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord endures forever.’ Isaiah 40:6-8
And this is the word that was preached to you.” 1 Peter 1:23-26

DO NO ADD TO HIS WORD
OT
“Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.” Proverbs 30:5-6
NT
“I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.” Revelation 22:18-19

GOD OF WRATH
OT
“When such a person hears the words of this oath and they invoke a blessing on themselves, thinking, “I will be safe, even though I persist in going my own way,” they will bring disaster on the watered land as well as the dry. The Lord will never be willing to forgive them; his wrath and zeal will burn against them. All the curses written in this book will fall on them, and the Lord will blot out their names from under heaven. The Lord will single them out from all the tribes of Israel for disaster, according to all the curses of the covenant written in this Book of the Law.” Deuteronomy 29:19-21
NT
“Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.” Revelation 20:11-15
 “Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness… Romans 11:22

 SALVATION
OT
“I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes…” Job 19:25-27
“Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.  Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit.” Psalm 32:1-2
“But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you.” Psalm 130:4
NT
“…We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved…”
“Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.” Romans 4:7
“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9

 WHAT WE DO TO PLEASE GOD IS TO BELIEVE IN HIM
OT
“What shall I return to the Lord for all his goodness to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord.” Psalm 116:12-13
NT
“Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”
Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” John 6:28-29

 COMPLETE OBEDIENCE BRINGS ANSWER
OT
“If my people would only listen to me, if Israel would only follow my ways, how quickly I would subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes!” Psalm 81:13-14
NT
“And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete.” 2 Corinthians 10:6

 MEEK WILL INHERIT THE LAND
OT
“But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy peace and prosperity. Psalm 37:11
NT
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” Matthew 5:5

 GOD WILL JUDGE
OT
“Far be it from you to do such a thing—to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?” Genesis 18:25
“Let the trees of the forest sing, let them sing for joy before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth,” 1 Chronicles 16:33
“Can anyone teach knowledge to God, since he judges even the highest?” Job 21:22
“…God will bring into judgment both the righteous and the wicked, for there will be a time for every activity, a time to judge every deed.” Ecclesiastes 3:17
NT
“…For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat.” Romans 14:10
“Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially…” 1 Peter 1:17
“But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.” 1 Peter 4:5

 WICKED GOING INTO CAVES ON DAY OF WRATH
OT
“Go into the rocks, hide in the ground from the fearful presence of the Lord and the splendor of his majesty!…
People will flee to caves in the rocks and to holes in the ground from the fearful presence of the Lord and the splendor of his majesty, when he rises to shake the earth. In that day people will throw away to the moles and bats their idols of silver and idols of gold, which they made to worship. They will flee to caverns in the rocks and to the overhanging crags fro the fearful presence of the Lord and the splendor of his majesty, when he rises to shake the earth.” Isaiah 2:10-21
NT
“I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair,
the whole moon turned blood red, ¹³ and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind. The heavens receded like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place.
Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and everyone else, both slave and free, hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. They called to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can withstand it?” Revelation 6:12-17

 GRAPES TRAMPLED – JUDGEMENT
OT
“Come, trample the grapes, for the winepress is full and the vats overflow—so great is their wickedness!” Joel 3:13
NT
“Still another angel, who had charge of the fire, came from the altar and called in a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, “Take your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of grapes from the earth’s vine, because its grapes are ripe.” The angel swung his sickle on the earth, gathered its grapes and threw them into the great winepress of God’s wrath. They were trampled in the winepress outside the city, and blood flowed out of the press, rising as high as the horses’ bridles for a distance of 1,600 stadia.” Revelation 14:18-20

 SUN, MOOM, STARS
OT
“When I snuff you out, I will cover the heavens and darken their stars; I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon will not give its light. All the shining lights in the heavens I will darken over you; I will bring darkness over your land, declares the Sovereign Lord.” Ezekiel 32:7-8
“Before them the earth shakes, the heavens tremble, the sun and moon are darkened, and the stars no longer shine.” Joel 2:10
“The sun and moon will be darkened, and the stars no longer shine.” Joel 3:15
NT
“Immediately after the distress of those days “‘the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’” Matthew 24:29 Mark 13:24 Luke 21:25
“In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Acts 2:17-21 quoting Joel 2:28-32
“I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind. The heavens receded like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place.” Revelation 6:12-14

 JESUS NOT ABANDONED TO GRAVE
“I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest in hope,  because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, you will not let your holy one see decay.  You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.” Acts 2:25-28 quoting Psalm 16:8-11

 GOD THE FATHER TALKING TO JESUS
“The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” Acts 2:24-25 Psalm 110:1

BABYLON DESTROYED
OT
“…I am, and there is none besides me. I will never be a widow or suffer the loss of children.’ Both of these will overtake you in a moment, on a single day: loss of children and widowhood. They will come upon you in full measure, in spite of your many sorceries and all your potent spells. You have trusted in your wickedness and have said, ‘No one sees me.’ Your wisdom and knowledge mislead you when you say to yourself, ‘I am, and there is none besides me.’ Disaster will come upon you, and you will not know how to conjure it away. A calamity will fall upon you that you cannot ward off with a ransom;
a catastrophe you cannot foresee will suddenly come upon you. “Keep on, then, with your magic spells and with your many sorceries…” Isaiah 47:8-12
NT
“Give her as much torment and grief as the glory and luxury she gave herself. In her heart she boasts, ‘I sit enthroned as queen. I am not a widow; I will never mourn.’ Therefore in one day her plagues will overtake her: death, mourning and famine. She will be consumed by fire, for mighty is the Lord God who judges her.” Revelation 18:7-8

 GOD DOES NOT WANT ANYONE TO PERISH
OT
“Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign Lord. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live?” Ezekiel 18:23
“Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways!…’” Ezekiel 33:11
NT
“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9

 DEATH IS A LESSING FOR THE CHRISTIAN
OT
“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful servants.” Psalm 116:15
“On this mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations; he will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove his people’s disgrace from all the earth. The Lord has spoken.” Isaiah 25:7-8
“The righteous perish, and no one takes it to heart; the devout are taken away, and no one understands that the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil” Isaiah 57:1
“I will deliver this people from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death. Where, O death, are your plagues? Where, O grave, is your destruction…” Hosea 13:14
NT
“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” Romans 8:18
 “I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” 1 Corinthians 15:51-55
“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:21
“And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’^[b] or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Revelation 21:3-4

THERE WILL BE A MARRIAGE SUPPER OF THE LAMB
“On this mountain the Lord Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine—the best of meats and the finest of wines.” Isaiah 25:6
NT
“Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: “Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.” (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God’s holy people.)
Then the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!”…” Revelation 19:6-9

In both testaments a complete contrast is made between those who trust in God and those who don`t.
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” Romans 8:1-4

Jesus did tell His disciples:
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another” John 13:34

 But even this love was demonstrated in the Old Testament in the story of Ruth. Naomi, Ruth and Boaz showed this kind of love toward each other. Ruth set this love in motion when she declared to Noami:
“But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.  Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.” Ruth 1:16-17

Jesus summed up the law of the Old Testament into two commands:
“Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments” Matthew 22:37-40

Jesus fulfilled the Law in the New Testament:
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.” Matthew 5:17-18

 Much of what was said in the Old Testament is repeated in the New Testament. Any differences in the Testaments when understood demonstrate that the God of the Old Testament is the New Testament.

