The Blessings of 2020
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2020 Gave Us the Opportunity to Grow in Faith
2020 Gave Us the Opportunity to Grow in Faith
2 Consider it all joy, my brothers, whenever you encounter various trials, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its perfect effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing.
2020 Taught Us Greater Reliance on God
2020 Taught Us Greater Reliance on God
It has been a long time since people in this country were as “poor in spirit” as we have been in 2020.
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Poor in spirit but not a broken spirit!
2020 brought mourning (Matt. 5:4) but not despair.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
For they shall be comforted.
2020 humbled us (Matt. 5:5).
5 Blessed are the meek,
For they shall inherit the earth.
It’s a blessing to be put to the test and come out the other side more reliant and closer to God!
God provides the way of escape from such trials.
13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
67 Before I was afflicted I went astray,
But now I keep Your word.
71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted,
That I may learn Your statutes.
2020 Taught Us That Happiness Isn’t Reliant on External Circumstances
2020 Taught Us That Happiness Isn’t Reliant on External Circumstances
Dennis Prager, “Happiness does not equal absence from pain.”
Just ask any woman with children:
“What was the happiest experience in your life?”
And
“What was the most painful experience in your life?”
You’ll likely get the same answer - child birth.
2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,
11 “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
24 By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, 26 esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.
2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
11 Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.