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Ephesians 3:13
In 2 Thessalonians 1:4-5 (NKJV), the Apostle Paul states, “so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure, which is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer;”. In Ephesians 3:13 Paul states, “Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.”
Some people shy away from following Jesus and receiving His salvation for their lives because they don’t want to suffer, but suffering and tribulation are a part of everyone’s life regardless of whether you are a Christian or not. Jesus declared in John 15:18–20, “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember that word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.”
This is a command to be strong during the rough times and to not lose faith in Christ Jesus.
Before Jesus was crucified, He prayed to His Heavenly Father in John 17. His words of prayer in John 17:13–16 state, “But now I come to You; and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.”
No one likes to go through suffering and tribulation, but during these times we need to put prayer to use and ask God to help us through these times as I know He is using it to help us grow stronger in our faith in Him. Being a Christian is tough work to live the life that God has called each of us to be in Christ Jesus, but wouldn’t you rather have Jesus leading you and guiding you through it all? Profess Jesus your Savior today; confess your sins to Him as He is faithful and just to forgive a sincere heart; repent from living a sinful life and dedicate yourself to Jesus and begin living a new life in Christ today.
Dear LORD,
We all suffer in this world. Please help us to see that suffering is not something that is gained through salvation in Christ Jesus, but that Jesus will be with us through it all and comfort us in the midst of all suffering and tribulation as He has defeated it through His death and eternal resurrection. Please help us to understand that Jesus will send His Holy Spirit to live within us and be with us through it all so that we too may be joyous in Him. In Jesus name I pray, amen.