Walking Daily the Path to Glory - Part Two

"We also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance, character; and character, hope." Romans 5:3

Today we will focus on three words: perseverance, character and hope.

The question is always asked, "Why would a loving God allow us to suffer so?" The answer, as I said last week, requires an eternal perspective. If we believe that this life is "all there is," then it would be easy to believe that there is no point to our suffering.

But let me as you this: Do you believe that God is using your present life and circumstances to change you and make you more like Jesus? Do you believe your suffering is an opportunity to learn and grow and become more like Him? If you really get that, then suffering makes sense and is worth the end result.

Think of other things we "endure" because we are aiming for an end result.

• We go on a diet because we want to look better. The diet isn't pleasant, but we "endure" it because we want the end result.
• We spend time at the gym because we want to be healthier. We'd rather be doing other things, but our physical health, flexibility, stamina, and strength is worth the hard work.
• We want to buy a new car (or refrigerator or game system or whatever) and so we make sacrifices and scrimp and save because our eye is on the prize so to speak.
• We want to get a college degree, so we give up our social life and spend hours studying and writing papers and attending classes because the goal is worth all of that.

Now those things may not qualify, exactly, as "suffering," but my point here is that unpleasant things are often necessary to reach good goals. Our "good goal" is that we become more like Christ.

Okay, so with all of that said, let's talk about the three words:

1) Perseverance - Perseverance is an important part of the journey. If I want to be like Jesus and some day live with Him in eternity, then I must persevere. I have to hang in there.

How does suffering produce perseverance? I'm not exactly sure, but I do think that each time we endure suffering with a right attitude and we see that it changes us in positive ways, it may give us more ability to persevere. It gives us short term results while we're on the journey towards the long term prize.

It's kind of like when you're dieting and you reach your first goal of losing five pounds. It encourages you to keep going (or persevere). Just like that, when I see myself being more like Jesus than I was a month ago or a year ago, it encourages me to go on--to persevere.

2) Character - When we suffer and we persevere through suffering, it produces character. We become more like Christ and we glorify Him more and more with our lives. We will eventually find that our responses to life stressors is changing to a more God-like response, and it becomes a way of life for us.

When we begin to see those character changes in ourselves, as I said before, it encourages us to persevere which then, in turn, produces more character changes. And so it goes.

3) Hope - When we walk our journey, and we endure suffering and observe the changes we see in ourselves, it gives us hope that we'll make it!

"He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:6

The more we persevere, the more we change. The more we change, the more we have hope. The more we have hope, the more we develop the ability to endure suffering and persevere. We also develop more of an ability to see the purpose in suffering, and what we get from the suffering. It becomes more and more worth it.

Tell me what you think. Post a comment!

Walking Daily the Path to Glory - Part One

On Sunday we focused on Romans 5:2-8, but in this post I want to focus on verses 3 through 5:

"We boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also boast in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope." NIV

Now sometimes I like to look at passages in more than one version. Here it is from The Message:

"There's more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when we're hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we're never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary—we can't round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!"

So we've talked about the benefits of justification, and now we move to the benefits of suffering. We touched on it yesterday, but I want to expand it just a little bit. We asked, "How can we rejoice in suffering?" The answer was three-fold:

1) Rejoicing in suffering has to do with renewal of our thinking. Paul talks about renewing the mind in Romans 12:2:

"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will."

To rejoice in suffering takes a major shift in our thinking. We can only do that through the power of the Holy Spirit. We now see things differently than before. The Holy Spirit has affected our thinking and changed our worldview, as well as our priorities.

2) Rejoicing in suffering also has to do with knowing the truth. It starts with knowing where we came from (being hopelessly lost and ruined) and knowing what He's brought us to (justified children of God). We almost could stop there. Coming from hopelessness alone is reason to rejoice.

We must learn to focus on the truth of God's word and not the lies of the enemy. We must believe the truth of God's word and not be led astray by our emotions. We must cling to the truth of God's word, and not buy in to the world's way of thinking. Remember this:

"Jesus said, 'If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.'”
John 8:31-32

Paul's writing to the Philippians (yes, I know I refer to this passage a lot) tells us a lot about how to respond to suffering. In fact, the entire book of Philippians is a good read on rejoicing in suffering, given the fact that Paul wrote it while in prison. But consider this:

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7

If you are suffering, focus on the truth of what you have to be thankful for!

3) Rejoicing in suffering has to do with having a new perspective on life. It is only when we see it as something good, or producing something good that we can truly rejoice in suffering. We need to see suffering producing things of eternal value. Suffering, when experienced and responded to in a Christlike way, produces the qualities of Christ in us. Isn't that, after all, what we want?

"A. Parnell Bailey visited an orange grove where an irrigation pump had broken down. The season was unusually dry and some of the trees were beginning to die for lack of water. The man giving the tour then took Bailey to his own orchard where irrigation was used sparingly. 'These trees could go without rain for another 2 weeks,' he said. 'You see, when they were young, I frequently kept water from them. This hardship caused them to send their roots deeper into the soil in search of moisture. Now mine are the deepest-rooted trees in the area. While others are being scorched by the sun, these are finding moisture at a greater depth.'"

Our suffering gives us an opportunity to send our roots deep down into God's word and His strength. It is one way that we learn to live in the presence of God which further gives us an opportunity to understand that we need to do that ALL the time, even when we aren't suffering!

What are your thoughts? Post a comment!

Responding to Suffering

This will be (unless God directs me otherwise) the last in the series on suffering. The past couple of weeks we have talked much about how suffering is a normal part of life, even for the Christian. We also have talked about the purpose of suffering, and even the benefits of suffering. Hopefully that will lead us to develop a right perspective on suffering and, in turn, a right attitude when it happens.

