Like Our Master

Even if we don´t say it, we Christians often think our lives should be smooth and comfortable. We chose to be called the children of God so we expect to be showered with His favors. It is true that the Lord will take care of us in countless thrilling ways. But we cannot expect our lives to be a cakewalk.

Our Lord, Jesus Christ enjoyed a life fully connected to the Father. He walked on earth but His heart never left God for a moment. Those who would follow Him will strive to reach that same intimacy. They will have the same lofty goal. But Jesus suffered scrutiny, hatred, and a brutal death in His time on earth. We cannot say we follow Him if we are unwilling to walk with Him down a similar path.

It is enough for the disciple that he be like his teacher, and the servant like his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more those of his household!  Matthew 10:25

Let us rejoice with Paul in our sufferings. Our Savior warned us that it would be like this. It is a joy to share anything at all with Him.  It is not pleasant to think we should have rough times or be out of alignment with the world around us.  But with the right attitude and our eyes fixed on Christ, we can bear their insults and hatred. Our devotion to our Teacher will shine through and God will know that we are truly His.

Dear Lord, please help us face whatever the world may throw at us today.  Fix our gaze on You so that we may follow wherever You lead and You can keep us till the end. May our simple faith please you and bring honor to your name in a special way, we pray. Amen

Romans 5:3-5 ESV / Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 ESV / So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

Colossians 1:24 ESV / Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church,

Philippians 3:10 ESV / That I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,