Suffering for the Lord - Psalms 20-22 and Acts 21:1-17
It is difficult for us to see the positive aspects of suffering, because we are so afraid of the pain. We don't like any kind of suffering, whether it is emotional, physical, or spiritual. We would rather skip the pain, and just enjoy the blessings of life. However, there are many positive things that can come from suffering, and in order to become like Christ, we must grow through the positive aspects of suffering.
David knew the good times of life. He rejoiced in the Lord's blessings and in the way He answered his prayers. David also knew much suffering in his life. Some of it was caused by his own sin, but much of it was not. God humbled David through suffering, and He taught him to trust Him through the pains of life. Psalm 22 is ultimately about the sufferings of Jesus on the Cross, but I can't help but think that David was speaking of himself some, too. He had known the ridicule of others. David knew great emotional pain and physical pain. He was not nailed to a cross, but I believe, that sometimes he felt stabbed in the heart. He learned to rejoice through all of this. He learned to focus on the Lord and not on his problems. David's pain helped him become a better person. That is one good thing about suffering.
Paul was going to Jerusalem, and God was showing everyone that he would be arrested. They all told him not to go. He insisted on going. He was ready to die for the Lord, if that is what God wanted. I can only assume that Paul believed that his death could be used by God to accomplish something for the Kingdom, so he was willing to die for the Lord. Eventually, Paul was martyred for his faith, and there have been thousands of other believers who have died for the Lord. In each case, God used their death to accomplish His will in some way. It has been said that the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church. We all ought to come to give ourselves to the Lord so completely that we would die for Him, if that is what He wants.
Of course, Jesus is the one who suffered the most and accomplished the most through His suffering. When He suffered and died for the sins of the world, He paid the penalty for our sins with His blood. If He had not been willing to die on the Cross for us, we would all be without hope of ever having our sins forgiven. We should all be grateful to God for what He brought about by the suffering and death of His dear Son.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Psalms 23-25 and Acts 21:18-40.
David knew the good times of life. He rejoiced in the Lord's blessings and in the way He answered his prayers. David also knew much suffering in his life. Some of it was caused by his own sin, but much of it was not. God humbled David through suffering, and He taught him to trust Him through the pains of life. Psalm 22 is ultimately about the sufferings of Jesus on the Cross, but I can't help but think that David was speaking of himself some, too. He had known the ridicule of others. David knew great emotional pain and physical pain. He was not nailed to a cross, but I believe, that sometimes he felt stabbed in the heart. He learned to rejoice through all of this. He learned to focus on the Lord and not on his problems. David's pain helped him become a better person. That is one good thing about suffering.
Paul was going to Jerusalem, and God was showing everyone that he would be arrested. They all told him not to go. He insisted on going. He was ready to die for the Lord, if that is what God wanted. I can only assume that Paul believed that his death could be used by God to accomplish something for the Kingdom, so he was willing to die for the Lord. Eventually, Paul was martyred for his faith, and there have been thousands of other believers who have died for the Lord. In each case, God used their death to accomplish His will in some way. It has been said that the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church. We all ought to come to give ourselves to the Lord so completely that we would die for Him, if that is what He wants.
Of course, Jesus is the one who suffered the most and accomplished the most through His suffering. When He suffered and died for the sins of the world, He paid the penalty for our sins with His blood. If He had not been willing to die on the Cross for us, we would all be without hope of ever having our sins forgiven. We should all be grateful to God for what He brought about by the suffering and death of His dear Son.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Psalms 23-25 and Acts 21:18-40.