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Daily eMail Devotional
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Hebrews 11:23-31 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment. By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them. By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned. By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days. By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.Suffering is a relative term (No, I do not mean that you suffer because of the relatives that you have to put up with). Our concept of suffering is usually based upon what we perceive as normal. For example, most of us would consider ourselves to be suffering if we had to take a cold shower for a few days because our hot water heater is not working. In much of the rest of the world, people are suffering because they do not have enough water to drink, let alone to shower or bath in and they have to carry that water home from a well that can be miles away.
Think about some of the things that we complain about: “I cannot stand my job.” –You have a job. “My house is too small.” – It is bigger than a tent on the beach. “I do not like what was served for dinner.” – At least you got to eat today “My parents do not understand me.” – You have parents and they love you. “I have to drive a half-hour to get to church.” – At least you have a church to go to. “My coworker made fun of me when I witnessed to him.” – You did not get fired or put to death for the Lord.
We do not suffer for the Lord in America. We may be inconvenienced, made to feel uncomfortable or even have to do without some of the comforts of life in America today, but most of us do not and never will suffer for the Lord. Why don’t we suffer? The Bible says that “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” (II Timothy 3:12) Based on this verse, the only conclusion that we can make is that we are not living godly enough for persecution to come into our life. No one wants to be persecuted or to suffer but we should all want to live godly. Maybe the first step would be to give up some of the “pleasures of sin” in our lives for the Lord.
Are here some things that God would have you to give up or change in your life in order to live godly? Much of our suffering is a result of our own bad choices. Moses made the choice to kill the Egyptian guard and suffered as a result of that. He made the choice to kill the guard because he was beating one of his fellow Jews, but it was still wrong to do. Many times we suffer because of a wrong reaction to our circumstances not because of our stand for the Lord. We compound the problem and make it worse by what we do. I Peter 4:12-16 says “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. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.”
Next time you suffer ask yourself; “Is this really suffering or just inconvenient?” “Do I really have it that bad?” “Am I suffering because I am living godly?” “What pleasures have I given up for the Lord?” “Is this suffering because of my own bad choices?”
Aloha in Christ,
Pastor Wayne
Don't Forget -
