However, He does not ever promise in His Word that He will protect us from physical injury or illness, and He allows all of us to die. This kind of suffering is a normal part of normal life in a fallen world.(Google image, Religious persecution)
Suffering Is Promised for Christians
For followers of Jesus, however, the picture is even more sobering. The Bible actually promises us persecution and suffering for our faith. The world is in rebellion against God. It hates God, and when He came as a man in the person of Jesus Christ, the world responded by murdering Him. Jesus promised us that the world would treat us the way it treated Him ().
The comfortable experience of Christians in the West has actually been an anomaly in this regard. Because of the Christian heritage of Western civilization, combined with democratic freedoms and historic rule of law, Western Christians have largely been left alone for their faith. Even today, as Western nations become increasingly post-Christian (and even anti-Christian), the opposition experienced by most Christians goes little beyond mockery. However, there are signs that this protected status may be changing. If it continues to do so, it will simply put Western Christians in the same boat as their brothers and sisters all over the world.
Here are [some] points that can prepare you for such a fate:
First, Christian workers need to examine their own hearts, searching for any sense of entitlement. As Paul advised Timothy, they need to be prepared to “share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God” ().
First, Christian workers need to examine their own hearts, searching for any sense of entitlement. As Paul advised Timothy, they need to be prepared to “share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God” ().
- They will do this, not by cultivating stoicism or asceticism, but by concentrating long and hard on “the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus” (), who is better, more valuable, and more delightful than anything we lose by following Him.
- We need to share the gospel the way Jesus did, by making the cost of discipleship clear (). People who have been given a realistic sense of what it means to follow Jesus, and who have counted the cost, will make much steadier disciples.
- And lest we fear that such a sobering presentation of the gospel will keep people from being saved, we need to realize two things. First, we are offering Jesus, not a cozy life, and Jesus really is better than all of the good things of this world combined.
- Second, it is the power of the Holy Spirit that draws people to Jesus, not our attractive packaging of the message.
- We need to include the subject of suffering well in our immediate follow-up with new believers.
- Followers of Jesus should not be surprised or caught off guard by suffering ().
- They need to endure suffering without compromising their integrity (; ).
- They must love their persecutors and pray for their welfare ().
- They are to renounce any intention to take revenge ().
- They are to trust God in the middle of their suffering and respond by proactively doing good ().
- They are to use their experiences of suffering as a basis for comforting others who suffer ().
- They are to fix their eyes on Jesus ().
- And they are commanded to rejoice. “Rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings” ().
As followers of Jesus, we do not rejoice in suffering because we enjoy pain, but because Jesus is so worthy in our eyes and hearts that we delight in being identified with him.
All suffering is temporary. It isn’t worth comparing with the glory that awaits us (). In that place of glory, all pain and suffering will be gone forever ().
(Emphasis added)
All suffering is temporary. It isn’t worth comparing with the glory that awaits us (). In that place of glory, all pain and suffering will be gone forever ().
(Emphasis added)
Let's pray-
Father, because of Your incredible mercy, You have undoubtedly protected us from many consequences of the Fall in our world.
However, You don't promise in Your Word that You will protect us from physical injury or illness, but that You will allow all of us to die, which is a normal part of our fallen world.
The comfortable experience of Christians in the West has actually been an abnormality in this regard through our Christian heritage. Combined with democratic freedoms and historic rule of law, Christians have largely been left alone for their faith. We see that the opposition experienced by most Christians in the West goes little beyond mockery, however, there are signs that this protection may be changing.
If it continues to do so, it will put Western Christians in the same boat as their brothers and sisters all over the world.
As followers of Jesus, we don't rejoice in the thought of having to suffer, but because Jesus is so worthy in our eyes and hearts, we ask for help to delight in being identified with Him if, or when this becomes a reality.
We need Your Holy Spirit to guide us in preparing for any possible suffering for Jesus in our future. Following the suggestions and Scriptures given today, may our faith be strengthened.
We ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Did you know?
~ Our assignment is to build up ourselves in our most holy faith, (see Jude 20) and to agree in prayer to bring changes to every environment we touch.
~ We must realize that the power of Jesus' blood keeps us clean and the power of the Holy Spirit within us empowers us to guide, protect and to make a difference.
Today's next 5 posts of 100 things Our God Is . . .
66. Faithful Over His House
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67. Ruler of the Kings of the Earth
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68. Our Lord & Our God
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69. Our Life
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70. Our Savior
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Sustaining Love
Alexis Williams:
"My mom knows me best. One thing I love
about Mom is that she can read my thoughts simply by a facial expression. When I get home and I am too tired to hang out, she doesn’t press for details but lets me get my rest. She never holds my grumpiness against me . . . Our heavenly Father is the same. "
Today's quote-
~ Max Lucado- "You are the someone of God’s kingdom. You have access to God’s furnace. Your prayers move God to change the world. You may not understand the mystery of prayer. You don’t need to. But this much is clear: Actions in heaven begin when someone prays on earth. What an amazing thought!
When you speak, Jesus hears.
And when Jesus hears, thunder falls.
And when thunder falls, the world is changed.
All because someone prayed."
And when Jesus hears, thunder falls.
And when thunder falls, the world is changed.
All because someone prayed."
From Lucado Inspirational Reader
Copyright (Thomas Nelson, 2011) Max Lucado
Copyright (Thomas Nelson, 2011) Max Lucado
Listen to UpWords with Max Lucado at OnePlace.com and find resources at MaxLucado.com
Today's sermon spotlight-
MARCH 10, 2019
The Necessity of the Cross and Faith
Speaker: Daniel Paladin
Series: Saved
CFC Potsdam
Upcoming posts-
#27 Pray to Thy Father which is in Secret
9th- Tuesday's post by Samuel Chadwick#28 In the Glory of His Father
11th- Thursday's post by Samuel Chadwick
Running the Race
13th- Saturday's post by Lisa Samra
#29 The Importunity of Prayer
16th- Tuesday's post by Samuel Chadwick
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Jean's blog (Click to see snippets of the 7 recent posts)
Helpful ways the Lord helped me in my marriage
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