Job 23:10 ‘But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.’

DAILY READING 2 Thessalonians 3; Isaiah 29-30; Psalm 119:1-32

John Bunyan was one of England’s most famous writers who was also a Puritan preacher. He carried out his pastoral duties so well that he was nicknamed “Bishop Bunyan.”
Bunyan was a fearless man who refused to stop preaching even in the face of great opposition.
In 1660, in England, religious freedom came to an abrupt end when King Charles II mounted the throne. Anglicanism was designated as the official state religion. It became illegal to conduct church services outside of the Church of England and unlicensed individuals were forbidden from addressing a religious gathering.
However, Bunyan would not bow to these laws and continued to preach the Gospel. In November 1660 Bunyan was preaching in a private home when he learned that a warrant for his arrest had been made out. Though warned of the danger, he continued to preach, until officers arrived and arrested him for preaching without a license. His growing popularity, though, prompted the judge to seek some sort of a compromise. He promised Bunyan immediate release if he only promised not to preach again. But Bunyan replied, “If you release me today, I shall preach tomorrow!”
Bunyan was eventually arrested three times, for preaching without a license and spent over twelve years in prison. At any time during those years, he could have secured his freedom by simply promising not to preach. But Bunyan knew God’s calling on his life and so he adamantly refused to compromise his convictions.
Amazingly, he wrote an all-time best seller while serving in prison. In those prison years Bunyan wrote the book ‘Pilgrim’s Progress’. Its immediate success and ongoing popularity made it a Christian classic and the second most read book in English literature after the Bible.

We must be always willing to stand for the truth of the Gospel no matter what it may cost us. Sometimes we may get thrown into the fire for not compromising our faith. But even at those times when it seems we are being persecuted for righteousness sake, God promises to see us through. He says in Isaiah 43:2 “When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned. The flames will not harm you’
When we are persecuted for the sake of Christ, even in the fire, God will be there as the fourth man to carry out a rescue operation. Certainly God will honor those that honor Him.
If perhaps today, you find yourself wrongly accused, judged unfairly and going through a trial of faith, but be assured that God will see you through and you will come forth as gold.

Job 23:10 says ‘But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.’

Indeed you may go through the fire, but you will not be burned. God’s grace upon you will be proven because you will survive. As you remain faithful and continue to choose to please God rather than man, God will honor you. God will show you His exceeding goodness. You may go through the fire today, but you are coming out stronger and better. What the enemy meant for evil, God will surely turn it all around for you good. God will bring to you restoration and renewal.

Job 42:10 says ‘And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.

God gave Job, double for his troubles. Likewise God will turn around every captivity for you, and multiply you exceedingly and abundantly. God will grant you dominion over your enemies and for all you have been through, you will surely receive double for all your troubles.

PRAYER Lord please grant me renewed appetite for Your Word so that I can draw the strength to stand in faith against oppositions. Thank You Lord for always granting me dominion over challenges in Jesus Name.
QUOTE
When you make God your priority, God automatically makes you priority in His own plan. – WORDBITE 222.