“SHARE CHRIST’S SUFFERINGS!”

 

1 Peter 4:12-16                 (ESV)

Suffering as a CHRISTIAN

“[12] Beloved, “DO NOT BE SURPRISED” at the FIERY TRIAL when it comes upon you TO TEST YOU, as though something strange were happening to you. [13] But rejoice insofar as you “SHARE CHRIST’S SUFFERINGS”, that you may also REJOICE AND BE GLAD when HIS GLORY is revealed. [14] If you are insulted for the NAME OF CHRIST, YOU ARE BLESSED, because the SPIRIT of GLORY and of GOD RESTS UPON YOU. [15] But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. [16] Yet if anyone suffers as a CHRISTIAN, let him not be ashamed, but LET HIM GLORIFY GOD IN THAT NAME.”

We are all so disgruntled, even taken aback, when trials and tribulations come our way, for the most part!  It seems that our mentality is display “this world” has made us and not what GOD has permitted us to enjoy.  But Peter has a completely different perspective about living a life in support of the NAME JESUS CHRIST!!!

Enjoying rest and relaxation can be an enjoyable experience. But that isn’t listed in Scripture, at least not that I have read?  JESUS, WHO LIVES INSIDE OF US (Galatians 2:20), was NEVER adorned with “material wealth”!  HE was even born in a cattle barn, and STILL was THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE???  HE didn’t show off HIS wealth and possessions, yet HE was and is THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD!!!

When I “dream up” how I would display HIS GRACE and value to “this world”, grandeur and beauty immediately comes to mind.  But JESUS left HIS HEAVENLY HOME and came to earth in obscurity, WITH NO WEALTH, and payed the SACRIFICE that was required for me to LIVE with HIM!  

I am not the son of a MONARCH!  I am not ROYALTY!  I don’t have many worldly possessions to adorn my earthly abode!  But PRAISE GOD I have been REDEEMED by the SACRIFICE of THE KING OF THE AGES!!!  For HIS GLORY, I will “SHARE CHRIST’S SUFFERINGS” because HE CHOSE me!!!

“THEY RECOGNIZED HIM!”

Luke 24:28-35                 (ESV)

“[28] So they drew near to the village to which they were going. HE acted as if HE were going farther, [29] but they urged HIM strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So HE went in to stay with them. [30] When HE was at table with them, HE took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. [31] And THEIR EYES WERE OPENED, and “THEY RECOGNIZED HIM”. And HE VANISHED FROM THEIR SIGHT. [32] They said to each other, “DID NOT OUR HEARTS BURN WITHIN US WHILE HE TALKED TO US ON THE ROAD, WHILE HE OPENED TO US THE SCRIPTURES?” [33] And they rose THAT SAME HOUR and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, [34] saying, “The LORD has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” [35] Then they told what had happened on the road, and how HE was known to them in the breaking of the bread.

Cleopas and an unnamed man were walking from Jerusalem to Emmaus, an approximately seven mile journey.  Speculation has it that Cleopas was a relative of JESUS,  but we mustn’t let that overshadow the MESSAGE that is being sent by “this encounter”!  

JESUS had been brutally tortured and crucified only a few days prior, and Cleopas and the unnamed companion were reminiscing about the events of THAT DAY!  While in the walk to Emmaus, JESUS “drew near” and “went with them”.  JESUS asked them what they were discussing, and Cleopas said “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”  It is VERY OBVIOUS that Cleopas and his friend DID NOT know WHO they were walking with at the time???

In verse 31 it PLAINLY says “And THEIR EYES WERE OPENED, and “THEY (Cleopas and friend) RECOGNIZED HIM”.  And HE VANISHED FROM THEIR SIGHT!”  Why did JESUS make HIMSELF known to them?  Why didn’t they recognize that there was something different about HIM?  Why did HE wait PRECISELY for this time to make this REVELATION known to them?  Why didn’t JESUS go to HIS Disciples first?  

I’m sure that the Disciples wondered all of these things, AND MORE, when they were notified of this event?  The thing that MUST not be neglected is that JESUS orchestrated that “THEY RECOGNIZED HIM”, telling us that JESUS has CHOSEN precisely every person who is CHOSEN!!!  “THEY RECOGNIZED HIM”, ONLY because JESUS CHOSE them to SEE TRUTH!!!

