–Gene Turney  (The Little Ranch in Texas)

       “And our hope for you is firm because we know that as you share in the suffering, so you will share in the comfort.”

                    –2 Corinthians 1:7 (HCSB)
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Trails are often designated by their destination.  I have hiked the trail to Blue Lake, the trail to Longs Lake, the trail to…  Get what I mean?  In days of yore the same was often true.  The Oregon Trail was the trail leading the settlers to Oregon, the California Trail to California, and the Santa Fe Trail led merchants and pioneers to Santa Fe.  Makes sense doesn’t it?
       It took courage to travel one of those early western trails.  Even more so, it took fortitude–endurance.  Many turned back having not the will to make the arduous journey.  Many more died along the way.  It is said that on the Oregon Trail if all the people who died were buried along the way, there would be a grave every mile.  The biggest killer was cholera, but there were also other diseases, the climate, breakdowns and injuries, river crossing, and the threat of outlaws, renegades, and Indians along the way.  It was not an easy trail.  The same was true of the Santa Fe Trail.  It was primarily from its first trek in 1827, a trail for commerce, but as the nation grew people decided to travel it in hope of a new life.  It was used even more often after gold was discovered in Colorado.
       These trails were guided by landmarks along the way.  There was Scott’s Bluff and Chimney Rock in Nebraska; Independence Rock and Devil’s Gate in Wyoming.  Bent’s Fort was built on the Santa Fe Trail just before the cutoff to the southwest.  When the travelers spied the Spanish Peaks, they knew they were on the right trail.  Landmarks–oh, how vital to finding one’s way.  This is true of life, but also true in our spiritual journey as well.
       What is the “Bent’s Fort” in your walk along this trail?  What are the landmarks you can trust?  There are many voices today, many trying to show false landmarks, but there are only a few true ones.  The Bible for sure, and within its pages the Ten Commandments are trustworthy landmarks.  Watch for them, live by them.  The forts are those special resting times you have had with God.  Not the everyday devotions and study, but those times when God came to meet with you.  A time when you can resupply and get refreshed.
       This trail–let’s call it the “Glory Trail”–for it is the trail that leads to glory.  Get on the trail and once you are on it follow it to its destination.  Don’t be distracted by those who fell along the way, or the lure of riches that are false and temporal.  Don’t let the hardships, the suffering, or the renegade false teachers persuade you off the trail. This Glory Trail is not for the faint-hearted for it will try you.  But, take heart, you have a guide.  Just as those pioneers who traveled the early trails of the West looked to the men who had gone before–the men who knew the trail and the hardships–we look to those great men and women of faith in whose footsteps we follow.  Plus, as they did, we have that supreme guide–the Holy Spirit.
       So, get on and stay on the “Glory Trail.”  I recall the words of Jack Hannah:

               “Afraid is what I’m not!
               Hard times come and the trail seems always uphill,
               Courage is what I’ve got,
               The harder it gets, I’m a-cinchin’ up tighter still.
               Oh Lord, I’m glad it’s true,
               It’s best to lean on You,
               Ridin’ up the Glory Trail.

               Oh the Glory Trail is a rugged trail, it’ll try you every day,
               But the Lord is true and He’ll ride with you, along its narrow way….
               Lord it’s plain to see,
               You never fail me,
               Ridin’ up the Glory Trail;
               O Lord, I’m glad it’s true,
               I’ve learned to trust in You
               Ridin’ up the Glory Trail”

                     –Eugene Manlove Rhodes  (The Trouble Man)

       “But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”

