Sharing In Jesus’ Suffering

Jesus suffered all the same things we suffer.

I've been reading in my daily devotionals about how God expects us, not only to follow Him and to keep His commandments, but be willing to share in Jesus' suffering. It got me thinking about how He really did suffer the same kinds of things we do, so He really does know and understand. It's hard to think of Him as actually going through some of the "little" things we go through in life, but He did. Think of the times you've been misunderstood by your family or maybe criticized for no reason, then try to think about how it might have been for Jesus when He was a young boy. Even though His mom and dad knew who He was and why He was here, it was probably hard for them (in their human understanding) not to question some of the things He did. They must have been pretty teed off when He stayed behind at the temple, hanging out with the priests and elders, and they had to turn around and go all the way back to find Him!

When people talk bad about us when we didn't do anything wrong, it really hurts. Heck, it even hurts when we're talked about when we did do something wrong. Well, Jesus certainly had His share of that, and He never did a thing to deserve it. Most of the town-folk all thought He was crazy, and they used to call Him names and throw stones at Him every chance they got. Later on they got tired of that and tried to have Him arrested. No matter what He did, they tormented Him and made His life miserable.

We whine and complain all the time, about how tough our lives are, but we can't even begin to imagine what it was like for Him. He met with opposition no matter where He went or what He did, and was even physically abused. The very people He wanted to help, hated Him with a vengeance. The amazing thing about it all was, no matter what they did to Him, He never wavered in His love for them and sacrificed Himself daily for their sakes.

The Bible tells us that Jesus is our example and we are to follow in Him, but most people don't even think about the part that says to share in His suffering, too. I guess most of us think about the suffering part of Jesus' life, as the task He was sent here to do, so it doesn't really apply to us. It does apply to us. Part of His suffering was to teach us how to deal with all the hard things we all have to go through in this world. Every single thing He ever went through in this life, is an example for us to follow. Sharing in His suffering is just as much a part of following Him as is keeping His commandments.

So why do we have to suffer?

The trouble is, we get too darn comfortable when things are going our way, and far too often, we begin to feel as if we're pretty powerful in our own strength. What need do we have for God when things are going great and we're handling things just fine? Unfortunately, this is the nature of man, and I guess we need a reminder now and then that we're really not all that. When trials and tribulations hit, it causes us to stop and realize just how small and helpless we really are, and most of us do turn to God in these situations. Disasters, especially, cause us to stop and reflect, and most always prompt us to look towards the heavens and seek our Creator. Even people who deny His existence seem to look to the heavens for help during a disaster! Most of us remember how thousands of people flocked to churches and prayed after the twin towers were attacked, but, sadly, all the praying and looking up to heaven didn't last long. It never fails that when things start to return to normal, we soon forget our need for God and return to our old ways!

When a person goes through any kind of suffering, it usually changes him and this is what God is looking for. There's a lesson to be learned in every single trial we may go through, and as we go through each one, we are also being refined to become more and more like Jesus. This is something we could never do on our own, so suffering with Him is probably the most important part of our journey here on this earth!

It's amazing to think of how Jesus, who was perfect, was so willing to suffer for our sakes. We should all stop and think of Him the next time we're feeling sorry for ourselves and wondering why we're so persecuted. He not only suffered throughout His life to be an example for us, but took on all the sins and sufferings of the entire world. That's a lot of suffering and a lot of love.

("Suffering") Revised 9/28/09

Sometimes It's Not Good To Be So “Blessed”

I once knew an elderly man who had grown very depressed over the thought of leaving this life. He had been blessed with a wonderful family, many good friends, and had been financially secure throughout his life. He truly enjoyed life to the fullest, and told me he hated the thought of leaving it all behind. Here was a good Christian man, who felt he had lived a life that was pleasing to the Lord because he had gone to church faithfully. He even boasted about how he had never missed a mass and knew every part of the service by heart, but he admitted he had never read the Bible. Maybe if he had, he wouldn’t be finding it so difficult now to leave this world behind.

