"For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake" (Philippians 1:29)
Many people mistakenly believe that faith in Jesus Christ can and will free their lives from the painful rigors of this fallen world. The apostle Paul took the opposite stance. Rather than denying the fact that Christians face even more difficulties than unbelievers, Paul boldly proclaimed a guarantee that believers will suffer in various ways. He exclaimed, "For to you it has been granted for Christ's sake, not only to believe in Him, bu also to suffer for His sake" (Philippians 1:29). At first glance, this statement may seem outdated or misinformed. However, there are two things that we must remember about living as a Christian in today's world.
First, it is important to realize that a Christ-centered faith is not the focus of modern society. Our self-centered world is suspicious of anyone who claims to "love" others unconditionally.
Second, we must remember that martyrdom is not a thing of the past. Many Christians around the world still are killed because of their faith. Our faith is not a shield from suffering.
However, most importantly, our faith does put us in contact with the One who is more than able to lead us through the difficulties. If you are experiencing a season of hardship, do not delay. Take your problems to the Cross right now.
Lord, if I face hardship in my Christian life, let it be because of my faith in You and not because of bad behavior carried out in Your name. Amen
~Charles Stanley~
No comments:
Post a Comment