Trials are Common in Life
Pray – (1/2 minute)
Read – (2 1/2 minutes) – “When Jesus heard that John had been put into prison, He returned to Galilee. Leaving Nazareth, He went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali - ” (Matthew 4:12-13)
Passage:
A misconception among many believers is the idea that somehow they will be exempt from hurts and trials in life if they follow Christ. However, that is not true at all. Jesus doesn’t keep us out of trials in life. He promises to walk with us through every trial we face in life. He can do that, because He also experienced that. After Jesus deal with and won victory over the temptations in the desert, He began His public ministry not far from where John the Baptist was ministering. When John was arrested, Matthew tells us that Jesus went back up to the Galilee area and especially to His hometown of Nazareth. I believe part of the reason He went back up there was to deal with hurt He felt knowing John was mistreated and that his ministry was coming to an end. His hometown should have been a safe, welcoming place, but when He read from Isaiah 61:1-2 and claimed that He was the fulfillment of that Messianic prophecy, the people turned against Him and tried to kill Him. That rejection caused Him to go to Capernaum, where His ministry continued.
Jesus showed us how to deal with temptations and how to deal with trials. Whatever you face, God will walk with you and help you through it. The trials you face are common to life. Satan would design for them to hurt you. God will take them to help you grow in faith and be a help to others. Keep your focus on His Kingdom. He will see you through.
Apply - (2 1/2 minutes)
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Pray - (1 1/2 minutes)