The Daily Voice - February 4 - If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him

 

Hebrews 2:17-18 Wherefore in all things it behoved Him to be made like unto His brethren (you and me), that He might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself has suffered being tempted, He is able to succour, (which means to assist and support in times of hardship and distress), them that are tempted.

Jesus was tempted in the Garden of Gethsemane to give up and quit. Instead, He prayed and called out to God and committed Himself to God’s will, not His own. Having gone through that experience and the other life experiences He faced, Jesus is a high priest who is touched with the feeling of our infirmities. He's been here. He will send us help in our hour of temptation, if we seek to Him with strong crying and tears, or with all our hearts.

1 Peter 4:1 Forasmuch then as Christ has suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind.

Just as Apostle Paul has said, we need to put on the mind of Christ, Apostle Peter reinforces that idea. Peter says that putting on the mind of Christ enables us to withstand suffering. It empowers us to trust God during it. Jesus learned obedience through the things that He suffered. We can also learn obedience to God through the things we suffer.

Hebrews 12:6 For whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives.

If we trust God through our suffering and commit what we are going through into His hands, He will use it for our good. We will come through our suffering without the smell of smoke.

Hebrews 12:11-12 Now no chastening for the present seems to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees.

God doesn’t want us to get discouraged and faint in our struggles and sufferings. They are for a good purpose and will yield good in our lives, as long as we continue to trust and give Him thanks.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 In everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

Romans 8:28 We know that all things work together for good to them that love God.

1 Peter 4:19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to Him in well-doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

1 Peter 4:2 -3 That (we) no longer should live the rest of (our) time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, (or unbelievers), when we walked in lasciviousness (sexual pleasure), lusts, excess of wine, revellings, (from the Greek  kosmos, which is wild, boisterous, and unrestrained partying, often  involving excessive drinking, gluttony, and immoral behaviour, or orgies), banquetings, (sinful indulgence, excess, or idolatrous drunken revelry), and abominable idolatries.

Apostle Paul, also, warned.

Galatians 5:16-17 Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to another: so that you cannot do the things that you would.

1 Peter 4:7 & 12-13 But the end of all things is at hand: be you therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. … 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 you are partakers of Christ’s suffering; that when His glory shall be revealed, you may be glad also with exceeding joy.

2 Timothy 2:12 If we suffer (with Him), we shall also reign with Him.

Suffering now, but reigning later; or reigning now, and suffering later. That's the option.

Romans 8:17b-18 If so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together (with Him). For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

1 Corinthians 2:9 Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither has it entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for them that love Him.

Let us keep our eyes on Jesus and take our suffering joyfully. A crown of glory is waiting for us, if we faint not. Hold on to your crown. It will be worth it!