Luke 24:21a – But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel.

What is it that you hoped for when you joined with Christ? Did you think all darkness would recede from your path? That you would never experience pain, grief, or suffering? What is it that you had expected?

Sometimes, it becomes difficult for a new believer when they find the world around them changes little or not at all, or even becomes more difficult because of their newly found faith. “But Jesus promised!” can be easily misinterpreted, which is when the more seasoned of the body of Christ should step in with support, love, prayer and scripture, providing comfort and assurance so as to bolster their experience. Even Jesus’ closest followers during His last three years of life on the planet misunderstood Him and His purpose!

We should never downplay the importance of the soul over the body and the eternal over the temporal, for these are the essence of Christ’s redemption. His promise that the world would hate us because it hated Him first (John 15:1819) plays out each day, both personally and worldwide. Jesus came not with a sword to slay our enemies – that will come at His return – but with love and forgiveness for them, and that is how we will all become winners.

So, whether you are a new recruit or a seasoned veteran in the Lord’s forces, rest assured that by reenlisting each and every day, you will, in the end, stand beside the Savior, redeemed, as a victor.