October 17 – Suffering With Christ Produces Glory

“The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.” – Romans 8:16-17 (NASB)

 

Our verses today are packed with promises. First is the  promise that God’s Spirit testifies with our spirit that we are children of God. In Roman culture at the time Paul wrote this letter, for an adoption to be legally binding, seven reputable witnesses had to be present, attesting to its validity. God’s Holy Spirit confirms the validity of our adoption.[1] As children, we are heirs of God. We are promised that we will inherit eternal salvation (Titus 3:7), God Himself (Revelation 21:3), glory (Romans 5:2), and everything in the universe (Hebrews 1:2).[2] Proof of ultimate glory of faith believers is that we will suffer—whether it comes as mockery, ridicule, or physical persecution—because of our Lord and savior Jesus.  Because He suffered, we suffer. Because He's glorified, we're glorified. It's a long way from the peace-and -prosperity doctrine. Christianity is not escapism.[3] In verse 18 that follows our passage, Paul considers "that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."

198

[1] John F. MacArthur Jr., The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible., (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006), Ro 8:16.

[2] John F. MacArthur Jr., The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible., (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006), Ro 8:17.

[3] John F. MacArthur Jr., The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible., (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006), Ro 8:17.

 

---

June 1 – Suffering Righteously

“But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.”  - 1 Peter 4:15-16 (ESV)

Suffering is not in itself all that great.  Most of the time, we suffer because of our own disobedience (of the law), foolishness, recklessness, or carelessness due to ignorance.  If we end up busting rocks in a chain gang due to violating the law of the land, we can not expect a blessing for the suffering that comes our way. We should not take comfort in suffering that we bring on ourselves for sinning, in contrast to suffering that we experience "as a Christian," because we take a stand with Jesus Christ. In our verse of promise yesterday, we learned that being insulted or rejected by society is the suffering that brings the glory of God upon us and we are blessed in the midst of what we are suffering. Kicked out, banned, fired, turned away, not counted, ignored, branded, and seeing your witness and testimony posts on social media taken down. These and others are ways we suffer for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  The world hates God and hates the name of Jesus even more.  If we carry that name, we will suffer and we are promised that we can glorify God in that way. 

-197-

May 11 – Graciously Granted

“For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.”  - Philippians 1:29-30 (ESV)

Desiring or being thankful for the suffering we experience is not a natural reaction for us.  Suffering is something that is not enjoyable. But here is the promise we have in the verses today; the Apostle Paul tells us that we have been given (promised) suffering in our lives. We are granted, for the sake of Christ, to believe in God. He also graciously gives his people suffering and faith so that we might enjoy magnifying Christ to the adversaries of our faith through a trust that is fearless and humility to love each other. That is the point of this promise. Perhaps we have a greater opportunity to understand this these days.  When most things in our lives are going well without significant difficulty, we may not have a cause to reflect that our Lord Jesus suffered for us.  Suffering the fear and anxiety which we have and see in others, is a reminder that God is here for us. We have comfort and guidance from the Holy Spirit.  Today let us stand firm in our faith and trust God to fulfill all the promises He has given to us in Christ Jesus.  

-194-

February 16 – Considering What To Consider

“So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name.”  - Acts 5:41 (NASB)

Just two days ago we focused on the importance of our choices – especially in respect to what we “Consider.”  For, the things we choose to consider are the things that affect our attitude and outlook.  Our lives, as others see us, is affected by what we consider.  Our verse today tells us how Paul and those with him considered the persecution they encountered.  Here are just a few things from the New Testament to consider.  Consider the ravens who do no farming but God feeds them.  Consider the lilies that do no weaving yet God clothes them more beautifully than Solomon.  Consider ourselves to be dead to sin.  Consider ourselves to be alive to God in Christ Jesus. Consider our present sufferings incomparable to future glory.  Consider our calling to be God’s call on us. Consider ourselves spiritually inadequate apart from God.  Consider our body parts dead to desires of the flesh: immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire and greedy idolatry.  Consider how to encourage each other to love and good deeds. Consider our encounter with various trials with all joy.  That is a lot to consider but what we consider is the rudder that steers our lives.  

