Currently, I’m listening to “Another in the fire with me” By Hillsong.

Someone asked a question in my church some weeks back after I finished a teaching on how Christ endured suffering and the cross for the glory ahead.

This is the question;

“Christ knew there was a Glory ahead of Him so He could endure. Today as Christians, how do we know there is Glory ahead of our suffering? E.g how does a Christian student suffering in school know that after school, his suffering will stop?
Christ had an assurance so he could endure. What’s the assurance so we too can endure?”

To be honest, I couldn’t answer the question completely immediately because it caught me off guard but after a short while, the Spirit of God began to minister the answer to me and that’s what I’m sharing on the Blog today.

Amen?

Amen.

Let’s talk about Jesus.

The son of God came to earth as man and went through all kinds of sufferings, pains and eventually death to redeem the fallen man.

Before He came, several scriptures had prophesied his coming, death, resurrection and the glory He would eventually be given. So, I believe Christ wasn’t in the dark as to what would happen to Him. We see in several scriptures that He even told His disciples that he would die and resurrect.

Now this is it, No one had died and resurrected prior to then so there wasn’t a precedence for Christ to relate to.

All He relied on, was what God had said. God said He’d suffer and die but after 3 days, He’d resurrect and be seated at the right hand of God

and the World would be saved.

Had it happened before? No. But God said it, so Christ trusted and went for it.

Christ’s assurance for the Glory ahead was God’s Word.

He knew the Father and trusted that if the Father said it, so it was.
Even when his human flesh became afraid of the torture, He took His mind back to the father’s plan and forged ahead.

In our lives today as Christians, our greatest assurance is the Word of God.
When you go through unpleasant times, your confidence for a better future should be hinged on God’s Word.

In this Kingdom, seeing is not believing. We believe even when we do not see. The only recipe our faith needs to he cooked up is God’s Word.
“The just shall live by faith” is recorded in four different Bible passages, signifying the importance of Faith to God. The Bible even says without it, it is impossible to see God.

Christianity itself is a faith. I mean how do you explain believing that someone came, died and resurrected for your sake when you have not seen the person?
That’s exactly what faith is. Believing without seeing. And remember Jesus said to Thomas, You believe because you see but blessed are those who believe without seeing. Christianity is impossible without faith.

for we walk by faith, not by sight [living our lives in a manner consistent with our confident belief in God’s promises]—
2 CORINTHIANS 5:7 AMP

How to live by Faith.

This is what it means to trust God: We will be sure about the things that we hope for. We will be sure in our minds about things that we cannot even see.
Hebrews 11:1 EASY

You must take note that faith is only valid when you’re holding on to the Word of God. (So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:17 KJV)

Dimensions of God’s Word;

The revealed Word of God to you

The Word of God from scriptures

The revealed Word of God to you is the Word that God Himself gives to you in your time of prayer or fellowship. It could also be through visions, prophecy or dreams. This is a special word of promise revealed by God which is unique to you alone.

The Word of God from scriptures are the blessings and promises from the Bible. You can claim them as a saint and a heir of salvation.

To live by faith is to live as though your physical eyes don’t see. Your eyes are taken away from everything that surrounds you, be it good or bad.

You have a family or friend who promised to help you secure a job and you’re grateful to God for him but your confidence is not hinged on that. You seek God and hold on to His word as though you have no one.

Your life is full of challenges and problems that should pull you down but you hold on to the promises of Yahweh and live in your authority in Christ as though those problems do not exist.

You barely have enough to eat but you confess God’s word that “My God shall supply all my needs”. You do this from a place of deep conviction in God’s Word.

Your life seems perfect and everything is in place but that’s not what gives you rest of mind. Your peace rather, is in the fact that Jesus holds your future.

This is how to live by faith. Finding out God’s plans for you in His Word and holding on to it like your life depends on it, because it does.

Dear Christian, your confidence in God’s Word should be unwavering. It’s the surest and most reliable. Every other thing you rely on can and will fail.

When you’re faced with a challenge, go back to the Word or your journal for God’s promises and find out what provision was made got that issue.

God’s integrity is on His Word. He’s a respecter of nothing but His Word. Trust in the Intergerity of God’s Word and let it be the basis of your confidence.

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:23 NKJV

Romans 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

Now faith is the assurance (title deed, confirmation) of things hoped for (divinely guaranteed), and the evidence of things not seen [the conviction of their reality—faith comprehends as fact what cannot be experienced by the physical senses]. HEBREWS 11:1 AMP

She laughs without fear of the future

Which of their flaws came to your mind as you saw this topic?

Some years back, I traveled to Abuja to spend some time with my uncle and his family.

One Sunday morning, we set out to church in a rush as we were already very late.

