John 16:33
I have told you this, so that you might
have peace in your hearts because of me. While you are in the world, you
will have to suffer. But cheer up! I have defeated the world.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
The
other day, Timothy and I were paddling around in the pool before his
swim lesson, and he began to yell, “Help! Help!” I explained to him
that the only time when this was acceptable was when he truly was in
trouble and needed help…that yelling “Help!” when none was needed could
cause people to stop watching and listening for true danger. We have
talked to him before about the story of the little boy who “cried wolf”,
and we probably should revisit this story sometime soon!
I
always think of “crying wolf” when I hear the word “suffer”, because
when I was a child, my maternal grandmother used this word often. I
loved my grandmother and believed her when she said she “really
suffered” with some ailment or injury. When I got older and learned
more about human suffering, I realized that her “afflictions” might not
have completely qualified – at least in the minds of other people, and
especially in Biblical terms! Nonetheless, my grandmother believed that
she suffered often in this earthly life…and I’m sure she delights in
the rest of Heaven and the relief that is offered her there.
“Suffering”
is relative. Young people may be bullied and genuinely suffer mental
and/or physical anguish – or they may experience the typical “agonies”
and indignations that come with childhood. Teenagers “suffer” the
emotional roller-coaster of friendships and school work and
extra-curricular activities and coping with the frequent “oppression” of
parents and other adults. Young adults sometimes “suffer” as they make
their way in the world and find the job market less than welcoming…or
learn to be “grown-ups” and handle all of the responsibilities that come
with this stage of life.
Parents “suffer” as they cope with
the inevitable stresses of rearing children. Older adults “suffer”
under a myriad of pressures…from the stress of dealing with aging and
all that comes with it, adjusting to retirement and “empty nests”,
loneliness, health issues, loss of loved ones, and more. And Christians
“suffer” when they are ostracized by family members and friends, or
they have to give up old habits and activities in favor of more Godly
behaviors…or their schedules must now include time for prayer, Bible
study, and corporate worship and ministry efforts.
If we are
honest, a lot of what we consider “suffering” is more akin to
inconvenience and “growing pains” than true suffering. Yet children’s
hospitals across the world are filled with little ones who truly do
endure physical ailments and injuries – and difficult or painful
procedures to treat them. Adults of all ages and in all stages of life
really are tormented and/or miserable because of homelessness, hunger,
serious illnesses and injuries, abuses, persecution, and more.
Christians around the world suffer greatly – and even die – because they
profess their belief in Jesus Christ and dare to share His GOOD NEWS
with others.
Jesus has told us that life will not be a bed of
roses in our earthly lifetime. He didn’t tell us to what degree we will
suffer…and for some, the torment and afflictions are definitely worse
than for others. And I don’t have a good explanation for this, because I
know that God loves each of His children fervently – and equally. I
also know that He never wastes an opportunity – or an experience.
Whether your suffering is real…or you are essentially “crying wolf”…I
have good news for you. None of this will matter when we get to
Heaven! There will be no suffering there…real or imagined!
This
is good news! This is a message of hope…promise…and joy! Rest lies
ahead – for each of us. And in the meantime, Jesus is with us…always!
Read the four Gospels in the New Testament again (Matthew, Mark, Luke
and John). Study how Jesus suffered…for you and for me. There is nothing
we can experience that He cannot understand…there is no agony we can
endure that He will not go through with us. And in the end, He will
give us rest and respite from all of our trials and travails.
Hear
the Good News and remind yourself of it daily…Jesus has defeated the
world. We can rest in Him for ever and ever! He is with us! He is
with us! There is nothing we cannot handle with His help. Are you resting in the LORD and clinging to His promises? Isn’t it time you were?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label suffering for Jesus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label suffering for Jesus. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for October 25, 2013
2 Corinthians 1:3-5
Praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! The Father is a merciful God, who always gives us comfort. He comforts us when we are in trouble, so that we can share that same comfort with others in trouble. We share in the terrible sufferings of Christ, but also in the wonderful comfort he gives.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A lot of people are hurting today. Some of you lost loved ones this week… others faced life-threatening health issues… while others continued to cling to life. Some of you feel like you are in such a heap of trouble that nothing can save you. Some of you have worries and concerns about family members and friends… and some even feel like it’s all just too much… that you are simply drowning in despair and impossibilities.
The Good News of this passage is that God is merciful. He will comfort us… and in turn, we can comfort others. Who can better reassure a wife whose husband is facing serious heart surgery than a wife who has stood in her place already? Who knows the heartache of losing a spouse better than a grieving widow or widower? Who can better offer solace and hope to a friend who has lost his/her job and faces eviction because the rent cannot be paid than someone who has “been there, done that”?
See, God doesn’t waste our experiences… even the troubles and terrible sufferings – the heartaches and our grief. He uses these to help others in similar situations… if/when we will allow it. Christ suffered and died on our behalf, and as we share His story with others, we must own our part in this as sinners for whom He gave His very life. But we can also acknowledge the fact that Jesus offers each of us comfort and the promise of heaven – if only we will accept Him.