                    –Galatians 6:14(NKJV)
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A good friend of mine used to sing that grand song, “The Via Dolorosa,” and combining it with her magnificent voice there came the feeling of something intensely majestic.  This term is used for the route that the Romans would have forced Jesus to take on His way to Calvary.  It is not one street, but a route.  The definition of “dolorosa” is literally a “painful path”; it is a distressing, painful journey or process.  So Jesus, on His way to Calvary, actually means then, “The way of suffering,” or as some would put it, “The way of the Cross.”
       We can imagine, thanks to Scripture and the many movies depicting the crucifixion of Jesus.  There have through history and traditions been added; things that are not in Scripture, but “sound nice.”  Listen, there wasn’t anything “nice” about this journey.  But as we think of the Lord trodding in distress this lonely route knowing everything that lay ahead of him we seem to forget His words to us.  “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” (Luke 9:23, NKJV)
       Think on that!  That is true discipleship.  That is working out your salvation with fear and trembling!  Pick up that cross–pick it up daily and follow Christ.  You will be led down your own Via Dolorosa.  You have a journey, and there will be places along the way where you don’t think you can take it anymore.  It is a painful path, but it is one that must be trod if you are going to follow Him.  
       Notice the definition again, it is a “painful journey or process.”  As you travel through this life, it is definitely a journey, but it is more.  It is maturing in Christ (working out your salvation) it is a process of growth and it often can be painful.  Hearken to the saying, “No pain, no gain.”  Or to the SEAL credo, “The only easy day was yesterday.”  Now, put that to your spiritual experience, your spiritual journey.  You are like Jesus in the way that you must trod this way alone.  Oh, true, there will be friends and family along the way to pray, to lift you up (Simon of Cyrene), but ultimately the cross you bear is your own.  Therefore, do not take the matter of obedience lightly.  Alistair Begg writes, “Those who want to be identified with Christ are still called to pick up their own crosses and follow Him on the path of humility and obedience.”  You might fall along the way, as Jesus did.  The scars, both old and fresh may bleed and cause you great discomfort, but onward and upward you go.  One thing, however, you do not have to face the Cross of Calvary.  The price has already been paid, Jesus Christ, Himself bore that burden.
       “To carry the cross is to be a Christian, and not until then.” (Lois A. Cheney)  Don’t look at the cross others seem to bear; it may be deceiving.  They may hoist their burdens better than yours, the load they carry may be more evenly distributed on their back than what is on yours.  But all true believers have and must carry their cross.  Cheney writes, “The cross is a lonely place.  Even Christ didn’t pick it up quickly and easily.”  But let me now interject here–you do not bear your cross without help.  The Holy Spirit is there.  He is the “Paraclete,” the One who walks along beside, the One who helps you bear your cross.  The One who points out the route on your personal “Via Dolorosa.”
       Friend, don’t delay like the rich young ruler.  Don’t let possessions, friends, career, or any other thing get in the way of picking up your cross and following the One who died for you.  Follow in His footsteps, He already had traveled the route.

                    –Louis L’Amour  (Comstock Lode)

       “Better is a little with righteousness, than vast revenues without justice.”

                    –Proverbs 16:8 (NKJV)

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The distress and woe of Psalm 102 is past and now we are in the praise and wonderful remembrance of God is Psalm 103.  Many, if not most, of our troubles, despair, depression, and anxiety come from either a false view of God or an incomplete view of God and that most often comes from a neglect on our part to get to know Him better.  We need to praise Him all the time.  Our mind and focus should continually turn to Him.  “Be not afraid to saying too much in the praises of God; all the danger is of saying too little.”  (Matthew Henry)

          1 — Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name!
          2 — Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits:
          3 — Who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases,
          4 — Who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies.
          5 — Who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
          6 — The LORD executes righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed.
          7 — He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel.  (NKJV)

       What is it you most like to do?  Don’t just blurt out anything, but think carefully.  I recall a story told by a missionary to Brazil.  He asked a newly converted native that same question.  He expected an answer such as “hunting” or “fishing” or “canoeing,” but was amazed when the man answered, “Being occupied with God.”  We hear often today that Christianity isn’t a religion, but a relationship, but is it really?  A person has to know God to have a relationship, for God already knows you.  
       Steven Lawson wrote, and I want you to contemplate this:  “Worship is not about keeping up an outward façade of rituals, rules, or religion.  It is about an inward reality of a living relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ.  Worship is the soul’s encounter with the supreme majesty of God and the risen Christ on high.  Worship is ex-periencing God in one’s innermost being–all that I am responding to all that He is.  This is every believer’s glorious occupation.”  Praise the Lord for this opportunity, but to do this we must focus on Him and what He has done for us.
       As we saw in Psalm 102 the time of despair, we see now in Psalm 103 the deep healing that comes from the Lord to match the hurt.  What a minute, what about verse 3, “who heals all your diseases.”  Don’t you know of people that God did not heal?  Step back, look at the bigger picture.  It is not trite to think of the perfect healing of the Lord.  In the realm of glory there is no sickness, all is healing.  Notice the repeat in verse 1 and 2–this is important.  The Psalmist just came out of  the doldrums, the slough of despond and for the sake of emphasis he makes sure that it is known that it is the Lord that did it.  In the midst of an emotional tailspin we must not forget all His benefits (Lawson).
       God forgives all our sins, in other words, He heals the life-threatening disease that has spread to the soul–the deadly plague of sin and gives abundant life (Lawson).  As God was with Moses in the wilderness; a wilderness of confusion and wandering and trials, He made His ways known to Moses.  God will do the same for you and for me.  To do so, turn your eyes upon Jesus.  Develop that relationship and delve deep into the Bible for then, and only then can a true relationship be developed.