We were almost halfway through when my uncle suddenly parked the car beside the road and rested his head on the steering wheel.

Apparently, he was not feeling too well but insisted on going to church with us.

His wife could drive very well so I suggested she took over from him so he could rest, but he refused. I tried insisting but his wife signalled to me to stop. We ended up being being very late for church that day because my uncle rested for about 20mimutes.

When we got back home, my uncle’s wife explained to me that her husband could be very adamant and when he says “no” especially when he’s stressed or sick, it’s wiser not to push further, at least, not immediately.

Isn’t it amazing how we’re all flawed in one way or another?

I once heard a story of a marriage that had to be dissolved because one of the parties thought toothpaste tube should be squeezed from the bottom but the other, squeezed the tube from any part of the body.

The “organized one” couldn’t live with someone who didn’t have respect for toothpaste ?? (Ignore my dry humor please. I couldn’t help but say that ⬆).

Let us admit, after the euphoria and excitement in the first few days, weeks or even months of your relationship, you begin to face reality and admit that your partner is not the perfect walking deity you thought they were.

When the bubbling chemicals in you, subside and flaws begin to be unveiled, You both realize that chemistry and biology are not enough to keep a relationship anymore.

Flaws are numerous because they’re a part of our humanity. Here are few of the countless flaws that exist in relationships: Lack of financial wisdom, lack of confidence, bad communication skills, bad chatting skills, too little attention, too much attention, inability to plan or organize things, nagging, tardiness, dirtiness, nonchalance, lack of toothpaste squeezing skills, snoring…

It may be their attitude to life, their obsession with a particular thing, a “not-too-attractive” feature on their body that you didn’t notice earlier, or even their eating style. You begin to painfully admit that your partner is not perfect. In fact, they’re far from perfect.

He’s not so much a gentleman as you thought or he’s even stingy. She doesn’t speak to you in a proper manner or she’s bossy. He plays too much or she’s too serious.

It could even be that he doesn’t earn enough money.

She’s too loud, I wish she could be a little calm, I wish he listened to me a bit more, I wish she didn’t have those big eyes ?, (Yes! Even physical flaws), I wish he was this and that.

Each of these flaws are entirely different… Well, maybe not entirely, but they’re unique and may have to be dealt with, differently.

I’ve come to realize that there’s always one or two things I wish I could change about a person (family members and friends). I know I love my friends and they mean a lot to me but they have habits I wish they didn’t. But since relationships are all about sacrifices, I look away from their flaws and love them regardless.

A love relationship may not be handled exactly the same way because you’ll be living with them for the rest of your life. So you have to observe flaws more critically.

Some flaws can not be dealt with. Hence, going apart is the only solution.

One of which is abuse.

Love yourself enough to be honest and admit if you really can not endure your partner’s excesses. Because they may have harmful long-term effects. The earlier you realize and end it, the better.

But when you realize that the pros outweigh the cons and you know that you do not want to do life without your partner next to you, then you must have a proper understanding on how to approach their flaws.

Personally, I think most flaws can be worked on and adjusted to. Here are practical ways to:

1. Communicate

Some flaws (like character flaws) can be worked on. Tell them about it and how it makes you feel. Don’t pretend to be “unbothered” about his nonchalant lifestyle, tell him his attention is vital to you.
Don’t assume you can endure her endless complaints, tell her how it makes you feel.

You must realize that they’re probably the way they are due to their past, environment or even family experiences. So, unless someone points it out, they may never change.

2. Recognize that they’re human… just like you!

Gold cannot be pure, and people cannot be perfect. – Chinese Proverb

It’s the nature of humans to be bad at something. If anyone looks perfect to you, it’s probably because you’re yet to encounter their flaws. When you’re faced with your partner’s “not-too-good” side, count is as part of their humanity. You have a couple of wrongs yourself.

Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye. – Jesus Christ

3. Magnify and Celebrate their good sides

A diamond with flaws is worth more than a pebble without imperfections.

Something attracted you to them in the first place. Find it.

They may be bad at some things but they’re good at many others. Focus on them.

What an absurd thing it is to pass over all the valuable parts of a man, and fix our attention on his infirmities! – Addison

4. Pray for them and love them regardless

John 17:17
Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth

Some of their flaws may be beyond them and God has to step in. Learn to love regardless of shortcomings, just as God loves you.

My imperfections and failures are as much a blessing from God as my successes and my talents and I lay them both at his feet. – Mahatma Gandhi

5. Work on their flaws with them and be patient

Suggest ways that can help, make them see the disadvantages and the harm it could cause to your relationship and be patient as God works on them

6. Realize that some things may never change

This is very important. The flaw may never leave completely so if you think you can live with it find a way to adjust and adapt or even cover up for them.