Keep hope alive.

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As Christians, we can attest to several experiences we’ve encountered that rubbed mud on our faces. There were situations where we, but for Christ’s sake, should have fought for our rights, sought revenge, and proven a point just to save our faces from “shame” or purport our legitimacy.

The abusive and spiteful words, the deprivation of incentives, the strict and ungodly criteria for working in certain offices, the jests and mockeries from colleagues, the threats that arise from nonconformity—all of these are factors that place Christians in tight spots in today’s world.

These, and more, are what Christians endure for the sake of Christ.

“I would have signed that contract, but my spirit rejected it.”

“I would have been accepted in that company, but their terms defy my faith.”

“I was called to model a brand, but they wanted me to wear dresses that would make me look seductive, so I rejected the offer.”

“I would have accepted the car, but he wanted me to join his cult or have a defiling relationship with him.”

“I would have taken revenge, but my spirit cautioned me.”

” I was sacked because I wouldn’t support their evil schemes”…etc

Every Christian, at one point or another, has made statements like these or something similar. Regardless of all we have been denied, despite the abuses and rejections, the Scriptures declare that we are more than conquerors through Christ.

Let us call to mind what Jesus said in Mark 10:29–30 (KJV):And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s,But he shall receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.

Despite the abuses and rejections, the Scriptures declare that we are more than conquerors through Christ.These scriptures reflect God’s plans to reward every christian who has chosen to suffer for Christ’s sake.

We are more than what our physical appearance reveals.

When Jesus took Peter, James, and John with Him to the Mount of Transfiguration, they had initially considered Christ to be a normal being like themselves. It wasn’t until Christ was transfigured before their eyes that they saw His glorious state. They were awestruck to discover that a glorious Being had been with them for so long and they did not know it. They could not have discerned it because of the humble form Christ assumed in human flesh.

As it was for Christ, so will it befor every true believer.

Recall the Scripture in 1 John 3:2 (KJV):Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

To the world, we might not seem comely; we might be considered “fools” . However, our real identity is like that of Christ on the Mount of Transfiguration.The Scriptures affirm that we shall be like Him. Therefore, since our glorious state is not yet visible, the world may trample on us and hurl all sorts of invectives at us.

At such times, we should not fret. Let us not consider ourselves unlucky, cheated, weaklings or outcasts. We are more than what our physical appearance reveals.

We are glorious.

We are favoured.

We are helped by God.

We are blessed.

We are strong.

We are successful.

We are heaven-bound.

All these are written so “that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.”

Favoured of God, let us keep hope alive. We are more than how the world sees us .

Let us always see ourselves as God sees us.

We will definitely and abundantly be rewarded for whatever we have lost, whatever we have endured, and whomever we have forgiven—for the sake of Jesus Christ.

No matter what the world throw at us or deprive us of, God will always come through for us.

Let’s keep hope alive by always trusting God for our rewards.❤️