July 28, 2009

• may we be ready to enter into suffering

  Lord Jesus You spoke these words to the church in Smyrna:

  Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. 11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.
  
  Then we read of Your work for us in Hebrews 2:

  But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. 10 For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. 11 For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one origin. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, 12 saying,
  

  I will tell of your name to my brothers;
  in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.
  13 And again,
  I will put my trust in him.
  And again,
  Behold, I and the children God has given me.
  

  14 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. 16 For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. 17 Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
  

  Lamb of God, You willingly suffered for us. You humbled Yourself, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, You became a servant, took on the form of flesh, became obedient to Your Father in all things, even unto death, death on the cross, the cruelest and most ignominious form of death ever conceived. You never sinned. You hung on the cross. You chose to become a curse for us so we might be saved from the curse of the law and be made righteous, and be adopted into Your family. Because You suffered and died for us, we are now Your brothers and sisters! How amazing we are joint heirs with You and that You are not ashamed of us! Yet part of being in Your family, part of our godly heritage is that we will suffer persecution. We should not think this strange, yet some of us do. Throughout Church history, men and women and boys and girls have suffered for Your Name's sake and for the Gospel's sake, yet now many of us have a taste of freedom and we think such suffering to strange and we even try to avoid it. Should we not being willing to taste suffering and even death for Your sake? You suffered and died for us? Should we not welcome suffering and even death? Not to seek it, no, yet to trust You in it if suffering and persecution or even death should come. May we be ready to enter into it, to willingly submit ourselves to our Father's will for us and to entrust ourselves to our Father's care as You did. Can we not trust our Father as Your trusted Him? Does not Your Spirit dwell in us to remind us we are the children of God, so we can trust our Father as You trusted Him? Is not our Father the sovereign and almighty God who sits enthroned above? May Your Spirit dwell in us to strengthen and uphold us through any trial and persecution, so we might stand firm and steadfast and immovable in our labor for You. We know our labor for You is not in vain, even if that labor results in suffering and death. We know that You suffered in every possible way we might suffer; certainly we need never think You will not be sufficient to strengthen us as You call us to suffer for You. You were tempted in every way we are and yet without sin; therefore You are able to help us when we are tempted and will bring us through victoriously, as more than conquerors. No, You do not promise our bodies will be preserved, but we do know that You will certainly preserve our souls. Men may persecute us or even kill us because we stand for You and for Your Gospel. They may kill our bodies, but we need not fear the first death. You tasted death for us so we will not be hurt by the second death. We will certainly be delivered from all our afflictions and all our persecutors. O, sovereign Lord and gracious God and mighty Spirit, give us strength to endure in time of trial and tribulation. Many of us, including myself, have not known great times of trial and tribulation. We have not really known persecution. Yet let not any of us shrink back from any suffering You might choose to allow in our life. Help us to be ready to enter into suffering. We know You are trustworthy. We know we can trust You not only in times of prosperity and freedom, but we can trust You should bring persecution and oppression. Should You deem we are to suffer for Your Name's sake, help us to be ready to enter into suffering. How weak is our faith when we can only trust You when things are going well. Strengthen our faith and the faith of Your Church. Make us bold by Your Holy Spirit. We know You are seated at the right hand of the Father. You are our surety. You are a priest forever. And not only that but we know You are able to sympathize with our weaknesses. What a wonderful Savior You are! You were God, yet You became like us in every respect, yet never sinned, so You are indeed a merciful and faithful high priest. You were able to make propitiation for our sins, yes, but, praise be to God, You are also able to help us daily while we are tempted because You suffered being tempted. You are able to help us in the midst of our temptations. You are able to help us should You call us to suffer for You. You stand at the throne of grace as our representative and our advocate, ready to minister mercy and grace to us in our time of need, including times of persecution. You ever live to intercede for us. You stand with us wherever we are. You are in the midst. You have not left us orphans. You Spirit has come to abide with us forever. You are our Good Shepherd. You care for us is constant. We have no doubt You will be with us through any persecution or suffering that might come our way. May we be ready to enter into suffering should You call us to do so.

  Psalm 34:15-22
  
  15 The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous
  and his ears toward their cry.
  16 The face of the Lord is against those who do evil,
  to cut off the memory of them from the earth.
  17 When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears
  and delivers them out of all their troubles.
  18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted
  and saves the crushed in spirit.
  19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
  but the Lord delivers him out of them all.
  20 He keeps all his bones;
  not one of them is broken.
  21 Affliction will slay the wicked,
  and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.
  22 The Lord redeems the life of his servants;
  none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.

  Lord Jesus, help us to keep our eyes fixed on You and to look to the joy set before us as You did. You are our great high priest so we know You hear our cries and we know You are near to us when we are afflicted and brokenhearted. We know for certain we have a life beyond the grave because when You rose from the dead, You conquered the grave once and for all. We need not fear the first death. We need not fear what men can do to us. Yet we confess we are afraid, yet You have told us not to be afraid. Our Father, You have told us we are precious to You and You care for us and Your care for us is constant. There is no place we can go that Your eye is not upon us. There is no place we can go that Your ear does not hear our cries. When we look on You, Lord Jesus, we can be bold. Just as Peter was bold to walk on the water so long as He kept His eyes on You, we can be bold so long as we keep our eyes on You. You are the author and finisher of our faith. You are the firstfruits. Even now we are seated in heavenly places with You. Even though we may be afflicted and troubled and crushed in this life, we will never be condemned because You stood condemned for us. Nothing whatsoever can separate us from our Father's love for us because He redeemed us with Your precious blood. O Jesus, You took the punishment we deserved, so we might have peace with God. We are wholly undeserving of Your love. May we be ready to lay down our lives for Your Kingdom as You laid down our lives for us so we might enter Your Kingdom. May we be ready to pour out our lives even unto death for You. Is that not what You did for us? You held nothing back but gave all for us. How little You have asked of most of us. Help us to entrust ourselves to You at all times. You are trustworthy. You are faithful and true. You will never forsake Your children. Should suffering and persecution or even death come upon us, may we be able to rejoice that we are counted worthy to suffer shame for Your Name and not shrink back from it. May we be able to follow You steadfastly wherever You send us. You set Your face steadfastly to Jerusalem. Should we not do likewise? May we not count our lives dear to ourselves but count You dearer than our lives. We love You, Jesus. Help us to love You more. You suffered for us. Help us to be ready to enter into suffering for the sake of Your Name and for the Gospel. May we not count our lives dear to ourselves. May You become dearer to us each day, Lord Jesus, dearer than our own lives.

  Amen.

  Please add your prayers here as His Holy Spirit leads you.

  • 11:49 AM
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