“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.
Therefore, brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, but will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 1:3-11
We can live godly lives, not through our own ability, but because of “His divine power”. We have “everything we need” when we are His children.

 He works in us through His Holy Spirit:
“Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” Philippines 2:12-13
He causes us not only to obey, but to want to obey. When we know the terrible consequences of sin (“the corruption in the world”), the fact that He loves us (he calls us (“my dear friends”), and is doing everything for our good (“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him…” Romans 8:28 – one of His “great and precious promises”), we will have joy in obedience.

The Apostle Peter (who wrote 2 Peter 1:13-17) asks us, because we have received “his divine power”, to possess and increase in certain qualities: faith, goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and love.

We have faith if we are God’s children:
“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1
We have not seen Jesus physically, but we believe in Him. We believe in what He has promised.

Even in the Old Testament, before Jesus was born as a baby into this world, people were saved by faith in the One True God, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit:
“Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other, and the Lord listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the Lord and honored his name.” Malachi 3:16
Some respected God and obeyed Him. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses. Joshua, Ruth, Samuel, Esther, David and many others knew God.

 It was always by faith in this One True God, that we have salvation, David wrote:
“The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1

“Maintain justice and do what is right, for my salvation is close at hand and my righteousness will soon be revealed.” Isaiah 56:1
Jesus, God Himself, came into the world to pay the penalty for the sins of mankind:

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind…
Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
¹⁴ The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:1-14
Those who believed in Him received “the right to become children of God”.

 Jesus revealed the righteous of God, that is by faith:
“For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” Romans 1:17

We have peace with God through our faith in Jesus:
“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,” Romans 5:1

 We believe in our hearts and profess that we do and are saved:
“For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” Romans 10:10

Faith in Jesus came in a moment in time, but it is a continuing experience. Faith is one of the weapons of our warfare, against the devil:
“In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.:” Ephesians 6:16

 Faith is very important to God. It is the reason for our trials:
“In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—
may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” 1 Peter 1:6-9

 We should consider trials “pure joy” because they will make us “mature and complete”:
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:2-4

 We are to add to our faith, goodness: “integrity, honesty, uprightness…morality, virtue refer to qualities of character or conduct that entitle the possessor to approval and esteem. Goodness is the simple word for the general quality recognized in character or conduct…”

We are to add to goodness, knowledge. Knowledge is getting to know Jesus. Faith, obedience, prayer. studying His word, worshipping Him with others and relating to other believers help our knowledge increase.

Add self-control. Self-control is a fruit of the Spirit:
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control…” Galatians 5:22-23
“The fruit of the Spirit is the change in our character that comes about because of the Holy Spirit’s work in us…Every good thing we do is the fruit of the Spirit’s work in our lives. Self-control… is…the ability to control oneself. It involves moderation, constraint, and the ability to say “no” to our baser desires and fleshly lusts. One of the proofs of God’s working in our lives is the ability to control our own thoughts, words, and actions.” GotQuestions.org 

“Self-control naturally leads to perseverance as we value the long-term good instead of the instant gratification of the world.” GotQuestions.org Bible teacher Kay Arthur defines perseverance as “keep on keeping on”.

Add godliness. Godliness is being pious, obeying God. Jesus is the best example of godliness, and we can be like Him:
“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” 1 Peter 1:3-4
Peter says that we have everything we need to “participate in the divine nature” – we can attain godliness with the help of Jesus.

The Greek word for brotherly kindness is transliterated “philadelphia,” a compound involving two words: “phileo” (love) and “adelphos” (brother). It literally means “the love of brothers.” As used in the New Testament, “philadelphia” describes the love which Christians cherish for each other as brethren (Thayer). Romans 12:10 reveals that it is through brotherly kindness that we can have “kind affection” toward one another. It is brotherly kindness, therefore, that provides a true sense of family in our association as members of the Lord’s body.” 2 Peter 1:7a – Brotherly Kindness – Bible.ca

Love is defined in the Bible:
“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” John 15:12-13

“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.  This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” 1 John 4:7-10

“Brotherly love in the biblical sense is an extension of the natural affection associated with near kin, toward the greater community of fellow believers, that goes beyond the mere duty in Leviticus 19:18 to “love thy neighbour as thyself”, and shows itself as “unfeigned love” from a “pure heart”, that extends an unconditional hand of friendship that loves when not loved back, that gives without getting, and that ever looks for what is best in others.” Wikipedia

We should earnestly seek to grow in these qualities (faith, goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, love), rejoicing in knowing that, if we do, we “will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

Jesus had a special bond with this family. He stopped at the home of Martha in Bethany when traveling to Jerusalem. Mary had poured oil on the Lord and wiped His feet wither hair. She had chosen the better part of sitting at Jesus’ feet and listening to Him when her sister complained (Luke 10:38-41 John 12:1-3).

Jesus didn’t come for two days. Finally, He “… said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea…he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, 15 and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe…
17 On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. 18 Now Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, 19 and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. 20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.
21 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.”
23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”
24 Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
27 “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”
28 After she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. “The Teacher is here,” she said, “and is asking for you.” 29 When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him. 30 Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. 31 When the Jews who had been with Mary in the house, comforting her, noticed how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there.
32 When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”
33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 34 “Where have you laid him?” he asked.
“Come and see, Lord,” they replied.
35 Jesus wept.
36 Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!”
But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?”
38 Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. 39 “Take away the stone,” he said.
“But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.”
40 Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”
41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”
43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.
Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.” John 11:14-44

Why did Jesus weep? He knew He was going to raise Lazarus from the dead from the beginning of this incident – “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” He purposely waited until after Lazarus had died to go to Bethany. He told His disciples He was going to wake Lazarus from sleep (death). He told Martha that He was the Resurrection and the Life implying He had power over life and death and he could cause life at any time. He told those at the grave site that if they believed they would see the glory of God. Then He prayed to God the Father, saying that He knew God answered His prayer, but only prayed for the benefit of those standing there.

