Day #331 - Suffering and Glory
The Presence - A Devotional for living in Thanksgiving, Worship and Wonder
“But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.” 1 Peter 4:13-14 NIV
Have you ever met a Christian that has been persecuted for their faith?
I’ve had the honor of traveling to different nations to preach the gospel. In one nation where I have ministered, the man who serves the leaders of the ministry has missing hand and scar on his face. He is a joyful man and a faithful servant. When he put his faith in Christ his own mother chopped off his hand and poured acid on his face. Serving Jesus is his honor even in the midst of the rejection of is family.
As my Dad has traveled he’s met Christians who have been imprisoned and beaten for their faith. One man who was the most visibly joyful worshipper in some meetings my he was in, would have his legs broken for preaching Jesus. When his legs would heal, he would go right back and receive bearings again. His pain would not stop his joy and passion for Jesus. In another nation, my Dad met a man and would just weep because “the Presence” was so strong when he went near him. My Dad couldn’t speak his language. He asked others why he was weeping so much around this man and they told him that this man was imprisoned and tortured for his faith.
Peter said in his first letter, that those who participate in the sufferings of Christ and are insulted for Him will experience the glory of God resting upon them. We don’t usually associate suffering with glory but the cross has redefined for humanity what brings the glory of God. The very things that we suffer for Christ are the very things that draw the Lord near.
“The Presence” doesn’t just rest on prayer meetings and worship services. “The Presence” also rests upon the believer that is imprisoned, rejected, insulted, slandered and tortured for the name of Christ. We should not seek to suffer, but we should be prepared to suffer for Jesus for His ways of righteousness. If He suffered and we follow Him, we can expect to be treated like Him.
We must remember the persecuted church as well and pray for them. We have much to learn about “the Presence” from those who give up everything for following Jesus. The martyrs of church history often knew a deep intimacy with Jesus. May we endure as they did until the very end with faith and love for our Lord Jesus Christ. To suffer for Jesus is not a punishment but a reward that draws His presence near.
Lord Jesus, I love You! Thank You for Your suffering. Thank You for the sufferings that I experience for Your name. Help me not to give up when I am insulted, rejected or mistreated for following You. Thank You for Your Spirit of glory and of God that rests upon me in my suffering. In Your name, amen.