Look how high you rate when haters hate...
Many
times, when we are serving the Lord, standing humbly in biblical teaching or
being rejected for sharing the gospel, we think the Lord's favor has been
lifted from us. Many times, we think trouble means we are not blessed.
Really,
that's not a Scriptural view. It's just not.
Beloved,
to walk humbly with God AND suffer for it is THE NORM in Kingdom life. THE
NORM.
Consider:
#1
Actually, you are laying up rewards from God.
#2 It proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that this world is not our home, nor
does is it worthy of suffering saint.
Most
importantly...
#3
It clothes us in the glory of the Holy Spirit.
#4 It identifies us with Jesus.
"Blessed
are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil
against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is
great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you."
(Matthew 5:11-12 ESV)
"And
what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson,
Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets—who through faith conquered
kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out
of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received
back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept
release, so that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered
mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they
were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of
sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated—of whom the world was not
worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the
earth. And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive
what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart
from us they should not be made perfect." (Hebrews 11:32-40 ESV)
"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. But rejoice insofar as you
share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory
is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed,
because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let none of you
suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone
suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that
name." (1 Peter 4:12-16 ESV)
We
need perspective! Suffering because we walk with God does not necessarily mean
God's blessing is not upon us; it could very well mean it is because His
blessing IS on us.
But,
beloved, listen, be sure your suffering is for your walk with God, not because
we are foolish, or lawbreakers, or rebellious, or contentious for the sake of
contention...or so many other things that are typical of the flesh.
IF
we suffer, pray Lord, it is because we remain true to God in a broken world. IF
we suffer, we shall not / should not lose hope, for God is greater than our
hearts, greater than our circumstances, greater than this life and greater than
what may befall us in the midst of it all. HE IS the resurrection, so even
should we die, in Christ, we shall live!
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