Bad times have a scientific value. These are occasions a good learner would not miss.
(Ralph Waldo Emerson)
It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.
(Psalm 119:71)
Have you ever prayed for patience? If you have - and I’m pretty sure everybody has at one time or another - then you’d better get ready for the onslaught. Paul tells us in Romans 5:3 that tribulation works patience; so, if you’re serious about wanting patience, brace yourself. But when you come out of whatever you’ll go through, then we’ll have reached the high ground. As a matter of fact, if you want experience and hope and the love of God, then you won’t get them any way other than through tribulation. That’s why Paul said we glory in tribulation; because it’s the starting point for attaining the character of the Lord. So, we should learn that what we’d call bad times in the natural are some of the best times in the spirit.
Now, in keeping with the portion of Scripture in Psalm 119, there was another that came to mind.
Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.
(Hebrews 5:7 to 10)
There’s a reason I brought out as much as I did of that portion in Hebrews; and it’s because all of it is related and gives us a view of Jesus that I don’t think very many believers realize.
First: far too many Christians believe that everything Jesus prayed for came to pass; but that isn’t the case. Yes; the Father heard Him, but the greater good came by not answering His prayer. Consequently we need to understand that there will be times when it will seem that the Lord isn’t hearing our prayers. Actually, He hears them; but there are times when He knows it’s best not to answer them, at least in the way we’d like.
Second: just as Jesus learned obedience by submitting to whatever the Father allowed Him to go through, so we have to do the same. Remember: we’re His sons, but one of the areas we need to work on is obedience. Jesus didn’t just walk in obedience automatically. That was something that He had to choose to do. And it’s the same for us. Obedience isn’t an anointing, but it’s a conscious choosing to do what He commands instead of what we want.
Third: if we want to have a part in that eternal Melchisedec priesthood, of which Jesus is the high priest, the Head, then we need to come to the place where we accept the decisions of the Father and obey Him without question.
So, getting to Psalm 119:71, the writer said that it’s good that he had been afflicted; and Ralph Waldo Emerson mirrored the same thing. It seems that so many tend to state that a day is good or bad according to the things that occurred. But Jesus never stated that He was having a bad day, even with everything He endured. You see, our day isn’t good or bad according to what we go through. If we base it on that, then we’re allowing events to control us. When we classify any day as good or bad, then we’re basing things upon our emotions. The Holy Spirit within us, however, has the ability to use those things that occur to teach us how to overcome and to obey. And, at least for Christians, that should make every day a good day.
What, then, should we be learning? According to the Psalm, it’s His statutes. And His statutes are . . .?
Well, though His commandments and laws and statutes all are pretty similar, His statutes give the concept of boundaries. However, as I was looking for the distinction, I found something interesting. You see, the commandments are speaking about things such as the ten commandments, the requirements God has put forth in His Word. But, according to what I found for statute, and its spelling in Hebrew, it’s speaking about boundaries for holiness.
With that said, is it possible for any of us, as Christians, to be holy?
That’s an emphatic “Yes”.
We can’t be as holy as God the Father in the sense that He is; but we can be holy, nonetheless. After all, holiness talks about being set apart, or consecrated, to God; so it doesn’t mean perfect in the way many think. As with everything with God, there are boundaries to being consecrated to Him. We can’t just decide that we’re going to do this and not do that, and then say that we’re set apart to Him. That’s called legalism. Rather, it’s finding out what God’s will for us is and to walk in obedience to it every moment; and this is different for every person. This is something that is a lifelong learning process for every single one of us.
We have to understand that the Lord has intended every Christian to be holy, to be set apart, consecrated, to Him. However, far too few will be; simply because far too few will permit it. That may sound like we’re controlling God; and, in reality, we are. He’ll do nothing in us without our permission. If we decide that we don’t want to deal with everything it will take to walk as He wants us to walk, He’ll not violate our free will. And being set apart, consecrated, to Him is a conscious decision to allow Him to allow the afflictions that are necessary to bring us to the place He intends us to be.