Understand the Father’s Love (3)

And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries; but the people who do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.. - Daniel 11:32

Today we will continue our yesterday's lesson on the story of Lazarus:

(2) The fact that you have life challenges does not erase the Father's love for you.

Do not use your problem to measure the Father's love for you. God does not love you more when you are comfortable than when you have challenges. Man's love can oscillate, but the love of God for you does not oscillate. A man may love you because of the benefit they will get from getting close to you; they may appear loving because of the juicy position you presently occupy. That was the love of the wife of Job; she persuaded her husband to curse God and die so she could possibly remarry for what else could have caused that counsel. That is the level of man's love and man's weakness. But God loves us and His love for us does not change regardless of what we are passing through.

Though the Bible acknowledged the fact that Jesus loved the trio in the family, yet Lazarus was sick. It is not true when people say you cannot have trouble because you serve a loving God; certainly, that does not agree with Biblical experience. In fact, the better the plan God has for you, the more you become the focus of demonic hatred. But the good news is that there is always a promotion after every trial. The great Apostle Paul understood that great opportunities lie in troubled moments when he said,

…but I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost. For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries. (1 Corinthians 16: 8-9)

Another example is Daniel, who loved the Lord; he was a man who walked in revelation. At a time, a king who loved him got to the throne and promoted Daniel because he saw the spirit of excellence in him. He was a man of great wisdom and insight, but 120 other colleagues conspired against him. When they couldn't find a way to trap him than touching the law of his God, they went to the king and deceived the king into making a decree that no one should ask for anything from anyone/ any god except from the king within certain days. The king fell into their traps and trickery. They flattered him until he unknowingly committed a political blunder.

The king thought they were honouring him, not knowing they were using him to get at Daniel. Daniel was aware the decree was made to get him yet; he did not lower his standard; he did not compromise the truth he knew. When it was time for Daniel to pray, he did not pray under closed doors/windows. He opened wide his windows as he had done before. He prayed to the God of his fathers because he knew it is only God that could establish him.

Many often forget God once they are exalted. Daniel knew if the conspirators could break his focus from praying, they would eventually get at him. The enemies' plans seemed to work out perfectly because as they planned, Daniel found himself in the lions’ den. But God made the lions become pillows for him.

The fact that you face challenges or difficulties does not deny the Father's love for you. So, do not blame God; problems are not always indications of God's hatred. In times of crisis, if you do not know what to do, you must know where to go. Martha and Mary in John chapter eleven knew they could not handle the problem, so they sent for Jesus.