Suffer
13Now, who will want to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. (1 Peter 3:13-14, The Life Application Bible)
Hello family. I pray this word finds you in good spirits and in good health.
In our weekly Bible Study, the Chaplain has kept us in 1 Peter. This week, we looked at chapter 3, verses 8-18, and had another powerful discussion. During our discussion, the Chaplain asked for a good example of when we have suffered for doing good. I thought about it and came to the stark realization that I have never truly suffered for Christ. I have sacrificed. I have tried to give financially until it hurts, which is easy right now on a fixed budget. But my family and I are definitely not suffering. Not even close. I have devoted my time to studying the Word, which sacrificed time away from doing other things, but that is an incredible reward in itself. I have sacrificed time in being an active volunteer with my home church, which again, rewards my soul with every opportunity. I am extremely blessed even though I truly do very little. I can not imagine the reward if I was to actually do all this on the level where I am truly suffering. I know what that would look like, and unfortunately, at the thought of it, I feel myself pulling back.
There has only been one time I put myself and my family out there with the risk of suffering. It happened almost two years ago. If you have been following this blog since the beginning, you hopefully remember the “Impulsive Compassion” campaign. This was a week-long whirlwind to bring a truck-full of supplies to the Kentucky area after the devastating December tornado decimated over 280 miles of the heartland. If you want to revisit the post I put together after that event, you can take a trip down memory lane by clicking here and reading “The Middle of a Miracle”.
When I shared that story with the group, I explained that while it had looked like my family was going to suffer due to the cost associated with the donation drive, God provided through it all and we were, once again, given a rewarding experience. And looking back at 2022 and how blessed our family was, I can see that the dividends from that sacrifice are still being paid forward.
So to suffer for Christ, the reward for that must be incredible. Of course, when Peter wrote this, he was referring to the early Christians who truly suffered: the ones that were tortured, burned at the stake, beheaded, and given even more horrible ends because of their faith and proclamation that Jesus was the resurrected Son of God. So as we get ready to enjoy a week of Thanksgiving, and turn the corner to prepare for the celebration of the birth of our King, I challenge you to think about how you can suffer for doing good this holiday season.
This week’s new music releases were limited to just a few. This will be my last sharing samples from the contemporary/worship music scene. Immediately after Thanksgiving, I’ll be focusing on nothing but Christmas music, and finding the newest releases to stir your spirit and help you proclaim on the mountaintops the miracle in the manger. But before we jump into the sounds of Christmas, here is Red Rocks Worship’s newest release, a doxology mix of their amazing song, “Good Plans”. Click the image below to hear a powerful reminder of the plans God has for you.
Common Sense Reborn 