Suffering For Glory
“The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the
children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs
with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified
together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to
be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” (Romans 8:16-18)
Today’s Morsel: What I find
in the world and church today is that people do not like to suffer. They
do not like to feel pain or endure hardships in their life. Many get into
their comfort zones and do not want it disturbed. But Jesus lets us know
that in this life we will have tribulations. And the quicker we figure it
out, the better we will be when it comes. The church has always faced
persecution and hardships. In writing to the church of the Hebrews, Paul
informed them, “Wherefore Jesus also, that he might
sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. Let us go
forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.” (Hebrews 13:12-13) We are told to have the same mind as
Christ. Paul also wrote, “ And what shall
I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak,
and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel,
and of the prophets: Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought
righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, Quenched the
violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made
strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not
accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: And others
had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and
imprisonment: They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were
slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being
destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they
wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of
the earth. And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received
not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they
without us should not be made perfect.” (Hebrews 11:32-40) They suffered for their faith.
And even Paul himself told the church at Corinth, “Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice
was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night
and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in
perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own
countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in
perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among
false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and
thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.” (2 Corinthians 11:24-27) All this suffering for God’s
glory. Can you endure hardness as a good soldier for Christ so that you
may obtain His glory?
Sing: Glory, glory, hallelujah, since
I laid my burdens down. Glory, glory, hallelujah, since I laid my burdens
down. Friends don’t treat me, like they used to, since I laid my burden
down. Friends don’t treat me, like they used to, since I laid my burden
down. Glory, glory, hallelujah, since I laid my burdens down. Glory,
glory, hallelujah, since I laid my burdens down.
Thought For Today: “Fear none of those
things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into
prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou
faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” (Revelation 2:10)
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