Thoughts for Another Day

June 10, 2011

Today's verse: 1 Tim. 4:10. For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.  (KJV)

(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)                                                                                    

Believing in God doesn't mean a bed of roses all the time; rather our belief in God makes us ready for the worst kinds of atrocities the world will heap on us.  Suffering is a weapon for the chosen dear ones of God who know Christ personally and are selected to suffer for the sake of His Name; did He not say, 'If you wish to be My disciples, take up your Cross and follow Me.'

We come to the larger issue, what does the Kingdom of God consist of?  Voices around tell us we need to live full lives, meaning, lives lived in comfort and no lack.  Many refer to this as the prosperity Gospel.  There're others who tell us that Jesus Himself suffered and therefore should His disciple not suffer?  Both points of view are correct and one may think that they can't co-exist, but they do.  Jesus was considered to be a Man who came eating and drinking, very unlike John the Baptist, and of course Jesus knew what was right.  But I'm sure Jesus never went overboard, besides, when the hour arrived that He should suffer and die, He never re-traced His steps.  This is the right approach to the concept of abundant life as well as suffering. 

God allows us more than enough to be happy and live life fully.  Then at some stage He closes the tap of happiness and allows us to suffer for He wants to work out His purpose in our lives.  We need to accept both of these as God's gifts and thank Him for both, for in them alone will we find Him manifested and He will be pleased with our actions.