Suffering Is Inevitable On Earth For The Believer
Is Christian life a life of suffering? Indeed it is!
If there is no suffering, why would anyone pursue God? Why would anyone desire godliness?
What are you telling the non-believer? Are you promising them a life without suffering?
The godly will suffer persecution. (2 Timothy 3:12)
What differentiates us from non-believers who suffer? We share the suffering. We pray, fellowship, and encourage one another about the coming of the Lord.
When our lives get busy, sharing the suffering of our fellow believers takes a back seat. Our children hesitate to exercise Christ because we don't live joyfully through affliction. Most joy is fake or armchair Christianity. Not a life that praises God boldly during the trial.
WHO IS A GOOD SOLDIER?
A soldier makes time to share the suffering of his brothers and sisters in Christ (2 Timothy 2:3). If we suffer in Christ, we will reign with Him. But if we deny Him to avoid suffering, we will end up in hell. Paul went through much affliction, but God delivered him out of it all. The grace of God sufficiently strengthened him during his trials. (2 Corinthians 12:9)
Moses left all the pleasures of Egypt to join with his godly brethren. God used him to lead them to the promised land (Hebrews 11:25, 26)
WHAT DOES SUFFERING DO TO US?
Make us perfect (Hebrews 2:10)
Prepare us for glory (Romans 8:17)
Makes us obedient (Hebrews 5:8)
Cease from sin (1 Peter 4:1)
The world we live in watches our lives when we face trials. It's a wonder to them to behold God's mighty power at work to heal and deliver us. The unsaved around us desire our spiritual wealth but cannot have it until God opens their eyes.
The suffering on earth is nothing compared to the eternal glory that awaits us (Romans 8:18).
Receive hope, dear believer. The God of all grace, who has called us unto his eternal glory through Christ Jesus after we have suffered (a while), will make perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle us. (1 Peter 5:10)
Maranatha, Praise God, and Amen.