Luke 12:24
Luke 12:27
Romans 8:18
1 Corinthians 1:26
2 Corinthians 3:5
Colossians 3:5
Hebrews 10:24
James 1:2

# # #

February 3 – Be Ready With Our Reason

“But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, - 1 Peter 3:14-16 (ESV)

Who looks forward to suffering?  No many of us I’m sure.  Our verse today, from the first letter written by the Apostle Peter, says “even if you should suffer.”  The real intent of Peter is to let us know that the ‘if’ is really a ‘when.’  Suffering is a real thing that every believer in Jesus should expect. Many have been taught by a false gospel to question God’s sovereignty when suffering comes.  Scriptures says we should expect it.  But we are promised blessings if we suffer for righteousness sake.  As we have learned, the word blessed also means ‘happy.’  Suffering, believe it or not, if it comes because we are standing and speaking for Jesus will bring us happiness.  That can be hard to accept because no one enjoys suffering. We are called to honor Christ the Lord in our hearts and look beyond and into our promised future.  We are instructed to be ready to defend why we believe Jesus and explain our reasons. And we are also instructed to do so with gentleness and respect.  Our promised blessing is ours when we do so.  Let’s be ready today to do so. 

# # #

October 2 – Granted To Suffer

“For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, experiencing the same conflict which you saw in me, and now hear to be in me.” Philippians 1:29-30 (NASB)

At the time that the Apostle Paul wrote this he knew what suffering for the sake of Jesus Christ was like.  In Philippi, a Roman colony, a decision to follow Christ could bring severe social, economic, and legal consequences.  Paul tells us to remember how he was treated in Philippi (Acts 17). He and Silas were beaten and thrown into the jail.  Paul calls it a conflict and when it happens it is just that. We find our self in conflict between our message of salvation in Christ alone and the evil opposition of the world we live in. Opposition to the message of Jesus is growing and followers of Christ will experience conflict.  We know it has been granted to us with a promise from Jesus that if we are in service to Him, we will encounter suffering. It will be for His sake and the sake of His name.  We know too His promise that He is the one who is working our salvation to its completion. God is with us in all we do for Him. 

# # #

April 5 – Privileged to Suffer

“For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.”  Philippians 1:29-30 (ESV)

Which one of us likes the idea of suffering?  Not really, right?  Yet we are in God's family because Jesus suffered for us on the cross and died for the sins of all.  After rising from the dead, as He promised He would, and before He returned to heaven and to His Father, He instructed his followers to spread the Good News about His suffering, death and resurrection.  It is believing in Jesus and what He did that gives us access to becoming children of God.  We are His followers.  Our salvation comes from what Jesus did for us, in our place.  So it is understandable that we are also given the opportunity to experience suffering for our faith in Him.  Some will mock, hate, and even persecute or kill us for doing so.  This is our promise. The experience of suffering has been given to us  when we take the name of Jesus and engage the enemy of God just as the apostle Paul did.  He was eventually killed because of his faith in Christ.  

# # #

April 12 – Eagerly Desired

“When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.” Luke 22:14-15 (NIV)

During his last few days before he was crucified, Jesus spent a lot of time teaching the people who had come to Jerusalem for the Passover festival.  He knew His time on earth was soon coming to an end and He arranged to have a Passover meal with His disciples. Jesus had been living with His disciples and walking with them for about three years. He knew his last chance to have close fellowship with them was this Passover and He had been looking forward to it. He tells His disciples that this was the last time on earth that they would share this important meal together.  His words were “I have eagerly desired” We know that Jesus Christ eagerly desires to have close fellowship with us too and that can happen if we allow it. Let’s live close to him today.