“THE GIFT FROM GOD!”

Ephesians 2:8-9                 (ESV)

“[8] For BY GRACE you have been saved through FAITH. And this is not your own doing; IT IS “THE GIFT OF GOD”, [9] NOT A RESULT OF WORKS, so that no one may boast.”

In the period of time that the book of Mark was penned, about 65-70 AD, many people “believed” that “Gentiles” were thought to be people who were NOT CHOSEN by GOD to be a part of HIS KINGDOM?  Most “Gentiles” (people born outside of the Jewish faith) were considered to be “unclean” with NO HOPE of redemption.  

The caption A GENTILE MOTHER’s FAITH was used in this week’s Sunday School lesson.  It must have been a title used by the societal elite to place others “in their place”?!?  FAITH 

Suppose if I were born in 65-70 AD?  A child fathered by a man who left his family and moved out of the country to avoid paying child support?  I had NO INPUT into my ancestors.  HOWEVER, GOD doesn’t issue limitations based on your lineage.  HIS OWN SON was born in a cattle “stall”, certainly not a place where THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSES should have to experience?  

Then JESUS, GOD IN FLESH, CHOSE me, BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD, to be a follower of HIS, as pitiful and pathetic as I am!  I have NOTHING to offer HIM, only MY ALL!  It is SOLELY “THE GIFT OF GOD” that HE CHOSE me!!!

“QUICK TO HEAR!”

 

James 1:19-21               (ESV)

Hearing and Doing the WORD

“[19] Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be “QUICK TO HEAR”, SLOW to speak, SLOW to anger; [20] for the anger of man DOES NOT produce the righteousness of GOD. [21] Therefore PUT AWAY ALL FILTHINESS and rampant wickedness AND RECEIVE with meekness THE IMPLANTED WORD, which is able to SAVE your souls.”

Mankind seems to be “wired” to act and react extremely abruptly to anything that enters our minds?  It is very common for me to be “quick on my feet” with a response to whatever is placed before me.  

Directly following the Brain Hemorrhage my ability to react to adversity in my life was greatly affected, maybe even “retarded”.  I can NOW SEE that this inability to quickly respond to an adverse situation “might” have been DIVINELY orchestrated by OUR CREATOR???

In the Scripture above, the LORD is telling me to TWICE to be SLOW!  HE also instructs me to be “QUICK TO HEAR”, and in my case I need to be “QUICK TO HEAR” from HIM before my lips engage with a response!!  How many times did I have “forge ahead” with someone or something WITHOUT being SLOW to SPEAK and SLOW to get ANGRY???

LORD, please forgive me for NOT being SLOW to SPEAK and SLOW to be ANGRY, but MOST OF ALL for NOT being “QUICK TO HEAR” from YOU to guide me to GUIDE and DIRECT my steps!!!

“HE WILL!”

 

Isaiah 40:10-11                 (ESV)

    “[10] Behold, the LORD GOD comes with MIGHT,

        and HIS arm rules for HIM;

    behold, HIS reward is with HIM,

        and HIS recompense before HIM. 

    [11] “HE WILL” tend HIS flock like a SHEPHERD;

        “HE WILL” gather the lambs in HIS arms;

    “HE WILL” carry them in HIS bosom,

        and GENTLY LEAD those that are with young.”

I am aware that this is third day I have shared these verses, but GOD IS STILL SPEAKING TO ME, and I am unable to move away from HIM!!!  As I have previously written, “The LORD GOD comes with MIGHT” is a POWERFUL statement that should cause humanity to be tremble at HIS POWER!!!  Or should WE be consoled???

The WORDS of the next verse however begins with “HE WILL”!!!  Those WORDS are NOT a “hope so”, or a “might be”, or anything indefinite that humans try to interject!  GOD is saying “HE WILL” to assure we whose FAITH is STILL being grown that HE IS IN CONTROL, whether we understand EVERYTHING about HIM, or not!!!

