1Peter 5:10 - But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
Psalm 93:3 The floods have lifted up, O Lord, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their wave
No storm is so great, no wave is so high, no sea is so deep, no wind is so strong, that Jesus cannot either calm it or carry us through it. ( Anne Graham Lotz )
As every one of us can testify we all go through times
of trials and suffering. For Christians this is equally as
true as it is for the non believer. Many times we ask
the question why or why me. These are hard
questions to answer but what we do know is that God
allows trials into our lives and through these trials He
helps us to become stronger. Just like in nature wind
helps the plants and trees to become stronger so
it is also in our lives. The trials force us to either
become strong in the Lord or we will break under the
pressure of it. I have sometimes planted tomato
seeds in early spring and set them on the windowsill
in my house. The plants come up and grow up
spindley and weak. These plants have no strength or
endurance in the sun and wind once I transplant
them to my garden. While if I plant the seeds right
into the soil in the garden, the plants grow strong and
healthy.
Another reason for our trials is that through our
sufferings we grow in character to become more like
the Lord Jesus. The fruits of the Spirit are developed
in our lives through trials and suffering.
Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
The Lord Jesus endured greater suffering than any of us will ever be called upon to bear. Therefore we must always remember to bring our burdens to the Lord.
What can we do in the midst of our suffering?
1) we must not give in to sin - 1 Peter 4: 15-16 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
2) we must not take revenge - Romans 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
3) we must give it all to the Lord - 1 Peter 4:19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.
Christians should be preparing for suffering. If you are not currently going through a period of suffering, it will come some day. Suffering will be a part of our life as a Christian until Christ returns. Those who remain faithful to the Lord during their suffering will see that sinful behaviors have no appeal any longer. Living for the Lord Jesus and to be ready to meet Him at all times takes on a new reality.
1 Peter 4: 1-2
I feel that the song "Take up Thy Cross and Follow Me" is very fitting as we go through our own personal struggles. Please meditate on the words of this song.
Take up Thy Cross and Follow Me
(by Alfred H Ackley - 1922 )
Psalm 93:3 The floods have lifted up, O Lord, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their wave
No storm is so great, no wave is so high, no sea is so deep, no wind is so strong, that Jesus cannot either calm it or carry us through it. ( Anne Graham Lotz )
As every one of us can testify we all go through times
of trials and suffering. For Christians this is equally as
true as it is for the non believer. Many times we ask
the question why or why me. These are hard
questions to answer but what we do know is that God
allows trials into our lives and through these trials He
helps us to become stronger. Just like in nature wind
helps the plants and trees to become stronger so
it is also in our lives. The trials force us to either
become strong in the Lord or we will break under the
pressure of it. I have sometimes planted tomato
seeds in early spring and set them on the windowsill
in my house. The plants come up and grow up
spindley and weak. These plants have no strength or
endurance in the sun and wind once I transplant
them to my garden. While if I plant the seeds right
into the soil in the garden, the plants grow strong and
healthy.
Another reason for our trials is that through our
sufferings we grow in character to become more like
the Lord Jesus. The fruits of the Spirit are developed
in our lives through trials and suffering.
Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
The Lord Jesus endured greater suffering than any of us will ever be called upon to bear. Therefore we must always remember to bring our burdens to the Lord.
What can we do in the midst of our suffering?
1) we must not give in to sin - 1 Peter 4: 15-16 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
2) we must not take revenge - Romans 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
3) we must give it all to the Lord - 1 Peter 4:19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.
Christians should be preparing for suffering. If you are not currently going through a period of suffering, it will come some day. Suffering will be a part of our life as a Christian until Christ returns. Those who remain faithful to the Lord during their suffering will see that sinful behaviors have no appeal any longer. Living for the Lord Jesus and to be ready to meet Him at all times takes on a new reality.
1 Peter 4: 1-2
Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;
2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.
Take up Thy Cross and Follow Me
(by Alfred H Ackley - 1922 )
- I walked one day along a country road,
And there a stranger journeyed, too,
Bent low beneath the burden of His load:
It was a cross, a cross I knew.- Refrain:
“Take up thy cross and follow Me,”
I hear the blessed Savior call;
How can I make a lesser sacrifice,
When Jesus gave His all?
- Refrain:
- I cried, “Lord Jesus,” and He spoke my name;
I saw His hands all bruised and torn;
I stooped to kiss away the marks of shame,
The shame for me that He had borne. - “Oh, let me bear Thy cross, dear Lord,” I cried,
And, lo, a cross for me appeared,
The one, forgotten, I had cast aside,
The one, so long, that I had feared. - My cross I’ll carry till the crown appears—
The way I journey soon will end—
Where God Himself shall wipe away all tears,
And friend hold fellowship with friend.
