Posts Tagged ‘ Suffering ’
And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.
1 Peter 5:10, ESV
When our focus is on God, even the sufferings of this world will seem insignificant as we remember His suffering for us and the promise of renewal and restoration in the next life.
that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.
1 Corinthians 12:25-27, ESV
We join in Christ’s suffering, and we share in His resurrection. May we encourage each other as we await His return, praying for each other and loving each other in Christ’s love.
And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way. Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.”
Matthew 2:12-13, ESV
At Advent, we look back at why Jesus had to come, that He came, and then that He will come again.
Our sins have stacked up to heaven, deeper and more vile than we could know.
But God was not willing to leave us mired in our sin.
God came to us, born as an infant, weak, physically powerless, yet without sin.
But we know He did not stay weak and powerless.
Many people in this world are hostile to Christ, afraid of His power or not wanting to follow His commands, thinking they know better. This hostility is often directed at Christians
But we also know God watches out for His people.
Herod wanted to destroy Christ, and possibly he would have hurt the wise men and Mary and Joseph in the process. God sent an angel to warn them to flee.
We have been shown the truth of who Christ is through His Word, and this same Word warns us of those who put up the pretense of being followers but secretly seek to or inadvertently damage and destroy the truth of Christ.
And this can include questioning the need for Christ coming or claiming God is the bad guy.
We may face persecution and hatred, but we also know Jesus faced it first and it is all ultimately against Him. And He helps us in the midst of the persecution. (John 15:18-26)
May we seek the Lord who knows our pain and fear.
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
Romans 8:18, ESV
The faith we have in Christ – the Suffering Servant – gives us hope of eternal life while knowing this life will be hard.
Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise.
James 5:13, ESV
We can give thanks to God in everything, but we can also ask for healing and peace. Whether He grants that request in this life, we can praise Him that we know we await eternal life free from pain and suffering.
that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.
1 Corinthians 12:25-27, ESV
We tend to be selfish, self-focuded. In Christ, the Holy Spirit helps us genuinely care for others, joining in weeping and pain as well as celebrating and laughing. All to the glory of God.
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
James 1:2-3, ESV
Just as Jesus came and suffered for us, we can expect suffering in this life. It makes us more like Him and may even show we are His through persecution.
And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.
1 Peter 5:10, ESV
God sent His Son to die for us, yet He rose again. They send the Holy Spirit Empower us to suffer for His name’s sake.
He will raise us up, too.
Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise.
James 5:13, ESV
We should pray in all circumstances, knowing God is near the brokenhearted, and He celebrates with us as we worship Him.
Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.
1 Peter 4:16, ESV
Following Christ will lead to other people mistreating, mocking, or doing worse to us. We remember that this is how they treated Jesus our Lord, so we thank God that we are joined with Him in His plan of redemption of this world.
a simple man of God 