Why did Jesus weep if He knew that at that very time, He would raise Lazarus from the dead? The Bible doesn’t say so no one can be sure.
I believe He wept because He could feel the pain in Mary, Martha and the others who loved Lazarus. He knew the pain of anyone suffering from the death of a loved one. The Bible says that He was
“…A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief…” Isaiah 53:3 (NKJV)

His step father Joseph had died sometime after He was twelve and before He was thirty, probably about the middle of that time. Joseph had been a kind, wise father. Jesus had learned to be a carpenter from Joseph, and they had probably spent hours together and because Jesus was sinless these must have been rich fulfilling times.

When Joseph died, Jesus felt pain, just as we do when a loved one dies even though we know we will see them again in heaven. He also knew the pain of His mother Mary, His brothers, sisters, relatives, friends and neighbors.

Jesus knew the pain and sorrow of those who were suffering (Matthew 9:36, 14:14, 15:32, 20:34 Mark 6:34, 8:2). He could understand from a divine perspective – He could feel more deeply the pain of others than we can.

Jesus wept because Jerusalem did not accept the fact that He was her Messiah and could save her from all the suffering that would come upon her:
“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing.” Matthew 23:37 Luke 13:34

He experienced His own great sorrow when He faced the cross. His anguish was so great He sweat drops of blood:
“And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.” Luke 22:44
“Hematidrosis is a condition in which capillary blood vessels that feed the sweat glands rupture, causing them to exude blood, occurring under conditions of extreme physical or emotional stress.” Wikipedia

Now, with the Holy Spirit, Jesus knows exactly what we are going through and even intercedes for us, especially when we do not know how to pray:
“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.” Romans 8:26-27

The Song Just a Closer Walk With Thee:
(1 “I am weak but Thou art strong Jesus keep me from all wrong I’ll be satisfied as long As I walk, let me walk close to Thee
(2 Through this world of toil and snares, If I falter, Lord, who cares? Who with me my burden shares? None but Thee, dear Lord, none but Thee.
(3When my feeble life is o’er Time for me will be no more Guide me gently, safely o’er To Thy kingdom’s shore, to Thy shore
Refrain: Just a closer walk with Thee Grant it, Jesus, is my plea Daily walking close to Thee Let it be, dear Lord, let it be

I love this song, but the second verse seemed impersonal, almost cold, to say no one cared when we grieved or were overcome by sin. Finally, I realized this verse is just rejoicing in the fact that Jesus understands completely. No matter how much someone emphasized with us, that person can never understand us fully. But Jesus can.

“Each heart knows its own bitterness, and no one else can share its joy.” Proverbs 14:10
Only Jesus can understand. Sometimes, the most comforting knowledge we can have is that Someone understands. Whether the deepest grief or the highest joy He can understand completely. What a comfort!

We can pray to Jesus any time with any request. He knows better than we do all the thoughts, actions and feelings leading up to what we ask for in prayer. He loves us completely and will give us whatever we ask for if it is His will, and His will is always based on His perfect love and wisdom.

When we consider this shortest verse in the Bible, “Jesus wept.” John 11:35, we can remember all it implies – Jesus love for us, His knowledge and understandin of all we are going through and His ability to do more than we can even imagine or ask:
“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” Ephesians 3:16-21

In Job 1-2 Satan appears before God and argues that Job is serving God only because God is good to him – if Job were inflicted with pain “…he will surely curse you to your face.” Job 1:11, 2:4

Satan is the author of evil. Jesus said about him:
“…He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” John 8:44
God created Satan perfectly. He gave Satan a free will. Satan chose to disobey God/sin causing sin and all its consequences to begin. When Adam and Eve chose to listen to Satan (Genesis 3), the consequence of sin, including sickness and death, began on earth.
The prophet Ezekiel said about Satan:
“You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created till wickedness was found in you.” Ezekiel 28:15
Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28 concern Lucifer/Satan/the devil.

God let Satan do whatever he wanted to Job (to prove Satan wrong and, ultimately, to bless Job) except harm Job’s body, but later let him inflict painful boils on Job.

Job suffered more in a short time than most of us will suffer in a lifetime. His nine children died, his sheep, goats, camels all died and later his body was covered with painful boils (Job 2:6-7), his wife gave him foolish advice (Job 2:9-10), and his friends condemned him unjustly (Job 4-37). Job’s suffering was so intense that he wished he had never been born (Job 3:3-26).

Job was a righteous man. He had done nothing wrong:
 “I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a young woman…If I have walked with falsehood or my foot has hurried after deceit…If I have denied justice to any of my servants…If I have denied the desires of the poor or let the eyes of the widow grow weary, if I have kept my bread to myself, not sharing it with the fatherless  but from my youth I reared them as a father would, and from my birth I guided the widow— if I have seen anyone perishing for lack of clothing, or the needy without garments…If I have put my trust in gold…if I have regarded the sun in its radiance or the moon moving in splendor, so that my heart was secretly enticed and my hand offered them a kiss of homage….If I have rejoiced at my enemy’s misfortune…no stranger had to spend the night in the street, for my door was always open to the traveler—if I have concealed my sin as people do, by hiding my guilt in my heart because I so feared the crowd.” Job 31:1-34

Job questioned God – what had he done wrong? Job accused God of treating him unfairly and wanted a mediater to plead his case:
“If only there were someone to mediate between us, someone to bring us together, someone to remove God’s rod from me, so that his terror would frighten me no more.” Job 9:33-34
“(“Oh, that I had someone to hear me! I sign now my defense—let the Almighty answer me; let my accuser put his indictment in writing. Surely I would wear it on my shoulder, I would put it on like a crown. I would give him an account of my every step; I would present it to him as to a ruler.)—” Job 31:35-37

Of course, Job had sinned (though not as much as his friends who were condemning him); he was a man. God says that all have sinned:
 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” Romans 3:23

Job needed to learn that his own righteousness could not put him in right standing with God. No one is righteous enough to enter into the presence of God:
“…There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God.” Romans 3:10-11

God did provide a Mediator – Jesus Christ, who was perfect, without sin, so that He could die to pay the penalty of sin for everyone:
“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:13
Anyone who believes (that implies obedience) in Jesus will see God – forever.

