Are We Called to a Life of Suffering?

In 1 Peter 2:19-21 it says this: "For it is commendable if you bear up under the pain of unjust suffering because you are conscious of God. But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps."


If you read the verses before this it is talking about servants submitting themselves to their masters. Yet, aren't we all servants of God? This then brings up the question of: Does that mean we are to suffer as His servants as well? When we look in scripture and at these verses specifically, the answer is clearly Yes. So why is it that many believe that we are not called to this very thing? Bruce Archer believes the reason is this: "The way I see it, most Christians in America have had a watered-down, distorted presentation of the gospel given to them in the first place. This watered-down gospel then produces watered-down living. This is a kind of living that seeks the prosperity and comfort of the new believer. The focus is all on what Jesus can do for me, or how I will benefit in this life by believing in Jesus." 


Over the past year, I have learned that we are not called to live comfortable lives if we desire to be disciples of Christ. But something I've really been learning is that He has called us to suffer as well. If we look at Paul's example in Philippians, we read that he desired to suffer for the gospel: "I want to know Christ-yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead (3:10-11)." If we were to look at the disciples in the book of Acts, we see much suffering, but also rejoicing from the suffering they endured! "The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name (5:41)." And the most important example is Jesus Christ himself, who suffered and was crucified to redeem our unworthy souls. In this, he set the example for us as it says in 1 Peter 2:21: "To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps." I feel that this is a critical verse in the New Testament because the word "example", or  ὑπογραμμὸν (hupogrammon) in Greek, is only used this one time. If it is only used one time throughout the New Testament, wouldn't it obviously be important? Christ not only suffered on the cross for us, but to set an example for us to follow. 


It is also crucial for us to know that Christ did not call us to live a lukewarm life, but to deny ourselves and pick up our cross DAILY and follow him (Luke 9:23). It can be seen in Revelation how God truly feels about lukewarm Christians: "I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm-neither hot nor cold-I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see (3:15-18)." 


I don't want my life to be comfortable. When God calls us to go, He doesn't mean go only if you feel like it. He means: "Go. Now. Because I called you to go. I'm calling you into the darkness to suffer for my name. If you love me, you will rejoice in this. Rejoice in trials and temptations because I am making you into what I want you to be through perseverance. I am with you to the ends of the earth. You must remember, I am sending you out as sheep into a pack of ferocious wolves. But do not worry, for I am your shield. This way is the only way to me, to love me with a consuming fire. Now go and be my disciples." 


If we do not go to all nations, how will they ever know?

Tag, You're It

Early this morning as I was spending some time in prayer and just talking to God about life, I heard sirens going off everywhere - firetrucks, ambulances, and possibly even cop cars - downtown. As I was listening to them I started thinking about the love of God. So many times, we ourselves take God out of the picture of our life, whether we mean to or not. We get so wrapped up in busy schedules, people, or just pure laziness; we don't give God the time he desires of us. But listening to all of these sirens made me think about how God chases after us as long as it takes. Like those important vehicles, God doesn't let anything stand in the way of getting to where he needs to go. Whether He needs to move mountains, oceans, or even forests, He will get to His destination - He removes any obstacle that stands in His path. But when it comes to us, His creation, He removed the one obstacle that stood in the way of us and Him - sin.


Isaiah 59:2 says - "But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear." When I first read this, it broke my heart because for God not to hear me because of my sins is the most terrifying thing to me. God is my everything but sin separates me from Him. But  I remember this obstacle that stands in the way and how God removed it (no matter the cost) with the death of His only son - Jesus Christ. And unlike the old way, this was a one time sacrifice that covered all sin for eternity. That is the beauty in God's sacrificial love: to cover us forever in His blood.


Isaiah 59 goes on to say, "The Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who repent of their sins, declares the Lord." The Redeemer being Jesus, came charging after us even in our unrighteousness because His love was too great. We can even see that in the very beginning of Genesis when God makes coverings for Adam and Even right after they had done exactly what He told them not to do.


"Now that we are set right with God by means of this sacrificial death, the consummate blood sacrifice, there is no longer a question of being at odds with God in any way. If, when we were at our worst, we were put on friendly terms with God by the sacrificial death of his Son, now that we're at our best, just think of how our lives will expand and deepen by means of his resurrection life! Now that we have actually received this amazing friendship with God, we are no longer content to simply say it in plodding prose. We sing and shout our praises to God through Jesus, the Messiah!" ~ Romans 5:9-11 (MSG)


This love is better than any earthly love we will ever come in contact with. 

For Them

All I want to do is go. Go to all the nations and preach the gospel. To tell the world of the love that has transformed the inside of my entire soul; my entire being. My everything. From the inside out has the love of Christ transformed me. Redeemed me. I want the world to know of this love that never fails. Never compromises. Never gives up on you. With the brokenness surrounding, all I can think about is going.

I can not survive without the love of Christ. He tells me that I am beautiful and there is no flaw in me (Song of Songs 4:7); yet, I feel so imperfect. How could a God use someone like me, who is not pure but spotted with sin. But because of the redemption he gives me, I am spotless to Him. It is overwhelming the confidence and trust He has in me. When not one person believed in me, He did. Without doubt.

This brings me back to my first thought. All I want to do is go. I can't think of a better way to show this love than to go to this broken world. I think of all the people in my life that don't know Christ in this way, and I fear for them and hurt for them. To not know of a perfect love such as this is not fair to them. Everyone wants to be loved and only Christ can complete that love that everyone is searching for. If I hold out of telling this world of this ineffable love that fills my soul, then am I acting in love myself?

I have to go for them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUPwWX8MM3s