Suffering!
Romans chapter 8 verse 17.
And since we are His children, we will share His treasures---for all God gives to His Son Jesus is now ours too. But if we are to share His glory, we must also share His suffering.
Jesus was a guy who was born into a family in the small town of Bethlehem. He was raised there and worked there as a carpenter. The town knew Him as Mary and Joseph's boy. Jesus was also a gift from God. Mary, His mother, was a virgin about to be married to Joseph when an angel of God appeared to her and told her she was going to have a baby. The baby would be placed in her by the Holy Spirit and known as God's Son. He was to be named Jesus.
Even though Jesus is a gift from God, the town knew Him as Mary and Joseph's boy. The bible tells us in Luke chapter 3 that Jesus was about thirty years old when He began His ministry. He started talking to people about God and telling them to turn from sin, and turn to God for the Kingdom of heaven is near.
During His ministry He proved His claims of being the Son of God through miraculous healings and awesome miracles. People did not know what to make of Him. He was a man from a small town, who was blessed by God to heal many, but His claims of being the Messiah were hard to accept.
This led to ridicule, making the people angry and easily influenced by the religious leaders. Jesus knew that this was going to happen for it was God's plan all along.
In John chapter 3, Nicodemus a Jewish religious leader came to interview Jesus. Verses 12-17 say, "But if you don't even believe Me when I tell you about such things as these that happened here among men, how can you possibly believe if I tell you what is going on in heaven? For only I, the Messiah, have come to earth and will return to heaven again. And as Moses in the wilderness lifted up the bronze image of a serpent on a pole, even so I must be lifted up upon a pole, so that anyone who believes in Me will have eternal life. For God loved the world so much that He gave His only Son so that anyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. God did not send His Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it."
Jesus faced His troubles knowing that God was with Him. That gave Him the reassurance He needed to continue forward despite knowing the horrible troubles that awaited. He completed God's plan so that the outcome would be good and open the door for God's mercies and grace to be available to all who believed in Him. How much are you suffering?
Jesus was badly beaten and then hung on a cross to die. You may feel overwhelmed by your circumstances, but because Jesus fulfilled God's plan, the door is open for you to come before God to receive His mercies and grace. Whatever it is that has a hold upon you, it can be released to God as you seek His help. Jesus died so that you can have life with Him, living under the watchful eye of God.
It is through God's power, the same power that was always with Jesus, that you will know the miracles of God. He can heal you, He can take what grieves you and turn it into helping hands filled with joy, thanksgiving and praise. There will always be challenges and times of sadness, but Jesus is there to stand beside you, with the strength and encouragement of God. All you need to do is focus on the right and good, giving praise to Jesus and loving the life you now have with God.
2 Timothy chapter 3 says, "But you must keep on believing the things you have been taught. You know they are true for you know that you can trust those of us who have taught you. You know how, when you were a small child, you were taught the Holy Scriptures; and it is these that make you wise to accept God's salvation by trusting in Christ Jesus. The whole Bible was given to us by inspiration from God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives; it straightens us out and helps us do what is right. It is God's way of making us well prepared at every point, fully equipped to do good to everyone."
Through Jesus, God offers us a life with Him, now and for all eternity. By suffering with Him, your life will be filled with the joy of His love for you. Try Him, trust Him and watch as your love for Him explodes in the life you are living. Your actions will glow with happiness in the midst of suffering.
Thank You Father for Jesus. There are not enough words to express the love and joy You bring. 😊
John chapter 4 verses 25 and 26.
The woman said, "Well, at least I know that the Messiah will come---and when He does, He will explain everything to us." Then Jesus told her, "I am the Messiah!"
Psalms chapter 46 verses 1-3.
God is our refuge and strength, a tested help in times of trouble. And so we need not fear even if the world blows up, and the mountains crumble into the sea. Let the oceans roar and foam, let the mountains tremble!
Daniel chapter 6 verses 21 and 22.
The King then heard a voice! "Your Majesty, live forever!" It was Daniel! "My God has sent His angel," he said, "to shut the lion's mouths so that they cannot touch me; for I am innocent before God, nor, sir, have I wronged you."
Daniel chapter 6 verses 26 and 27.
King Darius wrote this message: Greeting! I decree that everyone shall tremble and fear before the God of Daniel. For His God is the living, unchanging God whose kingdom shall never be destroyed and whose power shall never end. He delivers His people, preserving them from harm; He does great miracles in heaven and earth; it is He who delivered Daniel from the power of the lion's."
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