Job didn’t understand this; he lived before the birth of Jesus. But God made Himself known to Job, just as He had made Himself known to Abraham, Moses, David and many others who would listen:
“Out in the open wisdom calls aloud, she raises her voice in the public square; on top of the wall she cries out, at the city gate she makes her speech: “How long will you who are simple love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge? Repent at my rebuke! Then I will pour out my thoughts to you, I will make known to you my teachings.” Proverbs 1:20-23

Finally, God spoke to Job. Job knew God’s voice – He had been obeying Him and trying to please Him a long time:
“Then the LORD spoke to Job out of the storm. He said:
“Who is this that obscures my plans with words without knowledge? Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me. “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone—while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy.” Job 38:1-8
The Lord continues for two chapters questioning Job by telling of His mighty works.

Job responded after God’s precise direction:
“The LORD said to Job:
 “Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct him? Let him who accuses God answer him!” Then Job answered the LORD:
“I am unworthy—how can I reply to you? I put my hand over my mouth. I spoke once, but I have no answer— twice, but I will say no more.”
Then the LORD spoke to Job out of the storm:
“Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me. “Would you discredit my justice? Would you condemn me to justify yourself?” Job 40:1-8

The Lord questions Job for two more chapters. Job finally understands:
“Then Job replied to the LORD:
“I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted. You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?’ Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know. “You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you shall answer me.’ My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.” Job 42:1-6
Job saw that he was unworthy of any blessing and repented of accusing God.

Job never knew why he had suffered. But God told Job’s friends they were wrong to accuse Job unfairly (Job 42:7), called Job His servant (Job 42:8) and gave Job twice as much as Job had before (Job 42:10-17). Job must have known that God was pleased with him.

Job’s suffering caused him to search for God. His search caused him to know God. When Job recalls his life, he will say it was worth it all just to know God.

What can we learn about healing from the book of Job?

Satan is the one who causes sickness. Sometimes, like Job, we blame God. God did allow Satan to inflict Job, but it was for God’s glory and for Job’s good:
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28
God allows suffering in our lives for the same reason. If we accept His judgment and cling to Him instead of blaming Him, we will find His mercies are greater than our suffering:
“God is love” 1 John 4 – everything God does is motivated by perfect love
God didn’t heal Job right away (but He did heal him). Notice how Job’s healing was not important compared to God changing Job’s heart. God used Job’s sickness to cause him to search for Himself. Job found God: The blessing of finding God far outweigh his terrible suffering.

The story of Job had eternal value. Job’s suffering not only blessed Job – it blesses all of us. We can know that any suffering God allows in our lives can be a great blessing. He loves us, causing all things to work for our good.

Like Job, we may not have done anything wrong, but sometimes we need to search for our healing. These passages tell us that sometimes we are to search for what God wants to teach us:
“My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding—indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for uderstanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.” Proverbs 2:1-6
Do you search for God’s will like you would for hidden treasure?

“If my people would only listen to me, if Israel would only follow my ways, how quickly I would subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes! Those who hate the LORD would cringe before him, and their punishment would last forever.” Psalm 81:13-15
Are you listening to/obeying God so He can destroy your enemies?

“The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete.” 2 Corinthians 10:4-6
Are you obeying completely so God can punish “every act of disobedience”.

“Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest.” Proverbs 26:2
If there is no cause for a curse, it “does not come to rest”.
Sometimes a curse has been put on us or our families we are not aware of – ask God to reveal if this true.

Sometimes healing does not depend on anything we do (except prayer). I will tell of my own experience:
In a Montreal townhouse with my first daughter, Jill, I had claustrophobia the last month of my pregnancy. In our bedroom I would panic and run downstairs to our living room where my feelings would go away. Several years later we lived in Nova Scotia with a beautiful view out our living room window over the ocean two blocks away. After three months of being pregnant with our second daughter, Sandra, I began to experience these same feelings. I ran out from our bedroom into the living room and looked out the window. I could see for miles. It didn’t help. I fell on my knees and cried to the Lord, “I can’t do anything, you have to help me!” Suddenly the feeling went away and never came again:
“O Lord, my God, I called to you for help and you healed me.” Psalm 30:2

Several passages in the Bible tell how obeying God brings health. A few of these passages are quoted below.

Some passages tell how obeying God affects our health:
“Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.” Proverbs 3:7-8
“My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body.” Proverbs 4:20-21
“A heart at peace gives health to the body, but envy rots the bones.” Proverbs 14:30
“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit rots the bones”. Proverbs 17:22
We can have a “heart at peace” or a “cheerful heart” by always trusting God:
“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” Isaiah 26:3

Other passages tell how we can promote another person’s health:
“Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.” Proverbs
“A cheerful look bring joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the body. Proverbs

Obeying God/knowing God is the most important action in being healthy. Sometimes, like Job, we are doing nothing wrong. We must not be like Job’s friends and judge others – maybe they are sick from no fault of their own or maybe they are repentant:
“You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.” Romans 2:1

We should ask and believe for God’s healing:
 “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.” 1 John 5:14-15

We should ask the elders of the church to pray for us:
 “Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” James 5:14-16
Ask for prayer.

We should take care of our bodies the best we can. Even though these passages talk about serious sin we can apply the principle that we are God’s temple:
“Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?” 1 Corinthians 3:16
“Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body. Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” 1 Corinthians 6:18-20

One way that God heals us is by supplying “good things”:
 “Praise the LORD, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the LORD, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” Psalm 103:1-6
One of the best guidelines concerning healthy foods is a La Leche League (breast feeding organization) concept: “Eat a variety of foods in as natural a state as possible.”

Put exercise and healthy food in perspective. Anything of “some value” to God is worth doing, but godliness has value for eternity:
“For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” 1 Timothy 4:8
Maybe God will heal us later (as He did Job) or by using healthful food or medicine.

Sometimes God doesn’t heal us, like in the case of Apostle Paul, for His own glory:
“…in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:7-10
Sometimes God will tell us why we aren’t healed as in the case of Paul. If He doesn’t directly, maybe He is telling us indirectly by having us read the experiences of Paul. He promises to give us wisdom:
“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” James 1:5

Paul preached to the Galatians “because of an illness”:
“As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you, and even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn…Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself. Where, then, is your blessing of me now? I can testify that, if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me.” Galatians 4:13-15
Good came from suffering.

We must trust and praise God even if we are sick because we know that God always does best even if we don’t understand:
“Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!” Romans 11:33

As believers in Jesus, we are citizens of heaven:
“But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,” Philippians 3:20
“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” Colossians 3:1-4
We have already died.

Even if He doesn’t heal us on earth we can know that we have an eternal home in heaven:
“And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Revelation 21:3-4

Submission means that the husband has the final authority, the final responsibility. Some husbands will not take that authority or responsibility which makes it difficult for the wife, but with God’s help, she can be the submissive wife He wants her to be.