               “O praise ye the Lord!  Thanksgiving and song
               To Him be outpoured all ages along;
               For love in creation, for heaven restored,
               For grace of salvation, O praise ye the Lord!”
                         –Henry W. Baker

       “We recall, in the presence of our God and Father, your work of faith, labor of love, and endurance of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.”

                    –1 Thessalonians 1:3 (HCSB)
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               “Therefore, my dear ones, as you have always obeyed [my suggestions], so now, not only [with the enthusiasm you would show] in my presence but much more because I am absent, work out (cultivate, carry out to the goal, and fully complete) your own salvation with reverence and awe and trembling (self-distrust, with serious caution, tenderness of conscience, watchfulness against temptation, timidly shrinking from whatever might offend God and discredit the name of Christ).”
                          –Philippians 2:12(Amplified)

For some reason this verse seems to baffle many people.  It is that one little phrase, “work out.”  It is that phrase that frustrates so many Christians.  I purposely used the Amplified Version to give a clearer picture of the verse.  The Greek word for work is, “katergazomai” which means to “achieve, effect by toil, work out” (Vine).   The NKJV Study Bible gives some background as to the meaning.  It was used to describe the digging of silver out of silver mines.  “Thus salvation can be compared to a huge gift that needs to be unwrapped for one’s thorough enjoyment.”  We are to cultivate our salvation and bring it to full effect.  In other words, pursue spiritual maturity.
       Salvation is a gift–never forget that.  “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.” (Ephesians 2:8, NKJV)  It has already been paid for, the work has already been accomplished.  Yet, now, once we are saved we begin to “work out” our salvation.  We do not “work for” but we “work out.”  Get that for it’s vitally important!
       Let me give a few examples.  A person might give you a jigsaw puzzle–that is the gift.  Now, it is up to you to put it together; to work it out.  The gift is ours, now we are to put it together.  Another way to look at it might be the illustration that was used by Charles Atlas.  Some of you might remember the ads for his workout regimine.  There is a young, puny-looking lad, frail, spindly and a muscle-man comes by where he is sitting and kicks sand in his face.  The boy has a body, but it is not developed.  He must “work out” to make it into an intimidating physical specimen.  He goes to the gym, looks in the mirror at his weak body, then begins to lift weights, run, and does calisthenics.  His body begins to change and with it his attitude.  He is “working out.”
       One more example:  hold that baby in your arms.  My what a sweet little thing and you stand it on its feet, and splat, it goes right on its face.  You determine that you will never let it out of your arms.  But then what about your life?  So eventually, over time, you watch and guard the baby as it grows from babyhood to becoming a toddler with all of the bruises that go with it.  From those first steps, he is working out his muscles, gaining confidence, and moving on toward the next stage of life.
       In other words, to “work out” means to develop who you are in Christ.  Oh, you may fall along the way, get some scraps on your arms and scratches on your knees, but you are progressing.  The Holy Spirit is within you and whether you realize it or not there is a magnificent fruit growing in you.  Alistair Begg states, “the Christian life is a joyful–and at times painful–voyage of discovery.”  We are now to walk, to live out, to act out Paul’s instruction regarding our salvation.
       I am going to borrow some more from Begg in describing how to “work out.”  “The call to work out our salvation is a call to consistency.  Just as we called on the name of the Lord to save us at the start of our Christian lives, so we must continue to call on His name.  This takes very ordinary, practical forms in our lives.  We continue to come before God in prayer.  We continue to gather with fellow believers for worship.  We continue to hear from Him in Scriptures.  We continue to strive to walk in His grace, putting sin to death and growing in spiritual fruit.  We work at the Christian life, for we remember that no one matures as a believer by accident.”
       We do not need to work for our salvation nor do we need to work on our salvation.  That part is finished and the work has been secured.  Now, we are to “work out” our salvation so that we are in shape–more and more like Christ.  That’s why 1 John is such an important book.  If we fail in our working out we can go to Christ who will forgive and cleanse us (1 John 1:9).  This verse is for the Christian who is working out his salvation.  We don’t jump from the light once we are walking in it over into darkness, then back into the light and so on.  We walk in the light, working out our salvation.