I can’t help but wonder how many “good” Christians go through life focusing more on the here and now, and never even give a thought to where they’ll spend eternity. There are some who even believe if they have acquired much wealth in their lives, it’s because they have earned it by being exceptional Christians. What they’re doing is focusing on the here and now, and sadly, by doing that, they are depriving themselves of having something wonderful to look forward to, a home in heaven, free from all the cares and sorrows of this world.

When I look at the beauty of God’s creation, I'm always in awe. I can’t think of a single thing man could ever create that can even come close to what God has created. There’s no color man could ever come up with that could come even close to the colors of a rainbow or the colors of the flowers in a field. There’s no skyscraper or structure that could ever be built that would be near as magnificent as a full grown cedar tree or a majestic mountain. No airplane, rocket, or any other kind of flying machine could ever fly as smooth and gracefully as an eagle or a hawk!

Yet, people will pay thousands of dollars for a painting or a statue that will deteriorate in time, when all they have to do is look around them at the artistry of God for free. I guess when you don’t have much, you learn to appreciate the little things in the world, and you realize it’s so much more valuable than any “thing” you can buy or possess. I really do feel bad for people who have been so busy all their lives, or who have had so much wealth, they never even noticed the beauty and glory of God all around them. I feel even sorrier for the ones who have never known Jesus personally and felt His love, or realized what He did to give them a chance at eternal life. More than anything else, I pity people who have been so “blessed,” they have never even known they needed Him.

“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
(Matthew 6:19-21)

The life we have here will soon be past, let your heart be where life is forever!

Searching for Truth

With the abundance of study resources available to us today, a lot of people seem to think it’s enough to just read or listen to what others have to say about the Bible. Maybe they believe they are being diligent in their Bible studies when they read a lot of books and commentaries, listen to various preachers on the radio or on TV, or search the internet in search of truth. Naturally, they are very careful to only listen to “reputable” teachers who have done enough studying and research to know what they're talking about. Unfortunately, many of these “reputable” Bible scholars are leading people astray and don’t even realize it themselves. They really believe what they’re teaching so they can be very convincing.

"Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world." I John 4:1

People are always asking why there is so much disagreeing in the Christian faith and this is one of the reasons. All it takes is one person who thinks he has discovered a unique truth about God’s word, and it isn’t long before he’s out preaching about it. As more and more people hear this new “truth” and begin agreeing with it, it isn’t long before a new doctrine and another new denomination is born. There are so many different denominations and doctrines in the world today, it’s no wonder there is so much disagreeing among Christians. The Bible says “the gate is straight and the way is narrow that leads to life, and few there are that find it,” (Matthew 7:14) so naturally, each one wants to believe they are one of the few who have found it. Sadly, by following a person instead of God, they are going through “the wide gate and traveling the broad way, that leads to destruction.” (Matthew 7:13)

"Don't give heed to fables and commandments of men that turn from the truth." Titus 1:14

Although most people, who inadvertently end up following a person rather than God, are sincerely seeking the truth, there are others who latch onto a particular person’s doctrine mainly because what they preach sounds a lot more appealing than what the Bible actually says. They don’t want to hear anything that might convict them, so they look for preachers who say what they want to hear. It’s amazing how verses of the Bible can be sugar-coated to excuse sins that people don’t want to acknowledge. Today, there are as many doctrines and denominations as there is candy in a candy store, and people can just take their pick. It’s not hard to find one that fits any particular lifestyle.

"In the last days people will not endure sound doctrine, but following their own lusts will find many teachers...they shall turn away their ears from the truth and shall turn to fables." II Timothy 4:3-4

The many interpretations of man are confusing, and are really only as good as whomever they might appeal to. If people are honest they will admit this is the primary reason why they choose certain denominations or doctrines over others, because it fits what they want to believe. The Holy Spirit, on the other hand, gives the truth, whether it sounds appealing to us or not.