The “woman of noble character” in Proverbs 31:10-31 handles many important responsibilities. She looks after her household, even buying and selling:
“She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands. She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar. She gets up while it is still night; she provides food for her family and portions for her female servants. She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks. She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night. In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers. She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy. When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet. She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple. Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land. She makes linen garments and sells them and supplies the merchants with sashes. She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.” Proverbs 31: 13-27
She is trustworthy, industrious, wise, ambitious (not lazy), resourceful, caring and confident. She knows what God and her husband expect from her. She is free to use her intellect and her talents.

Besides being free to use her intellect and talents, her life shows another result of being submissive – her husband is free to do what God wants him to do:
“Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.”

The following passage from the New Testament was written by the Apostle Paul. Head coverings and long hair were symbols of submission in that culture. They are not now, but the principle of submission in still in effect:
“But I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head. But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head—it is the same as having her head shaved. For if a woman does not cover her head, she might as well have her hair cut off; but if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, then she should cover her head.
A man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man. For man did not come from woman, but woman from man; neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. It is for this reason that a woman ought to have authority over her own head, because of the angels. Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. For as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman. But everything comes from God.
Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? Does not the very nature of things teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him, but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given to her as a covering. If anyone wants to be contentious about this, we have no other practice—nor do the churches of God.” 1 Corinthians 11:3-16
“Angels are present at any assembly of Christians for worship and note any departure from reverent order; and apparently, angels are offended by any violation of propriety…
none of these reasons are culture-dependent. The order and manner of creation and the presence of angels do not depend on culture. We cannot say, “Paul said this just because of the thinking of the Corinthian culture or the place of women in that culture.” The principles are eternal, but the out-working of the principles may differ according to culture.
In this, we see God has established a clear chain of authority in both the home and in the church, and in those spheres, God has ordained that men are the “head” – that is, that they have the place of authority and responsibility…there is no general submission of women unto men commanded in society; only in the spheres of the home and in the church. God has not commanded in His word that men have exclusive authority in the areas of politics, business, education, and so on.
It also does not mean that every woman in the church is under the authority of every man – ridiculous! Instead it means that those who lead the church – pastors and ruling elders – must be men, and women must respect their authority…We must see the broader attack on authority as a direct Satanic strategy to destroy our society and millions of individual lives…This idea of authority and submission to authority are so important to God that they are part of His very being. The First Person of the Holy Trinity is called the Father; the Second Person of the Holy Trinity is called the Son. Inherent in those titles is a relationship of authority and submission to authority. The Father exercises authority over the Son, and the Son submits to the Father’s authority – and this is in the very nature and being of God! Our failure to exercise Biblical authority, and our failure to submit to Biblical authority, isn’t just wrong and sad – it sins against the very nature of God. Remember 1 Samuel 15:23: For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft.” David Guzik
All of David Guzik’s commentary (found on the internet) is worth studying.

A passage that explains the relationship between husband and wife from the New Testament is Ephesians 5:21-33.
“Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing[b] her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church—for we are members of his body. “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband,” Ephesians 5:21-33
If a wife submits to/respects her husband, and if the husband loves/cares for his wife they will have a blessed, biblical relationship. That would be following the command, “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.”

The wife should submit to her husband as believers should submit to Christ:
“For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior.”
Jesus said:
 “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” John 10:27
The Church submitting to Christ means that they obey Him:
 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.” John 15:9-10

A wife should not think that submitting to her husband makes her less important than her husband. Jesus submitted to God the Father in everything:
“Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.” John 5:9
“By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.” John 5:30
Notice that seeking to please is part of submission.
“So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.” John 8:28-29
“How could the omniscient Son of God have to learn anything? There are some things that cannot be learned in books but only by experience, and obedience in hard circumstances is surely one of these. Jesus learned obedience by actual experience.” icr.org
“During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him Hebrew 5:7-9
“Had He been disobedient, as was Adam, we could never have known salvation.” icr.org
“For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.” Romans 5:19
“His obedience consisted simply of seeking and following the will of His Father in all things.” icr.org

Jesus did not want to be crucified on the cross, but He was willing to do whatever God the Father wanted.
“Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” Matthew 26:39, 42 Luke 22:42

We see from the following passage Jesus was equal to God, yet He was “obedient to death”.
“Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross.” Philippians 2:6-8

Everything He did was in obedience to His Father. Yet Jesus Himself is God. If Jesus who is God the Son submitted to/obeyed God the Father, wives can submit without thinking they are less important than their husbands.

A faithful loving wife can greatly influence her husband:
“A wife of noble character is her husband’s crown, but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones.” Proverbs 12:4
“He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord.” Proverbs 18:22
“A foolish child is a father’s ruin, and a quarrelsome wife is like the constant dripping of a leaky roof.” Proverbs 19:13
“Houses and wealth are inherited from parents, but a prudent wife is from the Lord.” Proverbs 19:14
“Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.” Proverbs 21:9
“Better to live in a desert than with a quarrelsome and nagging wife.” Proverbs 21:19
“Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.” Proverbs 25:24
“A quarrelsome wife is like the dripping of a leaky roof in a rainstorm; restraining her is like restraining the wind or grasping oil with the hand.” Proverbs 27:15-16
A disgraceful, quarrelsome and nagging wife is destructive to her husband. Ask the Lord to show you what you are and if you to change.

Very few husbands will not respond to prayers, wisdom and love. Even if her husband is not the husband he should be (all of us have shortcomings) a wife should be what she knows the Lord would have her be. Each person will be judged according to his own works:
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for their wrongs, and there is no favoritism.” Colossians 2:23-25

There are exceptions to a wife being submissive to her husband:
“Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him?…” Acts 4:18-19
“Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than man!” Acts 5:29
The Bible tells us to obey authorities:
“Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.” Romans 13:1-2
We are supposed to obey the governing authorities except when their command/law violates God’s law. Then we must obey God’s law no matter the consequence. Likewise, a wife should never submit to anything against God’s commands.

Maybe a husband’s desire is not a wife’s although not disobedient to God. Wives do have another recourse when they find it difficult to submit to their husbands. They can talk to a higher authority – they can pray. It is always wise to start with prayer and continue in prayer:
“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in every situation because this is God’s will concerning you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

She can discuss the decision with her husband. This might be where arguments occur. People often don’t discuss rationally because emotions are involved:
“Do you see someone who speaks in haste? There is more hope for a fool than for them.” Proverbs 29:20
Pray before you bring up a topic, if possible.

