Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered outside the gate. Therefore, let us go forth to him outside the camp, bearing his reproach. For we have no continuing city here, but we seek one to come.
Select a thought to read by choosing a collection, the month, and then the day:
The cure for the inability to endure challenging or painful circumstances is what Jesus called "salt". He told his disciples that they needed salt in themselves, so that they could experience genuine peace (Mk. 9:50). He also suggested that no prayer or praise to God was acceptable unless it arose from a salted heart (Mk. 9:49).
Salt is a preservative, and the salt that comes from God preserves our hearts from bitterness and unbelief, regardless of circumstances. It is the power of God that keeps, or preserves us from discouragement and fear. Disappointment does not destroy our faith when we have the salt of heaven keeping our souls. Fear does not direct our path when we are kept on the right path by God's power. Truth is not an offence to us when the power of God opens our ears and enables us to hear sound doctrine and to rejoice in it!
We can endure the unsavory things of this life, including some of the "hard sayings" of Jesus, only as we are kept by the power of the holy Ghost from our own thoughts and ways. The salt of God saves us from ourselves first, and then from the world. And we must be kept from evil now by the salt of heaven if we hope to be saved in the end, for the reward of eternal life is laid up in heaven only for those who "are kept by the power of God" (1Pet. 1:4-5).