Title: Suffering for the Lord is a Privilege
Suffering for the Lord is a Privilege 2005-05-18
What was the reason that the people in the text were able to rejoice even in the midst of suffering? Why are you willing to walk the thorny road of suffering, boldly proclaim the name of Jesus, and not feel ashamed or burdened with your devotion in joy? The Bible describes it as “rejoicing in those worthy of hardship.” How great it would be if we could possess this secret. They were able to do this because their gaze was not on this world, but on the God who recognized them.
Think about why you lose joy. How often do we lose that joy. It's because of comparison. It is the highest position God has given me, and the Lord has given it to me with a very deep will, so instead of thinking that I have to compete in this place, whether I live or die, I compare myself to someone who is treated and recognized by others. , it is a precursor to moving away from the mission. A mission is an absolute thing God has given to you.
Peter was not troubled by his own martyrdom, but was curious about others. Then Jesus said he didn't care. As such, the mission is absolute. I don't care what kind of mission that person received. There is absolutely no need for comparison. What the apostles caught in the midst of such persecution was that God was acknowledging them. They had the heart that we were chosen because we were specially approved by the Lord. We, too, have a mission to bear, and it is very precious. It means that God approves of persecution and suffering because of it, while weeping and worrying about it.
The basis of calling, the basis of giving mission is the giving of grace. It was the same with the apostle Paul. Rather than teaching him what to do and giving him grace, the Lord met him with a heart as hard as a stone and broke him and made him cry because of God's love. After giving him such grace, he taught him his true calling. The Lord's grace is free, but it is not given for self-gratification or to please us. In other words, it is not given to enjoy grace itself, but to make them feel the mission. The will and plan given to each person must become the vocation that we must fulfill by supporting our lives.
It is an undeniable fact that suffering is hard when a special mission is given to one person. Those who received the mission must go down the path of hardship. He did not lead all the people whom God gave grace to only the grass and calm waters. Rather, the Lord passes through the valley of the shadow of death, not in the midst of a storm, but by those whom he loves very much, those whom he has found favor with him, and not by calm waters. So, he lets you know that this sinful world is not your home, your identity is only a stranger. It is unnecessary for those who live without a destination and no destination to go. On that arduous and dangerous traveler's road, he who has a destination to go to until his life ends, finds a friend to guide him and does not let it go until he arrives. That is the mission. The reason why many saints today do not pursue or explore a life in harmony with God is because they do not have a destination. I just need a friend to enjoy the world because I think that I just need to live enough not to be scolded by God.
What kind of people in the Bible showed God's intimacy as a friend? They are not believers who are indulging in self-righteousness while serving the Lord with moldy service. They were all people who valued the God who had commissioned them without a name and no light, and wished that they would be forgotten and only the Lord would be honored, whether or not they acknowledged them. They were Jesus' friends and God's family. Do we really have our eyes on the Lord? Do we have such a confession of faith that if I only shine on the work of Jesus and die, I can fully enjoy myself? Even when there was nothing to be thankful for, the apostles were full of gratitude toward heaven. The apostles shouted, "You can only destroy my body, so I will serve God, who rules both soul and body."
Youth and the lusts of the flesh... All these worldly things pass by like the wind. Only those who fear the Lord remain.
Are we really serving? We should serve, but we need to look at whether we are truly serving, hoping only for the approval of Him alone. And I must repent deeply and always think about where the Lord first established me. How heartbroken the Lord must be for that empty space. On this short journey, you must live by serving. An easy life only leads me to sin and corruption. Don't be shaken until he praises you, "Well done, good and faithful servant, you have truly served me without name and without light." Because God recognized me, he gave me a mission in the place of suffering. Just as the Lord did, let's continue to live a life of service to the end. 2005-05-18