I don’t know what this week has brought you specifically, but I know that God can use everything that you have experienced for His good. He will comfort you and give you mercy and peace… and He will show you how to extend what you have received to someone else. Will you be paying attention? Will you recognize – and accept – His gifts of consolation and hope? Are you willing to share in both the sufferings and the wonderful comfort He offers?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! The Father is a merciful God, who always gives us comfort. He comforts us when we are in trouble, so that we can share that same comfort with others in trouble. We share in the terrible sufferings of Christ, but also in the wonderful comfort he gives.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A lot of people are hurting today. Some of you lost loved ones this week… others faced life-threatening health issues… while others continued to cling to life. Some of you feel like you are in such a heap of trouble that nothing can save you. Some of you have worries and concerns about family members and friends… and some even feel like it’s all just too much… that you are simply drowning in despair and impossibilities.
The Good News of this passage is that God is merciful. He will comfort us… and in turn, we can comfort others. Who can better reassure a wife whose husband is facing serious heart surgery than a wife who has stood in her place already? Who knows the heartache of losing a spouse better than a grieving widow or widower? Who can better offer solace and hope to a friend who has lost his/her job and faces eviction because the rent cannot be paid than someone who has “been there, done that”?
See, God doesn’t waste our experiences… even the troubles and terrible sufferings – the heartaches and our grief. He uses these to help others in similar situations… if/when we will allow it. Christ suffered and died on our behalf, and as we share His story with others, we must own our part in this as sinners for whom He gave His very life. But we can also acknowledge the fact that Jesus offers each of us comfort and the promise of heaven – if only we will accept Him.
I don’t know what this week has brought you specifically, but I know that God can use everything that you have experienced for His good. He will comfort you and give you mercy and peace… and He will show you how to extend what you have received to someone else. Will you be paying attention? Will you recognize – and accept – His gifts of consolation and hope? Are you willing to share in both the sufferings and the wonderful comfort He offers?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 20, 2013
April 20 ~ John 6:61-65
Many among his disciples heard this and said, “This is tough teaching, too tough to swallow.”
Jesus sensed that his disciples were having a hard time with this and said, “Does this throw you completely? What would happen if you saw the Son of Man ascending to where he came from? The Spirit can make life. Sheer muscle and willpower don’t make anything happen. Every word I’ve spoken to you is a Spirit-word, and so it is life-making. But some of you are resisting, refusing to have any part in this.” (Jesus knew from the start that some weren’t going to risk themselves with him. He knew also who would betray him.) He went on to say, “This is why I told you earlier that no one is capable of coming to me on his own. You get to me only as a gift from the Father.”
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
My mother’s husband, Lee, agreed to watch Timothy during my grandmother’s funeral service last month – and to take him to another room to play if he grew restless. As everyone was seated for the service and the opening music began to play, Timothy and Pap-paw Lee entered the sanctuary, and we all heard Timothy say, “But I’m not tired… well, I’m a little tired.” And he actually did nap on Lee’s lap for a while during the funeral service.
Some of us have tried to be “a little Christian” for a long time now. We are willing to serve God when it is convenient. We will follow the teachings of Jesus – if they don’t contradict our own agenda… or if nothing better comes along. I have a book in my collection called The Hard Sayings of Jesus by F.F. Bruce. On the back cover of the book, the description says in part, “Like his original hearers, many people today find Jesus’ sayings hard. Some sayings are hard because they are difficult to understand… others because the demands they make on us are only too clear.”
Today’s scripture passage and surrounding verses from John 6 are examined in this book. In part, Bruce says that Jesus was not telling His disciples to practice cannibalism. Jesus did not literally mean that we are to eat His flesh and drink His blood. But Bruce cites a Twelfth Century French abbot, whom Pope Pius VII titled “Doctor of the Church” – Bernard of Clairvaux – who explains that… “If you suffer with me, you will also reign with me.” We all want to reign with Christ for all eternity, but many of us are unwilling to truly “suffer” with Him in this lifetime. So we have a hard time accepting that ALL who call on Jesus to forgive their sins will be granted salvation and Eternal Life. We can’t comprehend that we truly are to love our enemies and forgive them. Some of us don’t want to accept that Jesus loves believers of all races, creeds, colors, lifestyles and socio-economic levels – that they are equal partakers in His Kingdom with us.
When Jesus said, “Feed my sheep,” more than a few of us are pretty sure He didn’t mean for us to do this. When He said to “take up your cross and follow Me,” we're fairly certain that He didn’t mean that we had to sacrifice anything or give up any friendships or relationships of any kind – or to change our lifestyle in any way. When Jesus told us that those who have shown love, grace, mercy, forgiveness and kindness to “the least of my brethren” have done this to Him…we’re pretty sure He didn’t mean EVERYONE. Surely we are not to make these generous gestures toward the drunk driver who killed our loved one, a child molester, or even a 19-year-old terrorist in Boston. We Christians find a lot of the things Jesus calls us to do incredibly difficult to actually put into practice! But these very acts of faithful obedience are what define our discipleship and devotion to Christ.
