"The Narrow Road": Blogs By Shane Kastler

Will You Suffer For Christ?

Are you willing to suffer shame for the cause of Christ?  It’s a question that most Christians might like to immediately answer yes.  Yet their actions show that deep down the answer might be no.  Are you willing to die for the cause of Christ?  Again, you might want to say yes; but fear might cause you to say no.

    In one sense, it’s good if we hesitate before answering the question.  In our pride we might proclaim our adoration of Christ, and then crumble when tests of faith come our way.  Peter boldly claimed he was willing to die with Christ.  Then a few hours later his fears got the better of him and he denied that he even knew him. (see Luke 22:31-62)

    But Peter was a much different man in Acts 5.  By then he had been humbled.  By then he was walking in the Spirit.  By then he really was willing to die.  Before he was all talk.  Now he was action.  Having been flogged for proclaiming the gospel; the book of Acts tells us the Apostles rejoiced.  “So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name.” (Acts 5:41 NASB)

I must admit that this passage is convicting.  How often do we consider it a badge of honor to suffer for the name of Christ?  How often are willing to risk our reputation for the sake of the name of Christ?  How often, in all honesty, would we be willing to die for the name of Christ?  Such courage can only be attained by a deep relationship with God the Father, through Jesus the Son, in the power of the Holy Spirit.  Do you have such a relationship?

    Jesus said “no one comes to the Father, except by me.” (John 14:6)  Have you repented from your sin and placed your faith in Christ as Lord?  If so, are you walking with him daily?  And lastly……are you suffering for the sake of his name?  If not, then something might be missing in your life.  Believe it or not, Christians are supposed to suffer in this sinful world that is not their home.  Yet because of Christ, even in the midst of suffering, we can rejoice because we are counted as worthy to suffer for his name.

The Truth About Trials

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God.  For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.” (Romans 8:18-21 NASB)

 

Trials will always exist in the fallen world in which we live.  Much of our life is spent trying to orchestrate events so that we can eliminate as many trials as possible.  While there’s nothing unusual about trying to avoid suffering, it would be naïve to think we will ever reach a point in this life where suffering is no more.  Jesus said:  “In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 NASB)  He didn’t say you might have tribulation…he said you will.  It’s guaranteed.

    The deeper question is why.  Why do we suffer trials in this life?  The answers are many.  Sometimes God ordains suffering in someone’s life so that they will turn to Him for salvation and strength.  He makes us so miserable with everything in this life that we finally hit rock bottom and cry out to Him for help.  Yet, as followers of Christ we still suffer because this world is not our home.  The world hated and killed Jesus, and if we’re really following Christ as we should, then many in the world will hate us also.

    Another reason suffering exists in this life is so that we will find our treasure in Christ rather than the things of the world.  As Christians we will find our greatest joy when we accept that this life is hard, and accept the fact that after death we will find our true home.

    Are you facing a trial in your life today?  Are you submitting your life to Christ as Lord?  Believe it or not it is possible to experience deep and lasting joy, even in the midst of suffering.  But it’s not possible apart from Christ.  Too many people look for eternal joy in things that are temporal.  They put their hope in the things of this world, only to be disappointed time and time again.  Jesus promised us tribulations, be he also implores us to take heart.  This world is broken and full of pain, but Christ has overcome the world.