Suffering

At times, we discuss the different kinds of suffering that people endure. I don't know why but the suffering of old age comes to mind. No example is necessary if you are no longer a kid. Over the years, the suffering of men in prison has been a topic of interest to me because of my involvement. Our teenagers struggle with peer pressure that causes suffering for them. Of course, there is suffering from illness or accidents. The classic book of Job says it like this Man is...full of trouble. (Job 14:1) The truth is that suffering can come from any direction and it hurts regardless of the source. Evil people as well as righteous people can suffer from either good or bad sources. Suffering is an experience that is shared by everyone. Therefore, it is important how we view and handle the suffering in our own life experience.

Believe it or not, the Scripture asks us to willingly submit to additional suffering for the sake of righteousness. Peter wrote about suffering in the book with his name. Suffering must have been something that he dealt with in his life. As a boy he must have thought about the peaceful life of a fisherman, which would be his. Then he met Jesus and his life became completely different. Peter suffered beyond the norm for a fisherman of his day because he gave his life to the Savior. However, Peter was a very happy man when he wrote, Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. 1 Pet 4:12-14

We are clearly called to suffer for righteousness if we want to please God. Why do today's church people do everything possible to avoid it? All the people truly belonging to Jesus are outcast from this world. A person that is not an outcast must weigh the value of eternity if they want to become a part of Christ. A rich young man informed Jesus that he was a good person and he desired to enter heaven. He was told to give away everything he owned but he could not because this world meant too much to him. Are we trading the pleasures of this world for eternity in a burning Hell?

Over the years, this is the place in the Gospel where people want to tell me how they serve God WITH their money. Jesus told the men He sent out into ministry that they were to have NO money. We should know that it is God's ministry and relying on our money only hinders what God wants to do with us. It is counter productive to give me some big rational explanation. You must tell God why you are hanging on to anything in this world. If ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing. For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: 1 Pet 3:14-15,17-18

Not only are we to be happy in our suffering but we must be brave and speak up for our Lord. How will they hear unless we tell them? There are people we know that have not heard our testimony. We must demonstrate to everyone around us that we are a servant of Jesus. Our flesh must be put to death in order for the Spirit to guide us in our new eternal life. One place Paul tells us to prepare our minds for this new life. It is such a different life that we must learn to think in a very different way from worldly people. Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. 1 Peter 4:1,2

Do you want to cease from sin? The willing suffering we are talking about has a wonderful result when followed whole-heartedly. When you give up everything in this world to do God's will you will not sin. There was a wristband that asked what Jesus would do if He were on earth. It is clear that Jesus gave up everything in order to do the will of God. Were the wearers of the wristbands really serious? The writers of the New Testament were happy in their suffering because they were doing what Jesus would have done. How much does God mean to you? The kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it. Matt 13:45-46

May His Kingdom be worth everything to us.