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MX Life: September |
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| Tuesday, 15 September 2009 00:00 |
When I begin to think these thoughts, it always seems like God reminds me of the heroes of the Bible who lost their lives and suffered terribly for what they did. They were the good guys, the guys who the author of Hebrews says “conquered kingdoms, administered justice ... escaped the edge of the sword, and whose weakness was turned to strength. Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison … they were put to death by the sword.” One hero who stands out is John the Baptist, the guy who paved the way for Jesus himself! This guy must have been important in God’s Kingdom, but we find John in prison about to experience death soon after baptizing Jesus. Allow me to pick up at the scene in Matthew eleven when John heard in prison what Jesus was doing. He sent some guys to ask Jesus, “Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else? Jesus replied by saying, tell John that “the blind receive sight, the lame walk ... the good news is preached to the poor. Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me.”
First of all, let’s put ourselves in John’s shoes. It’s like John’s saying “Hey Jesus, I’m about to die here! Are you really who you say you are because I’m kind of doubting you at this point in my life. It sure does seem like you would come and get me out of this situation if you were the son of God.” It’swild, but Jesus basically says “yes, I am the one and it would do you good ify ou don’t turn from me just because I will not come to your rescue”.
That sounds a little harsh to most Christians because we have come to believe that Jesus will never allow anything bad to happen to us in this life. Who in the world taught us that? Jesus is very clear that following Him will bring problems and suffering in our life. If God allowed bad things to happen to people and Jesus allowed it while walking the earth, what makes us think that we will never experience suffering or even death. Imagine if God did keep us away from suffering and death. People would be following Him for the wrong reasons, to avoid suffering, pain, and death. God does allow suffering in our live’s, but Jesus feels our pain and suffering. The Bibles tells us that is one big reason He came, to experience life in the flesh to allow Him to understand what we go through. Jesus suffered and died for us. He knows exactly what we go through and is deeply moved when we do suffer.
It is when we continue following Jesus through our suffering and hard times that we demonstrate pure love for God. We will be blessed and it will do us good if we stand the test so to speak, and continue following Him even when He doesn’t come through for us. Our reward will be great!
Race to win the ultimate prize,
Andre.
"I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead" (Philippians 3:8-11).
