Partakers Of Christ's Sufferings!

Monday's Devotion (5-19-03)

"Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy."1 Peter 4:12-13 (KJV)

Some of us never realize what we're getting into by becoming Christians, until it's too late. If we really get into our Christian walk, we will have problems. We will have battles with the enemy. The enemy attacks us in many different ways. He attacks us in our minds and even in the physical world. Anyone who has been a Christian for along time and never had a fiery trial has something to worry about because for Christ's sake, all of His elect will suffer. We have to suffer now to have part in His eternal joy and glory. If you're not right with God, Satan, won't mess with you, but if you're right with God, prepare yourself because you will suffer. To be right with God, we must ask for His Spirit and we must continue in prayer and in God's Word. Not only continue in His Word, but live by His Word. People will tell you, "You're suffering? You shouldn't be you're a Christian!" Let me tell you that's a lie! You will suffer. Don't let this discourage you, because it's all worth it. If we hang in there through all the trials and sufferings, it'll be worth it all. We'll go to be with the Father and have everlasting joy. The everlasting joy is better than the temporary joy, the people of this world get. It's much greater. If you get a rotten tooth that hurts, when you get it pulled out the suffering only lasts for a minute compared to the time you'll have without that pain. Just like if we hang in there until we go home, our pain here will seem short compared to our everlasting joy! Also we won't even remember our sufferings, when we get to go home with Jesus. We will reap the rewards for our sufferings, but won't remember our sufferings. How great is that? We won't suffer all the time here as Christians, but we will suffer. So, when we do suffer we need to think "It's only temporary, praise God!" You might say, "How come we have to suffer, as Christians?" My answer is this, Jesus, himself suffered why wouldn't we? Not only that, we suffer because Satan, is in this world. He is here and he's got some authority here, but his authority is temporary and he can't beat us, because Jesus, beat him! Satan, has no authority over God's children! But he can use things and others to oppress God's children. Satan, can oppress us, but God, won't let him go too far. God, won't give us more than we can chew! Hang in there and don't get discouraged!

God bless!

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