Beloved -
I read on a small country church billboard in Fairview, New Jersey, the following: "A Christian is not much good until he has been put through some hot water!"
"For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ." II Corinthians 1:5
"But to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory, you may rejoice with exultation." I Peter 4:13
"Consider it all joy my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." James 1:2-4
When we think of this suffering, we consider a cross, a burden to bear. Perhaps being ridiculed for our faith or being ostracized by a community. We think of past martyrs or of Christians on the mission field who daily face life and death situations. Let's face it, what kind of suffering for Jesus do we experience in our daily lives? What courageous and valiant action do we take for the gospel that would merit the attention and regard of the heavenly hosts?
Let us consider a marriage on the rocks, the unjust loss of employment, the passing of a dearly loved little one, a son on drugs, a mortgage foreclosure, a brother's betrayal, a parent's abandonment? All of these rip our hearts, tear our lives into pieces and cause us to ask why? Where is the Father's love? Where is God's power for His children? The pain swells deep within ...
Jesus: "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me..." Matthew 26:39 (reluctance, hesitancy to obey, frailty, lack of courage, fear of pain - and for those who are wondering how I can say that Jesus felt fear of pain, let's consider Hebrews 4:15 which reads: "For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin); "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" Mark 15:34 (abandonment, lack of understanding, loneliness, heartbreak)
And here is the incomparable sweetness... in our sufferings at whatever degree, we gain empathy to His. We come close yet not to the extent He did, no matter how grievous our loss, though, it might feel like death is the only means of ending our emotional torment at the time ... we can come close to the heartbreak, the pain, the loss, the uncertainty, the fear, the desperation of His sufferings ...
We are allowed the privilege of becoming more like Jesus; of understanding His heart; His passion; His loss; His pain; His insecurity; and in so doing reveal His utter and complete commitment to us. This grants us revelation to His love of the Father thus releasing in us the understanding and experience of His security, His strength, His faithfulness; His compassion and mercy and goodness and kindness and selflessness. We can acquire and manifest all these hereditary character traits through suffering. We can become so close to Him that the breath of the Father is felt on our necks when He embraces us firmly and holds us tenderly - safely! What would we not offer to be in those arms? We look back on our travels and despite our past mourning, we can know joy; where ashes, now beauty; the garment of praise and thankfulness in exhange for a spirit of heaviness! Isaiah 61:3
We can intimately know God! Intimately! Know! God!
I heard it said that one should never trust a man without a limp. That limp is the suffering that grounds the man, gives him his place, focuses his attention, and clears the path for amazing dependence on Him Who holds the universe in His hands and Whose heart is freely given for our love and benefit. We are humbled. We become like Jesus!
Whatever we are going through at the moment... especially those of us who have been called to Nashville without a clue:
"He who began a good work in you will perfect it..." Philippians 1:6
"You will seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:11
"For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable" Romans 11:29
"And God is able to make all grace abound to you..."
II Corinthians 9:8
"And let the peace of God rule in your hearts.. and be thankful."
Colossians 3:15
"But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one. And may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the steadfastness of Christ." II Thessalonians 3:3,5.
The Incomparable Sweetness of Suffering!
I read on a small country church billboard in Fairview, New Jersey, the following: "A Christian is not much good until he has been put through some hot water!"
"For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ." II Corinthians 1:5
"But to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory, you may rejoice with exultation." I Peter 4:13
"Consider it all joy my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." James 1:2-4
When we think of this suffering, we consider a cross, a burden to bear. Perhaps being ridiculed for our faith or being ostracized by a community. We think of past martyrs or of Christians on the mission field who daily face life and death situations. Let's face it, what kind of suffering for Jesus do we experience in our daily lives? What courageous and valiant action do we take for the gospel that would merit the attention and regard of the heavenly hosts?
Let us consider a marriage on the rocks, the unjust loss of employment, the passing of a dearly loved little one, a son on drugs, a mortgage foreclosure, a brother's betrayal, a parent's abandonment? All of these rip our hearts, tear our lives into pieces and cause us to ask why? Where is the Father's love? Where is God's power for His children? The pain swells deep within ...
Jesus: "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me..." Matthew 26:39 (reluctance, hesitancy to obey, frailty, lack of courage, fear of pain - and for those who are wondering how I can say that Jesus felt fear of pain, let's consider Hebrews 4:15 which reads: "For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin); "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" Mark 15:34 (abandonment, lack of understanding, loneliness, heartbreak)
And here is the incomparable sweetness... in our sufferings at whatever degree, we gain empathy to His. We come close yet not to the extent He did, no matter how grievous our loss, though, it might feel like death is the only means of ending our emotional torment at the time ... we can come close to the heartbreak, the pain, the loss, the uncertainty, the fear, the desperation of His sufferings ...
We are allowed the privilege of becoming more like Jesus; of understanding His heart; His passion; His loss; His pain; His insecurity; and in so doing reveal His utter and complete commitment to us. This grants us revelation to His love of the Father thus releasing in us the understanding and experience of His security, His strength, His faithfulness; His compassion and mercy and goodness and kindness and selflessness. We can acquire and manifest all these hereditary character traits through suffering. We can become so close to Him that the breath of the Father is felt on our necks when He embraces us firmly and holds us tenderly - safely! What would we not offer to be in those arms? We look back on our travels and despite our past mourning, we can know joy; where ashes, now beauty; the garment of praise and thankfulness in exhange for a spirit of heaviness! Isaiah 61:3
We can intimately know God! Intimately! Know! God!
I heard it said that one should never trust a man without a limp. That limp is the suffering that grounds the man, gives him his place, focuses his attention, and clears the path for amazing dependence on Him Who holds the universe in His hands and Whose heart is freely given for our love and benefit. We are humbled. We become like Jesus!
Whatever we are going through at the moment... especially those of us who have been called to Nashville without a clue:
"He who began a good work in you will perfect it..." Philippians 1:6
"You will seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:11
"For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable" Romans 11:29
"And God is able to make all grace abound to you..."
II Corinthians 9:8
"And let the peace of God rule in your hearts.. and be thankful."
Colossians 3:15
"But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one. And may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the steadfastness of Christ." II Thessalonians 3:3,5.
The Incomparable Sweetness of Suffering!
