“You have said, ‘What’s the use of serving God? What have we gained by obeying his commands or by trying to show the Lord of Heaven’s Armies that we are sorry for our sins? Malachi 3:14
My brothers and sisters in Christ, many of us may have gotten tired of waiting on God and may have asked, “Why have we fasted, and You have not seen? Why have we humbled ourselves, and You have not noticed? Not only do evildoers prosper, they even test God and escape.” But know that God has promised, that, on the day when he prepares his possessions, we will know the difference between the righteous and the wicked, those who serve God, and those who do not. We must not be discouraged.
As God’s fellow workers, then, we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. 2 Corinthians 6:1
“Be careful that no one falls short of the grace of God, so that no root of bitterness will spring up to cause trouble and defile many. See that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.”
They turned back and acted treacherously like their fathers; they turned aside like a treacherous bow. Psalm 78:57
“If I tell the righteous man that he will surely live, but he then trusts in his righteousness and commits iniquity, then none of his righteous works will be remembered; he will die because of the iniquity he has committed.”
Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him. Hebrews 10:38
“But we are not like those who turn away from God to their own destruction.” We are the faithful ones, whose souls will be saved. My brothers and sisters in Christ, we must not put our hands to the plough, then turn back.
We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” 2 Corinthians 5:20
Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, divine utterance may be given me, so that I will boldly make known the mystery of the gospel, that the Good News is for Jews and Gentiles alike. Ephesians 6:19
God’s anger is revealed from heaven against all the sin and evil of the people whose evil ways prevent the truth from being known. Romans 1:18
“Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace and not by foods of no value to those devoted to them. Therefore, see to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, which are based on human tradition and the spiritual forces of the world rather than on Christ. Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him.”
Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. Galatians 6:7
“For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.”
For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. 2 Corinthians 1:5
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”
“Therefore, we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.”
“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”
We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. 2 Corinthians 4:8-10
For months we have been going through this pandemic crisis and now in the midst of an active hurricane season, but we will not lose heart, we will not give up, we will continue on in prayer, believing in God’s promise, to never leave us nor forsake us, we will get through this, and we will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living if we do not lose hope. Keep the faith!