Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. Romans 8:17
Dearest Sisters
and Brothers in suffering for the Kingdom,
For
many of you, my salutation describes what you have experienced in the last few
years or may be longer. God seems to be purifying His church and preparing us
for the time He will separate His sheep from the goats. Suffering is often what
He uses to prepare us for the work He wants to do in us. We must know our
position in the Lord Jesus in order for us to understand His ways and rest in
His means. Daily submission is an act of faith. In our trials we may surrender
because our back is against the wall and our choices have vanished. How often have
I stiffened my spine in pride, resisting the Holy Spirit? Look at the end of
Stephen’s testimony in Acts 7:51 denouncing and infuriating the religious of
his day. His words condemned their stiff-necked resistance against the Holy
Spirit. Then they stoned him to death.
You men who are stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears are always resisting the Holy Spirit; you are doing just as your fathers did.
Being stoned for my faith
this week is doubtful, suffering is a given! It will come and either I will choose
to trust Him and surrender in an act of faith or I will stiffen myself in pride
and anger, opening the door to unrest, self-pity and fear as I insist on
understanding why it was allowed. You may have lost much, you may have buried a
loved one, and are numb with the daily-ness of suffering, but we are told to
expect it. One of my hero’s, Amy Carmichael, spent the last 35 years of her
life in bed in constant pain. The world is rich with her writings, born in a
bed of suffering. When God calls you to share in Christ’s suffering, will you
say with Paul:
All I want is to know Christ and to experience the power of his
resurrection, to share in his sufferings and become like him in his death… Philippians
3:10
During
my Quiet this morning I read a verse that jumped out because of the unusual use
of the word ‘accomplished’. What do you think of when you hear that
word? Success? A task strived after and completed? That’s my thoughts.
Accomplish: verb, achieve or to complete successfully. It is used in the
strengthened form meaning to accomplish perfectly. What is so unusual is that
it is being used in reference to suffering!! Whooaa….. what?
But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering
are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world.
I Peter 5:9
God’s
perspective is light years away from ours. Look at James 1:2-4 This is so great
my feet area dancing! 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, so that you may
be perfect and complete, lacking
in nothing. Read it again with the definition of ‘accomplish’ in mind! Wow!
God
sees our suffering not as something to run from or avoid at all costs, but
as a positive accomplishment, because
we share in Christ’s sufferings. We are not alone in our suffering. He knows
the way you take and when He has tried you, you will come forth as gold. Find
comfort in this living word…. He is in control and knows every detail, sees
every tear, hears the cries of your heart that no human ear can hear.
We
are to walk by faith and submission is an act of faith. Faith is strengthened
by feeding on God’s word. No excuses! A counselor said this week ‘most of the
people I counsel who are struggling in marriage, or relationships or in dealing
with trials were NOT in God’s Word.
Only
in submission is there rest. Are you running from God or running around trying to
solve your own problems? Are you frantic in your pride trying to ‘fix’ every
thing (or everyone) as if it depended on you? Instead of rest or relief you
find you are wearing yourself out? You daily lose your wrestling-match with
pride and are broken and weary! I know. I have graduated from the school of
failure. The true test of humility is found in Philippians 2:1-1 and then in Proverbs
6:16-17, 8:13 we are given a convicting list. . simply, God resists the proud,
because He hates the sin of pride.
Humility is not demeaning ourselves and thinking poorly of
ourselves. It is simply not thinking of ourselves at all. W.W.
There
are seven things that the Lord
hates and cannot tolerate:
- A proud look,
- a lying tongue,
- hands that kill innocent people,
- a mind that thinks up wicked plans,
- feet that hurry off to do evil,
- a witness who tells one lie after another,
- and someone who stirs up trouble among friends.
Father-God, It is such comfort to know that
You know the way I take and when You have tried me I shall come forth as gold.
Thank You. LORD, teach me how I can actually consider it all joy, as I deal
with suffering. You alone are my strength. I do not have it in me. I am inclined to grumble and
complain. You are Sovereign and in control, I surrender to You. Be my joy and
rest. I am thankful there is purpose in suffering for You cause it to serve
You. I want the word ‘accomplish’ to apply to me, that I might bring You glory.
I pray this for all my brothers and sisters around the world some who are
imprisoned and deeply suffer for You. Give them endurance and hope and let them
sense Your Presence and love today. In Jesus I pray. Amen
For just
as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds
through Christ. 2 Corinthians 1:5
Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 2 Timothy 2:3
az
http://www.gramzkidz.com
The Gospel (or Good News) message of Jesus Christ is so simple that it almost defies understanding. By evidenceofdesign| 1 video
