We’re in for some pain… a lot of pain. It seems like that’s what God is telling us.
Dave Gibbons told Francis Chan: The highest form of love is when you can love someone who you feel betrayed you, left you, or abandoned you. Let these people beat you up and love them still. God is working on you, God is pruning you.
1 Pet 4:12 – trials should not be viewed as a surprise or a strange event
At the end of the day, it’s all about the Holy Spirit and what He’s called you to do. It may look different from this guy or this guy – are you willing to do that? I have to go after whatever God calls us to – even if none go with me.
Matt 10 – Jesus didn’t come to bring peace, but a sword.
Mark 8:34 – Deny yourself, take up your cross and follow me.
John 15 – the world hated Jesus before it hated you
Acts 5 – disciples joy for being made worthy to suffer
Romans 8 – provided we suffer with Him in order that we may be glorified with Him
1 Cor 4, 2 Cor 1:5, Gal 6:12, Eph 6:11-12, Phil 1:29, Col 1:24, 1 Thess 3:4, 2 Thess 1:5, 2 Tim 1:8, 2 Tim 2:3, 2 Tim 3, 2 Tim 4, Titus 1, Hebrews 13
If you’re not suffering, you shouldn’t be at peace. Some of us need to suffer just to know if we’re for real. Fellowship of His suffering, intimacy – Paul wanted that level of intimacy with Jesus… the fellowship of His suffering.
If it brings you more honor that I die, I die – if it brings you more glory that I live, I live. The Korean missionaries who wer captured by the Taliban desired to be back there because they were so close to Jesus in that moment. The fellowship of His suffering brings an intimacy that cannot be duplicated through any other means.
Why do you need a comforter if you’re comfortable? If we are serious about really wanting Christ, then we can rejoice in sufferings and we can rejoice in being rejected. This is not something edgy, cool, or a new thing. It’s a biblical conviction that’s been killing us. I’d rather be in a pit guarded by Taliban with Jesus than in comfort without Him. It’s the Holy Spirit’s leading. My guess is what He’s calling you to do is different than what He’s calling me to do – but it will be painful for both of us.
Hopefully, you see in these writings a man who is staying The Course and pursuing The Path amidst the pitfalls and selfish ways of being a son of Adam. I pray earnestly that my writing would encourage some of you by showing you that this journey - though arduous and sometimes tragic - is a journey of great satisfaction. A satisfaction greater than our greatest imaginings. The trials and refining fire of tribulation are to be recognized as a small shadow of the suffering of our Savior so that we can rejoice, as Peter and the disciples did, to be counted worthy to suffer for the sake of the Name.