True lovers of Jesus take up the cross daily as an honourable gift, sharing in His glory!
I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! For I have overcome the world. John 16:33
What does it mean to really love someone? In marriage, both husband and wife make a life-long commitment to each other - 'til death do us part'. Love is a choice and when times get tough, that choice to love, can be a breaking point. Through suffering, love can remain, mend and strengthen, if you choose to love. But, what does this have to do with today's post?
Back in Exodus, God made a promise to rescue His people from Pharaoh's slavery and free them from their sufferings and oppression, to deliver them to the Promised Land (Exodus 6:6). Although, the Israelites never listened to God's promise through Moses because of the discouragement and slavery they were under (Exo 6:9). It took ten horrifying plagues for the Israelites to be released, ten plagues which brought such devastation, and ten plagues which proved God's love and commitment to His people. When we are going through tough times and suffering, God makes a promise to us that will rescue and free us from all suffering and deliver us to His Promised Land. This promise is Jesus Christ.
Then Jesus said, "Come to Me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you. Let Me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light." (Matt 11:28-30). What a profound promise this is! The Son of God so openly and willingly giving us rest and life through Him. This yoke, or in other words, union, even marriage, with God is a promise that replaces every burden with love and every suffering with joy. If Jesus, a sinless human being, died a criminal's death on the cross, how much more will we be rejected and suffer for our faith in Him? And who said suffering is a bad thing?
Suffering for the name of Jesus and for His message we share to the world is an honour and is worthy in the sight of God! For me to live a perfect life and think that because of God's grace I will not suffer, is wrong. In fact, as believers we suffer more! Suffering for our faith in Jesus, who saved us, doesn't mean we have done anything wrong - but rather it means we have been faithful and obedient in our walk with God! Suffering for Jesus births everlasting life, just as a mother's pains births life. I choose to suffer for Jesus because I love Jesus. I am not worthy to be forgiven because my sins wage death. But through Jesus, I am worthy to be saved and forgiven of my sins because HE SUFFERED MY DEATH. What indescribable love is that? For a God to sacrifice His Son for you and I to be forgiven and to know that we are wanted and created to know God in all His fullness - it blows my mind!!
I suffer for the name of Jesus and I declare that I will continue suffering for Him because my Jesus is worth suffering for. My Jesus is so beautiful and full of life and love that as a human I need that. I have been created for a purpose willed by God! If my purpose and life here on earth gets me to die for my faith and love for Him, I will. Jesus didn't have to choose to love me - He did, He always has and He always will. But He has given me the choice to love Him. That choice brings suffering here on earth for His name but peace and everlasting life thereafter with Him. Jesus far outweighs every difficult choice I could make. That's why when He says that the burden He offers is light, I know that every choice becomes easy. I will never grieve or suffer for knowing God, for the burden He gives me is His love. My suffering is also never alone, for I suffer with Christ, and through that I share in His glory!
Know that suffering for Jesus takes you out of your comfort zone, it weeds out all those who are lukewarm in their faith in God, it strengthens the faith of all who endure and it serves as an example to all followers of Christ! Are you willing to take up the cross?
In His kindness God called you to share in His eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, He will restore, support, and strengthen you, and He will place you on a firm foundation. 1 Peter 5:10
Dear brothers and sisters, I encourage you to let go of fleshly desires and the strongholds of your sin. Jesus calls us to Him. He wants us and created us to know Him. He reunited us with God and He took our punishment of death for our sins. Look to Him! He is worth dying for and worth loving wholeheartedly. "Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord." (Phil 3:8).
Praise the Lord! Let all that I am praise the Lord. Psalm 146:1
Heavenly Father, I come to You in the name of Jesus. Thank You Lord for counting me worthy to share in Christ's sufferings. Lord, may You strengthen, refine, and show Your beauty and fulfilling love throughout my life. I praise You Lord for all that You are and all You have done for me. May Your glory and name be exalted in all the earth, amen.
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