Philippians
1:29 (NLT)
For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ
For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ
but
also the privilege of suffering for him.
1 Peter 4:12-16 (NLT)
12 Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. 13 Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world. 14 So be happy when you are insulted for being a Christian, for then the glorious Spirit of God rests upon you. 15 …. Praise God for the privilege of being called by his name!
12 Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. 13 Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world. 14 So be happy when you are insulted for being a Christian, for then the glorious Spirit of God rests upon you. 15 …. Praise God for the privilege of being called by his name!
Father it is extraordinarily
unique that Christians suffering for Jesus sake and honor have an unequaled,
unappalled and unmatched joy. You do not to dismiss, deny or diminish the pain
of suffering. You know that agony is difficult to deal with. But Christians do
so with a joy that is deeper and more enduring.
Father You remind us
through the Apostle Paul that: “17….
our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for
us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! 18 So
we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things
that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the
things we cannot see will last forever.” 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 (NLT)
You also referred to
other believers in Hebrews 10:34 (NLT)
“You suffered along with those who were thrown into jail, and when all you owned was taken from you, you accepted it with joy. You knew there were better things waiting for you that will last forever.”
“You suffered along with those who were thrown into jail, and when all you owned was taken from you, you accepted it with joy. You knew there were better things waiting for you that will last forever.”
Father how bizarre it
appears for Christians to react to persecution with joy, responding with love
and forgiveness to those who seek their harm.
Jesus exhorts us: “But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those
who persecute you!” Matthew 5:44 (NLT)
The Apostle Paul exemplified
this saying: “We bless those who curse
us. We are patient with those who abuse us. 13 We appeal gently when
evil things are said about us….”
1 Corinthians 4:12-13 (NLT)
The Apostle Peter
encourages us: “….if someone asks about
your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it. 16 But do this
in a gentle and respectful way…” 1 Peter 3:15-16 (NLT)
Father help us to be
like You, Your Son, the Apostles and the Early Christians in how we respond to
persecution. Also Father thank You for privilege of suffering for Christ and
for enabling us to live boldly, die bravely and be blessed now and eternally. Through
Jesus our only Savior and great example we pray. Amen
1 comment:
Good Morning, Dearest. I love getting to read it twice. Here, and on the Prayer Blog. Such great scriptures, and I fear the way the world is going, we will be experiencing more suffering as Christians, God help us to endure it with joy. Love you.
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