If her husband loves her as Christ loved the church it will be much easier:
“In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.”
In the same way that submission is voluntary, love is voluntary. The husband might not agree based on love –  he may be doing what he thinks is best for everyone involved. He might be selfish, not seeing clearly or misinformed (listening to wrong advice). Even though the husband will not change his mind, God can change the circumstances or make the wife be a blessing in what situation she finds herself.
“Consider it pure joy, my friends, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith develops patience. Patience must have it perfect work so that you will be perfect and complete lacking nothing. If anyone lacks wisdom, he should ask God who gives generously to all without finding fault.” James 1:3-4

 “A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. 12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner. But women will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety.” 1 Timothy 2:8-15
Pastor David Guvik explains this passage:
“In other places in the New Testament, even in the writings of Paul, women are specifically mentioned as praying and speaking in the church (I Corinthians 11:5). To learn in silence has the idea of women receiving the teaching of the men God has chosen to lead in the church, with submission instead of contention…I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man: Paul’s meaning seems clear. Women are not to have the role of teaching authority in the church. To be under authority is the principle; not teaching is the application…Not all speaking or teaching by a woman is necessarily a violation of God’s order of authority in the church. Whatever speaking or teaching is done by a woman must be done in submission to the men God has appointed to lead the church…
For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression.
For Adam was formed first: The first reason for male authority in the church is order of creation. Adam (man) was created first and given original authority on earth.
The first command God gave to the human race is found in Genesis 2:16-17: Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die. This command was not given to woman at all. At the time that command was given, Eve was not yet created from Adam.
Therefore, Adam received his command and his authority from God, and Eve received her command and authority from Adam.
The woman being deceived: The second reason is the difference in the sin of Adam and Eve, as connected to their difference in authority.
Both Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, and Eve clearly sinned first. Yet, the Bible never blames Eve for the fall of the human race, but always blames Adam (through one man sin entered the world, Romans 5:12). Adam is responsible because of there was a difference of authority. Adam had an authority Eve did not have; therefore he also had a responsibility Eve did not have. Adam failed in his responsibility in a far more significant way than Eve did.
As well, Eve was deceived, and Adam was not deceived. Eve was tricked; but Adam sinned knowing exactly what he was doing when he rebelled. This means that though Adam’s sin was worse, Eve’s ability to be more readily deceived made her more dangerous in a place of authority. “Eve’s reasoning faculty was at once overcome by the allegation of jealousy felt by God, an allegation plausible to a nature swayed by emotion rather than by reflection.” (White)
She will be saved in childbearing: A better way to approach this passage is based on the grammar in the original Greek language. In the original, it says she will be saved in the childbirth. This has the sense, “Even though women were deceived, and fell into transgression starting with Eve, women can be saved by the Messiah – whom a woman brought into the world.”
Probably, the idea here is that even though the “woman race” did something bad in the garden by being deceived and falling into transgression, the “woman race” also did something far greater, in being used by God to bring the saving Messiah into the world…” Enduring Word –  David Guzik

An advantage of being submissive to our husbands is that they are responsible when things go wrong. Adam was held more accountable than Eve for their sin. Because the husband has more authority, he also has more responsibility.

“Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to adorn themselves. They submitted themselves to their own husbands, like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her lord. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.” 1 Peter 3:1-6
Another advantage of submission is that unbelieving husbands “may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives when they see the purity and reverence of your lives.”

It is to our advantage that beauty “should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight” because “a gentle and quiet spirit” is something we can achieve, although physical beauty will fade no matter what we do.

God protected Sarah when Abraham’s decisions were wrong and selfish. Abraham told Sarah to tell foreign leaders that she was his sister. He feared he would be killed because other men might desire Sarah who was beautiful.
She was taken into the Egyptian Pharaoh’s harem:
“But the LORD inflicted serious diseases on Pharaoh and his household because of Abram’s wife Sarai. So Pharaoh summoned Abram. “What have you done to me?” he said. “Why didn’t you tell me she was your wife? Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her to be my wife? Now then, here is your wife. Take her and go!” Genesis 12:17-19
Later, she was taken into the Philistine Abimelek’s harem, but the Lord protected her by appearing in a dream to Abimelek:
“Then God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know you did this with a clear conscience, and so I have kept you from sinning against me. That is why I did not let you touch her.” Genesis 20:6

Abram (Abraham) foolishly listened to Sarai’s (Sarah) advice when she wanted him to bear a son by her Egyptian maid Hagar. When things went wrong Abram was blamed:
“When she knew she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress. Then Sarai said to Abram, “You are responsible for the wrong I am suffering. I put my slave in your arms, and now that she knows she is pregnant, she despises me. May the LORD judge between you and me.”
“Your slave is in your hands,” Abram said. “Do with her whatever you think best.” Genesis 16:4-6
When she had her own son, God told Abraham to listen to Sarah:
“The child grew and was weaned, and on the day Isaac was weaned Abraham held a great feast. But Sarah saw that the son whom Hagar the Egyptian had borne to Abraham was mocking, and she said to Abraham, “Get rid of that slave woman and her son, for that woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with my son Isaac.”
The matter distressed Abraham greatly because it concerned his son. But God said to him, “Do not be so distressed about the boy and your slave woman. Listen to whatever Sarah tells you, because it is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.” Genesis 21:11-12
Although Sarah was commended for obeying Abraham, she was by no means a doormat. God protected and supported her even when she wasn’t blameless.

I have a wise husband who loves God. It is hard for me to imagine submitting to a lazy, dishonest, cruel husband. Abigail is an example of a woman married to a foolish husband:
“…She was an intelligent and beautiful woman, but her husband was surly and mean in his dealings…” 1 Samuel 25:3
Her servants told her that her husband, Nabal, had insulted David by not helping his men who had guarded Nabal’s sheep, and David was coming to take revenge. Abigail acted quickly, getting food ready for David’s men.
“When she met David she fell at his feet and said: “Pardon your servant, my lord, and let me speak to you; hear what your servant has to say. Please pay no attention, my lord, to that wicked man Nabal. He is just like his name—his name means Fool, and folly goes with him. And as for me, your servant, I did not see the men my lord sent. And now, my lord, as surely as the LORD your God lives and as you live, since the LORD has kept you from bloodshed and from avenging yourself with your own hands, may your enemies and all who are intent on harming my lord be like Nabal. And let this gift, which your servant has brought to my lord, be given to the men who follow you.
Please forgive your servant’s presumption. The LORD your God will certainly make a lasting dynasty for my lord, because you fight the LORD’s battles, and no wrongdoing will be found in you as long as you live. Even though someone is pursuing you to take your life, the life of my lord will be bound securely in the bundle of the living by the LORD your God, but the lives of your enemies he will hurl away as from the pocket of a sling. When the LORD has fulfilled for my lord every good thing he promised concerning him and has appointed him ruler over Israel, my lord will not have on his conscience the staggering burden of needless bloodshed or of having avenged himself. And when the LORD your God has brought my lord success, remember your servant.”
David said to Abigail, “Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel, who has sent you today to meet me. May you be blessed for your good judgment and for keeping me from bloodshed this day and from avenging myself with my own hands. Otherwise, as surely as the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, who has kept me from harming you, if you had not come quickly to meet me, not one male belonging to Nabal would have been left alive by daybreak.” 1 Samuel 25:24-34
She told Nabal what had happened after he had recovered from his drunken stupor. His heart failed and he became like a stone, dying ten days later. When David heard, he sent for Abigail to become his wife. The Lord was taking care of Abigail.