Paul said to the church at Corinth: "My speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of Power, that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God." II Corinthians 2:4-5

Having a thirst for knowledge is natural for Christians, and sometimes it can actually be helpful to hear someone else’s point of view, but this should only be done by someone who is mature in the Word and is capable of discerning truth from fable. There’s only one way to acquire this ability, and that’s to spend a lot of time in the scriptures, allowing the Holy Spirit to give the proper understanding. We must study to show ourselves approved, meaning it’s a personal endeavor to gain understanding so we can rightly divide the Word of Truth, and be better able to discern.

"Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that need not be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth." II Timothy 2:15

As wonderful as it may seem to have the abundance of study resources we have available to us today, it makes sense to be cautious and go first to the most trusted source of truth. The Bible is “profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness, because it was written by the inspiration of God.” (II Timothy 3:16)

"If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater." I John 5:9

A Life Lesson From Ecclesiastes

“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.”

With the way things are going in the world, sometimes it’s hard to think of things as ever getting any better. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 explains there is a season and a time for everything that happens under the heavens. Though we pretty much know this, it’s not always easy to think of the hardships we’re facing as just a season or a time.

We’re all going through times of hardship these days. People are out of work, the economy is unstable, and many people are losing their homes. Arguments are rising about healthcare reform, taxes, and politics in general. People seem to be divided over just about everything, and no one is really sure where any of this is headed. With so much uncertainty in the air, fear can easily take hold of us and begin to control us.

We may find ourselves reading every news article we can find about the state of the economy, jobs, politics, and of course, the healthcare debate. We begin to talk to people incessantly about it, and we may even feel rage at the injustice we see in so many things. Pretty soon we begin thinking we must do everything we can do to stop it. It soon becomes all we think about, and though we may feel we are doing something useful by keeping up with things and speaking out, we need to be careful not to allow it to become an obsession. Obsession is a stronghold that binds us, and fear is what feeds it.

There is no need to fear. Our major focus during times of hardship should always be on God. We should never get so caught up in what’s happening around us, that we miss what He is trying to show us. Every trial and hardship we go through, whether individually, or even as a nation, is indeed, a “season and a time” even though it might not feel like it. It’s a time when God is trying to teach us something or make us stop and reflect on our actions. It’s a way for Him to draw attention to Himself when He sees us getting too absorbed in the things of the world.

No matter how bad things may seem to be, we can always be assured that every season and time has a “purpose under the heaven.”

God Still Has Hope For This World

Sometimes in the morning when I wake up and see the sun, I immediately think of the Son. Jesus is the light of the world and without Him we would be blind, groping around in the darkness with nothing to lead us or guide us. It would be the same way if the sun were suddenly to vanish. We would all be in the dark with no light to guide us.

When I see the sun shining, it makes me know God still has hope for this world. Every single day is another chance for us to acknowledge Him. He must have a lot of patience because He has given us so many days and so many chances. Yet so many people don't acknowledge Him at all. They just go about their everyday lives, oblivious to their Creator, and even to all the beauty He has given them. Most people hardly ever notice the beauty of a flower or a tree as they scurry past on their way to work or wherever they’re going. Everyone’s just too busy to give God a second thought.

People are even oblivious to the sun that gives them light every day to be able to do all the things that keeps them so busy. They just take it for granted. They probably don’t even realize how much they depend on it. Not only does it give us light, but it gives us warmth, and is essential for the growth of plants and every other living thing.

What if the sun were to suddenly vanish? We would not be able to survive. This whole world and everything in it would shrivel up and die. It is written that one day this will come to pass. That will be the day when there will be no more chances and the time to turn to God will be over forever. When people cry out to God at that time, it will be too late and He will say, "I never knew you."

Every day that the sun shines and lights up the world, God is giving us a reminder of His great love for us. This reminder is just as wonderful as the rainbow He sends after the rain. They are both an awesome tribute of His promise to never forsake us.

The next time you wake up and see the sun, think of the Son. Even as there would be no life here on earth without the sun, there would be no life here, or in eternity, without the Son.