Suffering
The term "suffering" is frequently used in Christian language. Typically, we use the term in conjunction with Jesus' life. We often speak of how Jesus suffered for our sins.
In Matt 26:36-39, we find Jesus in Gethsemane, leading up to the time when he was betrayed by Judas and arrested. The verses speak of the anguish and agony that Jesus felt. The weight of the world's sin was literally pressing Him to the ground. Although He knew what His role and fate was to become, His humanness, His flesh desired to escape the suffering that was to come. A key component of the passage in Matt 26:39 states, "Yet I want your will, not mine." In all that was to come Jesus knew that he needed to honor His Father's will, as the events had been purposed and planned.
Because of the anguish that Jesus experienced, He can relate to our suffering. The question is, can we truly relate to the suffering that He experienced? As Christians, we often speak of "taking up the cross for Jesus". To carry the baton, as it were, in the race for salvation—to win the lost. In doing so we consider ourselves loyal servants, or disciples for Jesus. To carry the cross is to become like Jesus—to follow in His footsteps. "What Would Jesus Do?" has become a way for us to proclaim that we desire to act as Jesus did. But Jesus suffered intensely for our salvation. Too often we choose to live our lives because of the cross, because Jesus carried the cross for us, rather than to carry it ourselves. We want Jesus to "take up the cross", so we don't have to. We want Him to carry the burden.
In John 15:18-23, Jesus warns us of the persecution we will experience if we choose to separate ourselves from the world's ways and become a devoted follower of Jesus. Unfortunately, many Christians will have their faith "tested" in times of suffering or hardship. But it is only through experiencing difficulties that we experience spiritual growth and maturation. James 1:2-4 helps us to see that the depth of our character will be seen in how we respond to adversity.
For the most part we live in a society of affluence. As a result we often may not see the need to pursue our faith fervently. We often do not heed the instructions from "the Great Commission". We do not step out of our comfort zone; therefore, we do not experience suffering and fall short of our desire to "take up the cross".
The Challenge: To become more like our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, we must live as He lived. To "take up the cross" is to know that suffering is an inevitable consequence of our desire to follow Jesus, to "walk" as Jesus walked. If we want to be like Jesus, then we must live as Jesus lived, and He endured suffering. Are you willing to suffer for Jesus? Many before you have made the ultimate sacrifice, which has made it possible for the Body of Christ to survive, so that you and I are able to know the peace that can only come from a relationship with Jesus. Are you willing to join them and suffer as Jesus suffered in order that others may follow in your footsteps?
Dan & Valerie Naish
ReignDown USA Board Members
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