Facing Life's Challenges While Others Are Watching

Christ died a very public death on the cross to redeem mankind (Phil. 2:7-9). Christ willingly drunk from the bitter cup of God's wrath in full view of others (Luke 23:46). Christ's death and resurrection is the perfect sacrifice that satisfies both the justice of a holy God who must punish sin, and the love of a gracious God who would redeem sinners. Like Christ, believers must drink from their own bitter cup. Christ indicates to the faithful "Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with" (Matt. 20:23). Every believer will have to drink from the bitter cup of persecution (Matt. 5:10-11; Luke 21:12). There are no exceptions (Phil. 1:29). Believers must show their commitment to Christ openly. Christ indicates "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven" (Matt. 10:32-33). Facing Life's Difficulties While Others Are Watching examines the lives of Job, Gideon, Daniel, David, the Apostle Paul and other believers who were victorious over troublesome situations in the presence of onlookers. This work provides explanations of why believers encounter difficult situations and what can be done to overcome them, especially when observers are present. The aforementioned saints should be studied, revered, and imitated. The Apostle Paul asserts "whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope" (Rom. 15:4).