When we see suffering the way God does, there is something inside of us that shifts. We begin to respond to it not. with fear or anger, but rather with a response that is Godly and healthy. Briefly, what are the Godly responses to suffering?

• Rejoice in suffering. - I Peter 4:12-14, Colossians 1:24
• Praise God and give thanks. - Philippians 4:4, I Thessalonians 5:16-18
• Don't lose heart and be courageous. - Hebrews 12:3, II Corinthians 4:13-18
  
• Comfort others. - II Corinthians 1:3-11
• Pray. - I Thessalonians 5:16-17, Hebrews 5:7, James 5:13
  
• Resist the devil. - Ephesians 6:10-13
• Persevere. - I Corinthians 10:13
• Entrust. (Have faith.) - I Peter 2:21-24
• Sacrifice for others.

One of the things that I believe helps us the most is remembering that suffering is for a little while.

For in just a very little while, He who is coming will come and will not delay. (Hebrews 10:37)

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. (I Peter 1:6)

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. (I Peter 5:10)

Weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning. (Psalm 30:5)

We have confidence in the hope of Christ's return when there will be no more suffering, no more pain, and no more dying. Isaiah 25:8 tells us that God will swallow up death forever and He will wipe away tears from all faces. It goes on to say that He will remove the disgrace of his people from all the earth.

There is an end to it! Just like a woman in labor can endure the pain because she knows that the pain will not last forever and that the rewards of labor are great (a wonderful little bundle of joy), so is it with us. We know that our suffering, just like those who went before us, will come to an end and we will have an eternity in heaven.

So we need an eternal perspective. We need to see this life, with all it brings to us--the good times and the bad, as God sees it. We need to understand that this 70 years (give or take) is just a blip on the timeline of eternity. That will help us to have a better response to our suffering!

What are your thoughts?

Becoming Who God Wants Us to Be

When you think about your Christian walk and your attitudes, behaviors, and decisions, do you ever imagine yourself in these ways?

• You are a mature Christian whose world view lines up with the scripture and your attitudes show it.
• You have pure motives, right relationships, and thoughts that are Christ-like.
• You abound in compassion for others, never feeling impatient, frustrated, or angry.
• You trust God fully, and believe totally in His unlimited power, abundant grace and mercy, and immeasurable love for you.
• God's glory is revealed in your life.
• You are His instrument in spreading the gospel to those who need to know Him.
• Your life glorifies God every minute of every day.
• You live your life with unwavering discipline.

Who wouldn't want those things? I think we all want to glorify God, to walk with Him with full trust, to be used of Him, and to be everything the Bible tells us He wants us to be. Right?

So if I were to say come to my office tomorrow and sign up for this, you would (most at least) be there at the crack of dawn to be the first in line.

But what if, as I hand you the sign up sheet for you to "sign on the dotted line" as it were, I were to say, "Oh, I may have forgotten to mention that in order for you to get these qualities, it will involve some pain."

You see, nothing comes easily. (It seems like this has been our theme recently, hasn't it?) The Bible is pretty clear that the above character traits are produced in us through, yes, suffering. Check out these scriptures:

Roman 5:3-5
James 1:2-4
II Corinthians 1:3-5
Romans 8:18
Acts 11:19
John 9:1-3
Hebrews 12:9-11

So why would we sign up for suffering? Well, it kind of goes back to a theme that has run through our teachings in the past year, and that is of knowing Christ.

I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. Philippians 3:10-11

Paul embraced suffering and counted it pretty much as nothing compared to knowing Christ. In economic terms, it was "cost effective," I guess you could say. What we get is far beyond what we pay.

Additionally, remember that suffering comes to those who know Christ and those who don't. With that being true, it seems more desirable to go through suffering with Christ as opposed to without Christ.

Remember that suffering offers an opportunity for good fruit. While we may not be able to control, predict, or schedule suffering in our lives, we have control over the outcome, in terms of what it produces in us. Go through it with the wrong attitude and you will come out the other side of the suffering with only negative changes in yourself. You'll be more bitter, angrier, and more fearful.

Go through it with the correct attitude and you will find yourself changed in positive ways as you come out the other side. You'll exhibit more of the fruit of the Spirit. Good will have come from "bad."

What are your thoughts? Post a comment!

Suffering

Suffering. Not a popular subject. Especially in this "feel good" and "have what I want" culture of ours.

I often talk with Christians who become angry and discouraged in suffering. Financial issues. Health issues. Family issues. Employment issues. The ways we can struggle are endless, it would seem.

I believe that when we see this life as temporary and have our eye on eternity with God, it changes how we do suffering. Paul's focus was certainly on eternity:

"I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us." Romans 8:18

The writer of Hebrews apparently expected that we would suffer as Christians, as evidenced by those who have gone before us:

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." Hebrews 12:1-3

James believed that suffering produced good fruit in us here on earth:

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." James 1:2-4

Paul had his priorities right. He considered loss and suffering to be nothing at all compared to the greatness of knowing Christ. (We've talked a lot about this passage over the past several months.) He saw suffering as something that God uses in our lives to make us more like Him:

"What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ--the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead." Philippians 3:8-11

Probably because of his "eternity mindedness," Paul found himself content in all circumstances. He knew it was just temporary:

"I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength." Philippians 4:11-13

I encourage each of you to read the entire book of Philippians. It is a short read, but worthwhile. As you read it, ask yourself if you would have written that kind of a letter if you had been in prison.

What are your thoughts about suffering? Talk to me!