*THE CHRISTIANITY AND THE ROUGH ROAD.*(Series 3) *Scripture Reading:* Job 1:8, Job 2:3 Many today are making it a benchmark of a so called true believer that on the outside at least life has to look perfect. *No suffering, no pain, no heartache, no struggles, no guilt, no illness, no disability, but a life that is filled with glory.* Many are saying to you and me, that if you don’t have a so called perfect life then, something is wrong with your faith, something is wrong with your personal relationship with Jesus Christ. I look to Jesus, He was perfect, righteous, obedient but yet He suffered. But then they will say, Jesus doesn’t count, He had to suffer for your sins. Okay, lets look at some other Biblical characters who suffered, but who at the same time, were righteous. Remember righteous in the Biblical sense means a believer, one who trusted in God, one who is faithful. First the Old Testament. In Job 1:8 it says, *"And the Lord said to Satan, ’Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?"* And what happened to Job. He suffered. He lived a rough life. He walked a rough road. After Job lost all of his wealth, his family, everything but his health, Satan and God talked again listen, Job 2:3 says; *"And the Lord said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil? He still holds fast his integrity although you moved me against him to destroy him without cause."* Job walked the rough road, but was faithful to God. Secondly, the New Testament. Paul is a clear example of one who suffered even though he had a strong faith and was obedient to the will of God. *It could take us hours to talk about Paul, but briefly, remember his thorn in the flesh which God did not remove, remember his numerous beatings, his lashings that almost produced death, being ship wrecked and in the water for 14 days and finally dying in prison in Rome.* Paul walked the rough road, but at the same time he was faithful and obedient, he kept his trust in the Lord, he was righteous to the end. To be continue tomorrow morning by God's Grace. Good morning and do have a great weekend, peace. *Prayer point:* Dear Lord, grant me your grace to be faithful and righteous to the end as I journey this life in Jesus Christ name. Amen! T.S. AFOLAYAN*THE CHRISTIANITY AND THE ROUGH ROAD.*(Series 3) *Scripture Reading:* Job 1:8, Job 2:3 Many today are making it a benchmark of a so called true believer that on the outside at least life has to look perfect. *No suffering, no pain, no heartache, no struggles, no guilt, no illness, no disability, but a life that is filled with glory.* Many are saying to you and me, that if you don’t have a so called perfect life then, something is wrong with your faith, something is wrong with your personal relationship with Jesus Christ. I look to Jesus, He was perfect, righteous, obedient but yet He suffered. But then they will say, Jesus doesn’t count, He had to suffer for your sins. Okay, lets look at some other Biblical characters who suffered, but who at the same time, were righteous. Remember righteous in the Biblical sense means a believer, one who trusted in God, one who is faithful. First the Old Testament. In Job 1:8 it says, *"And the Lord said to Satan, ’Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?"* And what happened to Job. He suffered. He lived a rough life. He walked a rough road. After Job lost all of his wealth, his family, everything but his health, Satan and God talked again listen, Job 2:3 says; *"And the Lord said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil? He still holds fast his integrity although you moved me against him to destroy him without cause."* Job walked the rough road, but was faithful to God. Secondly, the New Testament. Paul is a clear example of one who suffered even though he had a strong faith and was obedient to the will of God. *It could take us hours to talk about Paul, but briefly, remember his thorn in the flesh which God did not remove, remember his numerous beatings, his lashings that almost produced death, being ship wrecked and in the water for 14 days and finally dying in prison in Rome.* Paul walked the rough road, but at the same time he was faithful and obedient, he kept his trust in the Lord, he was righteous to the end. To be continue tomorrow morning by God's Grace. Good morning and do have a great weekend, peace. *Prayer point:* Dear Lord, grant me your grace to be faithful and righteous to the end as I journey this life in Jesus Christ name. Amen! T.S. AFOLAYAN