This Week’s Reading
Acts 14:1-28
Paul’s 1st Missionary Journey
"Paul and Barnabus strengthened the believers. They encouraged them to continue in the faith, reminding them that we must suffer many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God” Acts 14:22
Could it be otherwise?
Pastor’s Reflections
God seeks a world voluntarily submitted to Him, finally free in its choice of perfected obedience. Most of us, however, prefer to be “true to ourselves”. It’s a lethal mix.
“To thine own self be true” said Shakespeare’s Polonius in Hamlet. “Seek first the kingdom of God”, said Jesus in the sermon on the mount. Each promises reward. Only one is correct beyond immediate short term gratifcation that reward will come. Western Christians, I suspect, take their cue more from Polonius than Jesus.
If one chooses to “loose one’s life” for the sake of Jesus in a world where everyone else seeks their own life, how could suffering not occur? 7 billion people seeking to be true to themselves means conflict, pain, suffering, holocausts, death. And often the only thing unifying the “Polonius’s” is a common enemy. Enemy formation is a great unifier. Israel served that role for millennia, probably still does. Christianity fits that role nicely too, more and more in fact as the years role on.
Paul and Barnabus strengthened the believers, and part of that encouraging and strengthening was being honest with them about the fact that they will suffer. Paul even went so far as to write, “I want to know the fellowship of Jesus’ sufferings” (see Philippians). I don’t think Paul was a masochist at all. I just think he embraced reality and wanted to throw himself fully into it.
In other words, we all suffer. Why not “go for it” in terms of living the Gospel fully and make whatever inevitable suffering which comes your way a “worth it” kind of suffering?
So far I have not had much suffering in my life. Is this because God has blessed me, or is it because I am not living the Gospel fully?
ReplyDeleteI wonder if living a blessed life has more to do with "not suffering," or "counting it all blessing?"
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting that you chose this blog for today as we have just recieved word that Esparanza, the dear pastors wife from la iglesia, has inoperable stomach cancer. They took her in for surgery today and there was nothing more they could do. The two of them have been a phenomenal inspiration to me of strength in suffering. They have not denied the pain, but have remained faithful and strong throughout this trying time and have continued in the love of the Lord. Please pray for them as they walk through this fire
ReplyDeleteynda Schultz said...
ReplyDeleteAnonymous #1,
Often our counting of suffering is credited to the physical. And many times it is, but not conclusively.
Remembering that Jesus, himself asked the Father to "remove this cup" shows us that even Jesus did not 'want' to suffer. Of course not.
"Not my will, but your's" though shows us the real heart of this prayer.
Jesus came knowing He would suffer but also knew the outcome-Resurrection. Even knowing the end result, though did not take away His request to avoid the pain (of not just physical effects, but spiritual effects: separation from the Father).
It is NOT wrong to want to avoid the pain.
Forced, sought out suffering was not what Paul was talking about. He was chosen, specifically to share the gospel and I suspect, after the killing of many Christians on his hands, he just may possibly have felt it an honor to be able to give the same way Jesus did.
Does that mean we all should seek suffering? No, that is under God's control.
Does it mean that if we are not beaten, tortured, etc. we are not blessed?
Of course, not, Look at Job, he was blessed before the test of suffering came. Then he was restored not only back to wealth, and not only with a serious lesson learned, but with a deeper, more intimate understanding of God.
In Hebrews, the suffering the saints endured is held up as examples, not of a blessed life, but a FAITHFUL life while suffering (Hebrews 11)
Bottom line, if we look to suffering in order to feel our lives are blessed, we are doing nothing but trading faith for works. This thinking can lead to self piety. We are to count our suffering as nothing compared to the FAITH we are devoted to while the suffering plays out. It is not suffering that brings our blessings, it is our God.
However, when we suffer, knowing that whatever level of suffering comes our way, we will do so valiantly, persevering, never losing hope, keeping our eyes on the eternal, waiting patiently, enduring patiently until Jesus returns, we will have our blessing.
"So do not throw away your confidence: it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. For in just a very little while,
"He who is coming will come and will not delay,
But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him."
"BUT WE ARE NOT OF THOSE WHO SHRINK BACK AND ARE DESTROYED, BUT OF THOSE WHO BELIEVE AND ARE SAVED." HEBREWS 10:35-39
Everything about the gospel leads us to the eternal, living hope for the return of Jesus, our Savior.
Everything.
God bless you-
14 January, 2011
Lynda - excellent comments... thank you so much for that.
ReplyDelete