For a wife to divorce her husband is, of course, not to be submissive to her husband, but ultimately it is to be disobedient to God:
“To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.
To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him. For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.
But if the unbeliever leaves, let it be so. The brother or the sister is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace. How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife.” 1 Corinthians 7:10-16

Often children are damaged beyond measure by a woman who selfishly divorces her husband or a husband divorces his wife:
“Has not the Lord made them one? In flesh and spirit they are his. And why one? Because he was seeking godly offspring. So guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith with the wife of your youth. “I hate divorce,” says the Lord God of Israel…” Malachi 3:15-16

Even if her husband is an unbeliever and wants to live with her, his wife should not divorce him. However, in that circumstance, if he wants to divorce her, she should let him go in peace.

Jesus said:
“It was because your hearts were hard that Moses wrote you this law,” Jesus replied. “But at the beginning of creation God ‘made them male and female’(Genesis 1:27). For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two but one. Therefore, what God has joined together, let man not separate.” Mark 10:5-9
Do you love your husband or wife as Christ loved the church? (Ephesians 5:25-33)

In cases where a husband and wife seemingly cannot reconcile, they are to remain unmarried. To leave for a time is not the same as divorce – it isn’t permanent. There is an opportunity for God to do a miracle. Because we know it is God’s will to keep a marriage together we can pray with confidence:
“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us – whatever we ask – we know that we have what we asked of him.” 1 John 5:14-15
Sometimes we need great patience – God probably has much to do to change our heart and the heart of our spouse.

God can make a way when we make obedience to His will our priority:
“If my people would but listen to me…how quickly would I subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes!” Psalm 81:13-14
Our enemies are demonic forces:
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but the against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Ephesians 6:12

Ultimately, since marriage is God’s idea and it is His will to keep a marriage together He will do all He can, especially for His children, sometimes in spite of us. One spouse might be so abusive, deceived or determined to do his own will (Satan’s) that he/she will not listen to God. However, only God knows the heart, and most people give up too soon.

Older woman should teach younger women “to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.” Titus 2:5
Being subject to your husband means “no one will malign the word of God” . Malign means evil in nature, injurious, harmful. People will say something evil, injurious or harmful about the word of God because of a wife not being subject to her husband. Offensive to everyone (except perhaps the rebellious feminist) is an abrasive, rebellious, bossy wife. If she is a Christian, she is certainly being a bad example that will turn people away from Jesus and His word.

It is not always easy to be submissive to your husband. Nevertheless, being subject or submissive to your husband should bring the result given the noble woman in Proverbs 31:
“Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.” Proverbs 31:11-12
“Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.” Proverbs 31:28-29

Jesus is the answer, even if you can’t feel His presence or understand His council. Maybe it will take time, but there is hope because the God who created you can and wants to help you.

There are many circumstances that cause depression. It helps to know the reason because it involves a false belief. Jesus said:
“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32

Jesus is the Truth:
“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

Jesus is the Word:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made…
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:1-14

Because Jesus is the Word, the Bible is helpful in overcoming depression. God can even speak to a person with a passage that seems totally unrelated:
“The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart.” Psalm 19:8

At times David was depressed. At one time he spent years running from an insanely jealous King Saul. He had the hope that God had anointed him king, but that must have seemed dim at the time of his continuous stress:
“How long, LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me? Look on me and answer, LORD my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death, and my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,” and my foes will rejoice when I fall. But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing the LORD’s praise, for he has been good to me.” Psalm 13
Yet he knew what to do during these times to overcome his depression. He called out to God. He made wise decisions. These struggles brought him close to God. They prepared him for being king and for eternity.

God called David a man after His own heart:
“…God testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’” Acts 13:22

We must make sure we have no other gods. David says:
“The sorrows of those will increase who run after other gods.” Psalm 16:4
The gods of this age are food (if the wrong kind or too much), sex (if outside of marriage), alcohol, drugs, cigarettes, music (godly music can be uplifting). TV (most programs), people (sometimes God directs you to go to the right person), etc. Examine yourself to see if there is anything you go to for comfort instead of Jesus.

One time the Lord spoke this passage to me:
“If my people would only listen to me, if Israel would only follow my ways, how quickly I would subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes! Those who hate the LORD would cringe before him, and their punishment would last forever. But you would be fed with the finest of wheat; with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.” Psalm 81:13-16
If I listened to God, He would quickly defeat my enemies. How was I not obeying God? Who were my enemies? I didn’t feel I had any enemies. It was a miracle how my situation was made right when I did what I felt the Lord asked me to do (and it took searching). I realized these enemies/foes were evil forces.

As children of God, we have power over evil forces:
“Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Ephesians 6:11-12
Our spiritual weapons are truth, obedience, love, wisdom, the Word of God and prayer.

If we are battling depression we can use the weapon of prayer and ask others to pray for us:
“Surely you need guidance to wage war, and victory is won through many advisors.” Proverbs 24:6

What the Apostle Paul prayed for those he knew, was the best that could happen for them:
“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” Ephesians 3:16-21
Jesus “is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine”. That is what we can believe for no matter what our situation.

We can pray (it seems David had a special time of prayer in the morning) and “wait expectantly” because we can know God will answer:
“Listen to my words, LORD, consider my lament. Hear my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray. In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.” Psalm 5:1-3

Every morning God has something new for us. He loves us so much. Each day can contain a joyful surprize:
“Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23

The Apostle James give us practical ways to avoid depression:
“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” James 1:27
He tells us to guard against the false pleasures of the world, and, also, to give to others.

Paul tells the Philippians (and us) to rejoice in the Lord and not be anxious about anything:
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Philippians 4:4-8
He tells us how to keep our minds from being polluted by the world.
Paul has learned the secret of contentment and implies that we can too:
“I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.” Philippians 4:11
It will take time, but that is God’s plan for each of us.

