Suffering for God’s glory
by Ruth Olsen
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Do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that is taking place among you to test you (1 Peter 4:12).
Has it ever happened that someone has accused you of saying or doing something that, to the best of your awareness, you have not said or done? It may have happened at your work or place of study, and there it can perhaps be expected. But if it happens in your faith community, the hurt goes in much deeper, because we are not expecting it in that environment. No matter where, we are encouraged to be loving, caring, patient, kind, gentle, and self-controlled.
The bigger test of our character is how we handle the accusation – what we do with it – once we work through the initial shock. Do we take it to the Lord, asking for insight, wisdom, and guidance? Are we willing to process it to move towards giving forgiveness, letting the Lord work his purposes through it? That’s our place of testing, our ‘training and equipping ground’, for that’s where – if we yield it to the Lord – he can use it to build strength of character, resilience, and an open heart. He will give us the courage needed to do whatever he prompts us to do.
Suffering is part of our life in a broken world. But suffering for being a Christian goes deeper. It’s where we begin to taste of the sufferings that Christ Jesus endured (Philippians 3:10, yesterday’s reading). Although it is painful, we learn to die to ourselves, to entrust ourselves to the Lord, letting him vindicate us (Isaiah 54:17) or work his purposes through it (Romans 8:28).
Lord, help us be faithful to you and continue to do good. Amen.
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