One of the greatest examples of FAITH that I have been made aware of was when I was in the seventeen day coma in 2007.  My wife was telling people that “he is going to be okay”!!  They would think that she was being overly optimistic?  One of my nurses later told me that IT APPEARED that she was showing signs of Brain Damage, and I was the one who was being treated!!!  But ultimately my health was restored, and even my doctor wrote that it was “a miracle from GOD” after I was released from the hospital!!!  My wife’s FAITH was EVIDENT, even when mine probably wouldn’t have been!!!

When GOD says “HE WILL”, we need to REST ASSURED that HE does precisely what HE SAID HE WOULD DO!!!  I tend to be more pessimistic than others when GOD has said “HE WILL”!  But my wife REFUSED to have “weak FAITH” and she BELIEVED that “HE WILL” meant that “HE WILL”!!!

I PRAY that my FAITH will become everything HE causes it to be!!!

“GENTLE SHEPHERD!”

 

Isaiah 40:10-11                 (ESV)

    “[10] Behold, the LORD GOD comes with MIGHT,

        and HIS arm rules for HIM;

    behold, HIS reward is with HIM,

        and HIS recompense before HIM. 

    [11] HE will tend HIS flock like a “SHEPHERD”;

        HE will gather the lambs in HIS arms;

    HE will carry them in HIS bosom,

        and “GENTLY” LEAD those that are with young.”

https://youtu.be/jPBydcYD_lM?si=Qnn_PbodH3ffJbm-

No sooner had I posted the previous devotional recently did my thoughts turn to another song entitled “GENTLE SHEPHERD”, sung by The Gaither Vocal Band above.  

Isaiah 40:10 begins with saying that “the LORD GOD comes with MIGHT, and HIS arm rules for HIM; behold, HIS reward is with HIM, and HIS recompense before HIM”.  When we TAKE THE TIME to consider that JESUS SPOKE THE UNIVERSES into existence during CREATION, AND THEN molded man out of dust, HOW can we think that HE IS MIGHTY??  HE IS THE definition of MIGHTY!!

BUT HE IS also akin to a “GENTLE SHEPHERD”, guiding HIS illiterate FOLLOWERS along the path HE has assigned each of us!  WHY would HE, THE CREATOR of EVERYTHING, be so concerned with me that HE paid an UNIMAGINABLE price for me to spend eternity with HIM in HEAVEN??  I AM CHOSEN is the only answer to that question!!  I certainly don’t deserve it, BUT I AM CHOSEN!!!

The “GENTLE SHEPHERD” that is sung about in the video above is THE SAME CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSES!!!  HE loved me SO MUCH that HE PAID THE PRICE FOR MY SALVATION!  And HE will be LEADING me until HE LEADS me home!!!

“GENTLY LEAD!”

 

Isaiah 40:10-11                 (ESV)

    “[10] Behold, the LORD GOD comes with MIGHT,

        and HIS arm rules for HIM;

    behold, HIS reward is with HIM,

        and HIS recompense before HIM. 

    [11] HE will tend HIS flock like a shepherd;

        HE will gather the lambs in HIS arms;

    HE will carry them in HIS bosom,

        and “GENTLY LEAD” those that are with young.”

https://youtu.be/N6ser9IET_k?si=bB4Q_yAZ3TluLOrz

This morning I woke up with the song above playing in my brain damaged mind!  I’m no music expert, but Elvis Presley was one of the most popular artists, certainly of my lifetime.  

With all of the hype and notoriety surrounding the legacy of Elvis, is it possible to wrap your mind around THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSES being tasked with “GENTLY LEADING” us through the distractions and challenges of “this world”?  

Understanding that BELIEVERS have such a powerful HOST ABIDING inside of us isn’t something that I can wrap my faulty brain around.  Reading the Scriptures above lets me know that JESUS was willing to “GENTLY LEAD” those who THE FATHER has given HIM (John 6:37-47)!!  HE could have NOT GIVEN US A CHOICE, but HE was willing to physically LIVE for over 33 years, then suffer and die on Calvary for THOSE that were CHOSEN BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD (Ephesians 1:4)!!

It is blatantly clear that MY ONLY HOPE is to apply HIS GRACE to my wretched existence!  My prayer is that HE will “GENTLY LEAD” me through my remaining time in “this world”, and then I will be CALLED HOME to reside with HIM in HEAVEN, FOREVER AND FOREVER!!!