One day I was having a pity party complaining to the Father about life and things that had been happening to me as I was being obedient to Him. (I am sure this doesn't sound very spiritual nor like I have much faith but I seek to have an honest and open relationship to my heavenly Father.) Anyhow, I was complaining about being publicly humiliated by church leadership, being jeered at by pastors, someone yelling at me at church, betrayal by a friend, lies being told about me, and in general just how hard life was at the time. Worst of all of these things happened because I had been obedient after fasting and prayer, being impressed by the Holy Spirit to do and say certain things. As I am complaining I thought about how bumper sticker theology says that being in the center of God's will is the safest place to be, not in human terms! Being obedient has led to more than one person's torture, humiliation, and death. At the height of my selfish rant I heard this small voice say, "I wanted you to know just a sliver of my Son's suffering." I fell to the floor weeping, repenting for selfishness and complaining. My present troubles were nothing compared to what Jesus went through for me. In my mind all of these things were terrible and not fair. In the mind of Christ these things were for my benefit causing me to understand the benefit of suffering for His sake in this life.
The Apostle Paul, who knew something about suffering, wrote these precious, encouraging words, "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, 11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead." NIV
Easter weekend we remember the Passion of Christ for us. As we reflect on the One without sin being made sin for our sake let us rejoice in our own sufferings since we will share in His resurrection. You and I will never suffer to the extent Jesus did carrying the burdens of humanity to the Cross but we will suffer as we serve Him. Our current troubles are but for a moment but the resurrection is for eternity. There is joy in knowing that Jesus has overcome sin, disease, death, and finally the grave as we await His return, or even the possibility of our own stepping into glory at our last heart beat.
Once I was with an elderly saint who served the LORD as a pastor's wife, mother, and servant to others as she was living her last few days in a worn out body. She kept repeating the same words over and over again and her daughter-in-law asked me if I could understand what she was saying. Leaning over the bed rail, getting as close to her as I could I heard as she was reciting Psalm 150, "Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD!." Let us praise the LORD as we share in His sufferings and resurrection.
Have a blessed and wonderful resurrection Sunday.
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