Lord,
how my foes have multiplied! Many rise up against me! Many are saying about my
life, “There is no help for him in God.” Selah
Psalm 3:1-2, Modern English Version (MEV)
While there can be no question that we Christians, particularly in America, are quick to take offense at anything we might consider a slight, it is also true that there are those who truly hate Christ and are willing to do almost anything to harm his followers. A standard refrain we hear from them goes along the lines of, "Well, if God really exists, or if God really loves you, why doesn't he stop me from slapping you in the face, or why doesn't he stop me from taking your life?"
A valid question and one that we often ask ourselves is, why does God, "let bad things happen to good people?" as the question is often popularly phrased. The answer, my friends, won't be found blowing in the wind, but can be found in Scripture. The simple answer is, "Don’t worry, be happy!" We are to be thankful and praise God that we are being allowed to suffer in his name, if indeed that's why we are suffering and not because we are being self-righteous jerks.
This is what makes being a disciple of Christ so radically different. Suffering is not something to be avoided, but something to be accepted and welcomed. It is a privilege for us to suffer in the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for He suffered and died for us. How can we expect to do any less for Him? In Matthew 5:10-12 we read, "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when men revile you, and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be very glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in this manner they persecuted the prophets who were before you," -- MEV.
We are also told in James 1:2-4 we read, "My brothers, count it all joy when you fall into diverse temptations, knowing that the trying of your faith develops patience. But let patience perfect its work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing," -- MEV. And in 1 Peter 1:3-9 we read, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an incorruptible and undefiled inheritance that does not fade away, kept in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, even though now, if for a little while, you have had to suffer various trials, in order that the genuineness of your faith, which is more precious that gold that perishes, though it is tried by fire, may be found to result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom, having not seen, you love; and in whom, though you do not see Him now, you believe and you rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory, receiving as the result of your faith the salvation of your souls," -- MEV.
We are not, of course, saying a disciple of Christ should go out looking for trouble. Let that thought perish from our minds. We are to be peacemakers, not troublemakers. However, when trouble does come to us, our reaction must not be to whine and complain, but to be thankful and give God the praise and glory due His Name. When we begin to see things as God sees them, it's amazing how different everything looks and how puny our complaints really are.
Psalm 3:1-2, Modern English Version (MEV)
While there can be no question that we Christians, particularly in America, are quick to take offense at anything we might consider a slight, it is also true that there are those who truly hate Christ and are willing to do almost anything to harm his followers. A standard refrain we hear from them goes along the lines of, "Well, if God really exists, or if God really loves you, why doesn't he stop me from slapping you in the face, or why doesn't he stop me from taking your life?"
A valid question and one that we often ask ourselves is, why does God, "let bad things happen to good people?" as the question is often popularly phrased. The answer, my friends, won't be found blowing in the wind, but can be found in Scripture. The simple answer is, "Don’t worry, be happy!" We are to be thankful and praise God that we are being allowed to suffer in his name, if indeed that's why we are suffering and not because we are being self-righteous jerks.
This is what makes being a disciple of Christ so radically different. Suffering is not something to be avoided, but something to be accepted and welcomed. It is a privilege for us to suffer in the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for He suffered and died for us. How can we expect to do any less for Him? In Matthew 5:10-12 we read, "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when men revile you, and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be very glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in this manner they persecuted the prophets who were before you," -- MEV.
We are also told in James 1:2-4 we read, "My brothers, count it all joy when you fall into diverse temptations, knowing that the trying of your faith develops patience. But let patience perfect its work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing," -- MEV. And in 1 Peter 1:3-9 we read, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an incorruptible and undefiled inheritance that does not fade away, kept in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, even though now, if for a little while, you have had to suffer various trials, in order that the genuineness of your faith, which is more precious that gold that perishes, though it is tried by fire, may be found to result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom, having not seen, you love; and in whom, though you do not see Him now, you believe and you rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory, receiving as the result of your faith the salvation of your souls," -- MEV.
We are not, of course, saying a disciple of Christ should go out looking for trouble. Let that thought perish from our minds. We are to be peacemakers, not troublemakers. However, when trouble does come to us, our reaction must not be to whine and complain, but to be thankful and give God the praise and glory due His Name. When we begin to see things as God sees them, it's amazing how different everything looks and how puny our complaints really are.
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