Somehow we have listened to the wrong people with the wrong doctrine who preach the wrong message that Christians are exempt from suffering. This is simply NOT the case. The Bible tells us to expect suffering and also to rejoice in it! We have much to learn about this subject.
What is clear is that Christians are expected to experience suffering:
- Romans 5 v 3 : ‘…we also rejoice in our sufferings,…’
- 1 Peter 4 v 12 : ‘Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you.’
- James 1 v 2 : ‘Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,…’
- Jesus : ‘Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely sat all kinds of evil against you, because of me.’
- NOT a ‘grin and bear it’ attitude!
- NOT a ‘enjoy the pain’ approach!
- NOT a ‘pretend it’s not there’ phoniness!
- 1. Perseverance! : ‘Steadiness’! – when attacked, under fire and in the storm.
- 2. Character! : In suffering the invincible become vulnerable, the independent become dependent, the arrogant exhibit humility, the tough are tenderized!
- 3. Hope! : Hope that in a suffering world we will respond to it like Jesus did and become more and more like Him.
- 4. Confidence! : KJV – better – ‘Hope does not make us ashamed’
Suffering Christians who seek to be like Jesus in their suffering – lose their fear of ridicule and confidently share the gospel.
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