Job was depressed – with good reason. The Lord allowed Satan to take everything, including his health, from him. Job suffered so much he wished he had never been born (Job 3:3-26).
Job’s suffering caused him to search for God. His search caused him to know God:
“My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.” Job 42-6
Job saw that he was unworthy of any blessing and repented of thinking his own works could justify him. When Job recalls his life, he will say it was worth it all just to know God.

Job never knew why he had suffered. God was proud of Job – He told Job’s friends they were wrong to accuse Job unfairly (Job 42:7), called Job His servant (Job 42:8) and gave Job twice as much as before (Job 42:10-17).

Life is getting better for the child of God, not only in eternity but for now. Circumstances may not be getting better, but we can know that we are gaining more wisdom, getting to know God better and are closer to our goal:
“The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.” Proverbs 4:18

As children of God, we can rejoice in Him:
“But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you. Surely, LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.” Psalm 5:11-12

We can purposely choose joy and praise to fight mourning and despair:
“…to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.” Isaiah 61:3
Praise and worship is a major weapon against depression.
We can have “a continual feast”. Often it is just choosing to do so:
“All the days of the oppressed are wretched, but the cheerful heart has a continual feast.” Proverbs 15:15

The secret to having “perfect peace” is to steadfastly trust God:
“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” Isaiah 26:3

We can know that if we ask anything that is His will, we will receive it:
“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.” 1 John 5:14-15
Sometimes people distort this passage because they think that what is their will is God’s will. However we know that:
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights…” James 1:17
His gifts are perfect and His will is best.

Jesus came to give us a full, abundant life:
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10
“I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them.” John 17:13

Anyone who knows Jesus has the Spirit of the Lord within them, “and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom”:
“But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” 2 Corinthians 3:16-18
Even if circumstances are not getting better we can have more joy because we “are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory”.

Paul had not become all he should be, but he purposely forgot the negatives in his past and strove to be what Jesus called him to be:
“Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13-14

Paul knew that Jesus would cause the circumstances of his life to bring glory to God:
“I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:20-21

It is God who changes us into mighty warriors, sometimes through suffering – just let him:
“It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he causes me to stand on the heights. He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze. You make your saving help my shield; your help has made me great. You provide a broad path for my feet, so that my ankles do not give way.” 2 Samuel 22:33-37 Psalm 18:32-36
He even keeps us from what is too difficult for us.

We are to “encourage one another” that we will “meet the Lord in the air. And so be with the Lord forever”.
“For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.” 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18

We are citizens of heaven:
“But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.” Philippians 3:20-21
“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory” Colossians 3:1-14
We shouldn’t expect everything to be perfect on earth. Life on earth is nothing in time compared to eternity – it is important because we choose where we will go for eternity.

Following are some specific circumstances that might depress us and people in the Bible who experienced them:

If you cannot have children:
“Let no foreigner who is bound to the LORD say, “The LORD will surely exclude me from his people.” And let no eunuch complain, “I am only a dry tree.” For this is what the LORD says: “To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths, who choose what pleases me and hold fast to my covenant—to them I will give within my temple and its walls a memorial and a name better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that will endure forever.” Isaiah 56:3-5
You will have an everlasting memorial and name.
The prophet Daniel was a eunuch. He was taken captive and entered into the king’s service. He had done nothing deserving this fate. Isaiah prophesied that because of Israel’s disobedience the nation would be taken captive, and specifically the king’s disobedience would result in some of his descendants being eunuchs:
“And some of your descendants, your own flesh and blood who will be born to you, will be taken away, and they will become eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.” Isaiah 39:7
Yet the Bible records only good concerning Daniel and calls him “highly esteemed” Daniel 9:23 10:11, 19

If you think you are not attractive – neither was Jesus:
“He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.” Psalm 53:2
We all beautiful in God’s opinion:
“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand—when I awake, I am still with you.” Psalm 139:13-18
Someday we will be given new bodies:
“So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.” 1 Corinthians 15:42-44

If there is a sin in your life that you can’t seem to conquer:
“Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.” Romans 7:20
If you are God’s child, you do not want to sin, and that sin isn’t really you:
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering…” Romans 8:1-3
Because Jesus died for you, that sin is paid for and will someday be destroyed:

God knows each of us and will not allow any temptation that we cannot conquer:
“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it,” 1 Corinthians 10:13
God understands and will provide a way out for you. Be patent. Keep praying and listening for His direction.

If your friends desert you, so did Paul’s:
“At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth.” 1 Timothy 5:16-17
God is always with you. Sometimes you don’t realize how close He is until everyone else is gone.

If you are getting old – so was Paul:
“…Paul—an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus” Philemon 9
“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:21
Put everything in perspective.

If you are not satisfied with your living situation:
“The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice…” Philippians 1:17-18
Paul knew he was in prison for Christ’s sake. You are where God put you. You can ask and maybe God will change the situation, but even if He doesn’t, know that you can bring Him glory where you are.

If you are afraid of death:
‘For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory. 1 Corinthians 15:53-54
“We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” Romans 6:4

If you are worried about the world situation:
“Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the LORD and against his anointed, saying, “Let us break their chains and throw off their shackles.”
The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them. He rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying, “I have installed my king on Zion, my holy mountain.” Psalm 2:1-6
“Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil. For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.” Psalm 37:7-9
The Lord has everything under control:
“There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord.” Proverbs 21:30

There are many potentially distressing situations, but the Holy Spirit, usually through Bible, has the answer for everyone of them.

Jesus has to best solution to all depression:
“If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father’s glory that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in His love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you an that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down hi8s life for his friends>’” John 15:7-13
Remain in Jesus by always listening and obeying Him, and love others more than you do yourself.
Paul says:
“Each of you should look not only after your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” Philippians 2:4

James tells us we should “consider it pure joy” when we face trials. He also implies that no matter what our problems, God is able to solve them for our good and His glory. If we need wisdom we can be assured He will give us wisdom, no matter how we have sinned – no matter what we deserve or feel we deserve. But it is important that we do believe that He will answer and that His answer is good:
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.” James 1:2-8
We can consider trials “pure joy” because God who loves us unconditionally and is able to bring good out of the greatest trouble is always with us waiting to hear our requests and praise.
The goal of our trials is to test our faith and make us “mature and complete, not lacking anything”. Can you think of a more valuable goal?

In summary, Paul gave one sentence of how to have “pure joy”:
“Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
We can be “joyful always” if we “pray continually” and “give thanks in all circumstances” and we know this is possible because it is God’s will for us.

Why not select and memorize several Bible verses that are meaningful for you?