1 Peter 4:12-3 “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trials you are suffering, as though something strange is happening to you, but rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you will be overjoyed when His glory is revealed.”
Lord, why do we always think that when we have trials, either painful or just annoying (like ants in the house), that things should not be like they are? You have told us that life is short and full of troubles, that we will have trials in this life because do the fallen condition of this world, and that the ruler of the earth is the Prince and Power of the Air (Satan). If we oppose him, he will treat us as rebellious subjects. You told us that the world will hate us because it hated You first.
“rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ”, if this is not radical thinking, Lord, I don’t know what would be! Only with Your power and strength can we accomplish this command. I know You suffered physically, mentally, and emotionally while You were here. You desperately longed for all to come to You, accept Your teaching, love and obey You. However; most did not even understand You, or if they did, they became jealous of Your following and rejected Your message altogether. If we live our lives as You did, we will share in the fellowship of Your sufferings.
We can rejoice that we have been counted “worthy” to suffer as You did for doing what is right. The more we suffer, the more we will be filled with joy when You come for us! Hallelujah! Radical…Yes! Very Radical, but wonderful and awesome too!
But You, O Lord, are greater and more powerful and have overcome the world and death! Satan has no power over us because Your are greater than he is and I have Your Holy Spirit dwelling within me. I know that painful trials are coming at some point in the near future. Help me…help us all to glorify You in those trials.
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