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The end of a matter is better than its beginning; Patience of spirit is better than haughtiness of spirit.
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The single most important thing that you and I now have as believers is faith! For indeed we were saved by grace through faith in Christ Jesus and not by our own efforts or works {Eph.2:8-9} and without faith it is impossible to please God. {Heb.12:2} At the end of the day, it is about results—what the Lord brings about in and through our lives!

The single greatest example of that truth is the very thing that the apostle Paul said was the focus of his life and his teaching: “Christ and Him crucified.” {1Cor.2:2} That was the horror of the cross which became God’s greatest gift to mankind, reuniting us with the Father. Jesus said that He went to the cross for the joy set before Him. {Heb.12:2} He was focused on the result!

The Lord has called us to consider it all joy when we encounter various trials, knowing that those trials, the testing of our faith, will produce endurance which will result in us being perfected and complete just as James wrote. {Jas.1:2-4} Again, it is about results. Even in the natural when something goes wrong with our bodies a doctor working to fix, to heal the body, will often in the process be called to do some things that are painful to the flesh. Once again, seeking the result.

In 2020 the world was shocked by the pandemic brought about by the Covid-19 virus. My wife Alice and I had just boarded a ship to travel to a number of Latin American countries where I had ministered many times in the past. We were on the last ship allowed out, and as we left port the travel restrictions were put in place generally throughout the world. We sailed past all of the places I was planning to revisit, now not being allowed to enter or even dock! I prayed, and the Lord spoke. He said to me just as He had to Peter so long before, ‘do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing as though some strange thing were happening to you.’ {1Pt.4:12} And of course it was all about the result.

While that experience cannot compare to the cross and is hardly like many of the tribulations that Peter encountered—tradition tells us that he was martyred for his faith—everything ‘bad’ that happens to us will try to remove our love, joy, and our peace as that last verse reveals. The result of sin, big or little, is death! (Rom.6:23} Therefore, just follow the plan, the instruction of God’s Word, a far better protection against death or the ravages of disease than any vaccine to insure getting the desired result, abundant life:

“Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit; do not despise prophetic utterances. But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good;” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-21)

TRUST IN GOD AND IN HIS LOVE See less