Friday, May 6, 2011

Suffering... Really?

YEP!

This morning's devotion immediately drew me to two places I had been studying this week.

Matthew 10:
Jesus warns us that if even he was called a worker of satan, how much more will his disciples be persecuted for following him. But, Jesus' command is (v. 28) "do not be afraid of those that kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell." And his great promise is (v. 32) "whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven."

I believe it is Paul's confidence in Christ and his understanding of what suffering for Jesus' name means that he can say "because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly." (Philippians 1:14) Paul's co-laborers were encouraged not because of the chains alone, but because of Paul's response to the chains. We can rejoice in suffering when we know it is because of the name that is above every name, and that by it, the kingdom of heaven is coming down to this earth even now!

2 comments:

  1. The gospel, as Paul shows, can create some serious mental gymnastics for those who seek to suppress it.

    I'd probably resist the way in Paul's time like most folks.

    I can't imagine what I'd do with this guy.

    I can see myself at the board meeting -

    Steve - "okay so, what do you say we throw him in prison"?

    Board - "Um, Steve, that's not going to work. Not only "the way" but now the palace guard, folks on our pay roll, are talking about him and joining his team. Worse than that, folks on Paul's team are being encouraged to speak to more folks faster about the hope of Christ."

    Steve - "Auugh. Frustrating. Can we kill him?"

    Board - "Well, he actually is on the record saying to die is to gain. So if you kill him you're kind of playing into his hand."

    Steve - "Okay, so if we can't kill him and prison isn't going to work what's he going to say if we just let him live? Let's ask him, Paul, what do you say if we just turn you free and let you live?" . . . . TO LIVE IS CHRIST.

    Tough to keep the God-man (in us) down.

    ReplyDelete
  2. The gospel, as Paul shows, can create some serious mental gymnastics for those who seek to suppress it.

    I'd probably resist the way in Paul's time like most folks.

    Knowing that I probably would have resisted Paul and Jesus, I can't imagine what I'd do with this guy.

    I can see myself at the board meeting -

    Steve - "Okay so, what do you say we throw him in prison?"

    Board - "Um, Steve, that's not going to work. Not only "the way" but now the palace guard, folks on our pay roll, are talking about him and
    joining his team. Worse than that, folks on Paul's team are being encouraged to speak to more folks faster about the hope of Christ."

    Steve - "Auugh. Frustrating. Can we kill him?"

    Board - "Well, he actually is on the record saying to die is to gain. So, if you kill him you're kind of playing into his hand."

    Steve - "Okay, so if we can't kill him and prison isn't going to work what's he going to say if we just let him live? Let's ask him, Paul, what do you say if we just turn you free and let you live?" . . . . TO LIVE IS CHRIST.

    Tough to keep the God-man (in us) down.

    ReplyDelete