Suffering as a Christian -Part 2

CALL TO PRAYER DAILY DEVOTIONAL

Date: 08.03.2021

Title: Suffering as a Christian -Part 2

For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

(1Pe 2:21 KJV)

Yesterday, I revealed that despite God has delivered us from the curse in the Land, but there is a kind of suffering that is needed for us to endure so that we can come into glory (Rom 8:17). This suffering was demonstrated by Christ, and we are to emulate His example as our scriptural verse of today states.

The suffering of Christ was not just revealed in Jesus Himself, but also the lives of certain vessels in scriptures. For example, Moses was said to have ‘esteemed the reproaches of Christ greater in riches than the treasures in Egypt (Hebrew: 11:26)’, and this was despite Moses was an Old Testament saint. Therefore, their attitude during their time of suffering is also an example for us to follow.

Paul the Apostle was a man that understood the gain of enduring the suffering of Christ that one of His life’s aim was ‘to know the fellowship of Christ’s suffering, becoming conformable unto His death (Phil. 3:10)’. Why was this Paul’s aim? Because he wanted to attain ‘the resurrection of the dead (Phil. 3:11)’, which is glory. How did Paul endure the sufferings of Christ? Apart from the persecution that he faced, Paul had health challenges (Galatians 4:14). His sickness was not because He did not have enough faith to receive healing or because he sinned, but as revealed in 2Corinthians 12:7, it was to keep Him from becoming proud.

Paul’s attitude during his trial reflected one with understanding; instead of mourning, crying or doubting God’s faithfulness, rather, he boasted (gloried) about His weakness (the illness), and in so doing he attracted the power of God (2Cor. 12:9). Today, we are still benefiting from the product of Paul’s life. Our challenges are a door to the realm of power and the key to opening the door is the right attitude towards God during the experience. Therefore, every trial we face is an opportunity to gain glory.

Prayer Point:

Let us take out time today to ask God to help us to see our challenges differently, and He should help us to develop the right attitude towards Him during trials so we can properly utilize the opportunities they bring.

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