So where does this leave us? Where are you “a little tired” – or acting like you are “a little Christian” …because there really is no such thing as the latter description. Jesus didn’t say, “Follow me whenever and however you feel like it.” He was very clear. He also knew that we could not do this under our own power… because we humans are weak. So God gave us the strength and inner resolve to do this… but we have to faithfully trust Him to help us accomplish this. We have to step up and out and say, “I’m willing to ‘suffer’ with Christ in order to reign with Him. Wherever He calls me to go… whatever I am commanded to do… I’m with Him all the way.” We must obediently and faithfully believe in even “the hard sayings of Jesus” and trust God to grant us wisdom and discernment for difficult situations and choices.
There will be plenty of days when we are all “a little tired” – and even a few when we are bone weary. But we must never tire of serving Jesus... nor fail to give Him less than our very best each and every day. Where have you grown “a little tired” in your faith? Jesus says that all who labor and are burdened can find rest in Him… but we are called to follow Him completely in return. What is your excuse these days? Are you ready to give Him all you’ve got?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Many among his disciples heard this and said, “This is tough teaching, too tough to swallow.”
Jesus sensed that his disciples were having a hard time with this and said, “Does this throw you completely? What would happen if you saw the Son of Man ascending to where he came from? The Spirit can make life. Sheer muscle and willpower don’t make anything happen. Every word I’ve spoken to you is a Spirit-word, and so it is life-making. But some of you are resisting, refusing to have any part in this.” (Jesus knew from the start that some weren’t going to risk themselves with him. He knew also who would betray him.) He went on to say, “This is why I told you earlier that no one is capable of coming to me on his own. You get to me only as a gift from the Father.”
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
My mother’s husband, Lee, agreed to watch Timothy during my grandmother’s funeral service last month – and to take him to another room to play if he grew restless. As everyone was seated for the service and the opening music began to play, Timothy and Pap-paw Lee entered the sanctuary, and we all heard Timothy say, “But I’m not tired… well, I’m a little tired.” And he actually did nap on Lee’s lap for a while during the funeral service.
Some of us have tried to be “a little Christian” for a long time now. We are willing to serve God when it is convenient. We will follow the teachings of Jesus – if they don’t contradict our own agenda… or if nothing better comes along. I have a book in my collection called The Hard Sayings of Jesus by F.F. Bruce. On the back cover of the book, the description says in part, “Like his original hearers, many people today find Jesus’ sayings hard. Some sayings are hard because they are difficult to understand… others because the demands they make on us are only too clear.”
Today’s scripture passage and surrounding verses from John 6 are examined in this book. In part, Bruce says that Jesus was not telling His disciples to practice cannibalism. Jesus did not literally mean that we are to eat His flesh and drink His blood. But Bruce cites a Twelfth Century French abbot, whom Pope Pius VII titled “Doctor of the Church” – Bernard of Clairvaux – who explains that… “If you suffer with me, you will also reign with me.” We all want to reign with Christ for all eternity, but many of us are unwilling to truly “suffer” with Him in this lifetime. So we have a hard time accepting that ALL who call on Jesus to forgive their sins will be granted salvation and Eternal Life. We can’t comprehend that we truly are to love our enemies and forgive them. Some of us don’t want to accept that Jesus loves believers of all races, creeds, colors, lifestyles and socio-economic levels – that they are equal partakers in His Kingdom with us.
When Jesus said, “Feed my sheep,” more than a few of us are pretty sure He didn’t mean for us to do this. When He said to “take up your cross and follow Me,” we're fairly certain that He didn’t mean that we had to sacrifice anything or give up any friendships or relationships of any kind – or to change our lifestyle in any way. When Jesus told us that those who have shown love, grace, mercy, forgiveness and kindness to “the least of my brethren” have done this to Him…we’re pretty sure He didn’t mean EVERYONE. Surely we are not to make these generous gestures toward the drunk driver who killed our loved one, a child molester, or even a 19-year-old terrorist in Boston. We Christians find a lot of the things Jesus calls us to do incredibly difficult to actually put into practice! But these very acts of faithful obedience are what define our discipleship and devotion to Christ.
So where does this leave us? Where are you “a little tired” – or acting like you are “a little Christian” …because there really is no such thing as the latter description. Jesus didn’t say, “Follow me whenever and however you feel like it.” He was very clear. He also knew that we could not do this under our own power… because we humans are weak. So God gave us the strength and inner resolve to do this… but we have to faithfully trust Him to help us accomplish this. We have to step up and out and say, “I’m willing to ‘suffer’ with Christ in order to reign with Him. Wherever He calls me to go… whatever I am commanded to do… I’m with Him all the way.” We must obediently and faithfully believe in even “the hard sayings of Jesus” and trust God to grant us wisdom and discernment for difficult situations and choices.
There will be plenty of days when we are all “a little tired” – and even a few when we are bone weary. But we must never tire of serving Jesus... nor fail to give Him less than our very best each and every day. Where have you grown “a little tired” in your faith? Jesus says that all who labor and are burdened can find rest in Him… but we are called to follow Him completely in return. What is your excuse these days? Are you ready to give Him all you’ve got?
©2013 Debbie Robus
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