Psalm 37:1:
1FRET NOT yourself because of evildoers, neither be envious against those who work unrighteousness (that which is not upright or in right standing with God).
We are told here NOT to "fret", the Hebrew word, "charah", which means: to be hot, to be furious, to become angry, to be incensed, to be displeased, to blaze up, to heat oneself in vexation, about evildoers, and NOT to be envious of them! Evildoers (wicked, unbelievers) have a certain end in their future and so do we! If they continue in their wickedness and never receive Jesus as Lord and personal Saviour, the end for them will be Hell and the Lake of Fire! That is really a whole lot worse than what anyone may be putting US through right now! Our responsibility is to pray for them that their hearts will be open to receive the Truth, that the Lord of the Harvest will send laborers into their lives, that they will receive that Word and be saved. Don't allow yourself to question why some unbelievers APPEAR to be prospering more than you when you are doing things God's way! We are promised a sure reward IF we don't quit or give up (Galatians 6:9)! The wicked also have a promised result in the Word of God and it's NOT pretty! Continue to remind yourself every day:
- Who you are.
- Where you came from.
- Why you're here.
- Where you're going.
In 1 Timothy 1 we see Paul encouraging the young pastor. He reminds Timothy of his (Paul's) own qualifications for being in the ministry. Verse 1:
1PAUL, AN apostle (special messenger) of Christ Jesus by appointment and command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus (the Messiah), our Hope,
Then Paul reminds Timothy of his (Timothy's) calling into the ministry and encourages Timothy to stick with it. Verses 2 and 18:
2To Timothy, my true son in the faith: Grace (spiritual blessing and favor), mercy, and [heart] peace [be yours] from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
18This charge and admonition I commit in trust to you, Timothy, my son, in accordance with prophetic intimations which I formerly received concerning you, so that inspired and aided by them you may wage the good warfare,
There were times when Timothy withstood persecution because of his youth. I have experienced similar treatment because I am a woman in ministry. The encouragement of my pastor and other ministry gifts greatly encouraged me to continue on in what God has called me to do. As a born again believer, a member of the Body of Christ and a child of the God of the Bible, make sure that YOU are always an encouragement to those in the ministry! How we receive the Gifts that God has given us will affect our harvest of good things in this life!
In Amos we see another young preacher who was despised by some! The prophets were sent by God to His people to warn them of the consequences of their continued rebellion against the Lord and His Word. Time after time the people ignored, reviled and sometimes even killed the prophets that the Lord sent, but He continued to give them opportunity after opportunity to repent. He spoke through the prophets what the people and nations needed to do to be blessed by Him! Amos 5:4 is one such instruction and promise:
4For thus says the Lord to the house of Israel: Seek Me [inquire for and of Me and require Me as you require food] and you shall live!
The word "live" here is the Hebrew word, "chayah", which means: to live, to have life, to live prosperously, to be restored, to revive. That hasn't changed under the New Covenant! If we seek Him as our vital necessity, we, too, shall walk in the fullness of all that God has for us (Matthew 6:33)!
Shalom in Him!
