Order my steps today Lord, please order my steps..
“For, I think, God has exhibited us apostles last of all, as men condemned to die, because we have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to people. We are fools for Christ, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, we are dishonored! To the present hour we are hungry and thirsty, poorly clothed, brutally treated, and without a roof over our heads. We do hard work, toiling with our own hands. When we are verbally abused, we respond with a blessing, when persecuted, we endure, when people lie about us, we answer in a friendly manner. We are the worldʼs dirt and scum, even now. “1Corinthians 4:9-13.”
We have no reason to be proud; all we have, or are, or do is owed to the free grace of God. “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8) As a sinner snatched from destruction by sovereign grace of God alone, it would be very absurd and inconsistent, if I took personal pride in my salvation and all of the free gifts of God.
And we must remember that there is not a “normal Church” and a “persecuted church”, referring to Christians in foreign countries who’s faith is under constant attack, there is just The Church. Though some Christians in their lives will face greater persecutions and hardships in their life, we all are called in to suffering and sacrifice. As we read through the New Testament we are reminded that Jesus himself suffered from poverty, hate, verbal and physical abuse, by those around him and was treated like dirt, looked at like scum, and killed in the most hideous way. His apostles were treated in the same way. And all of us who by our claiming Jesus as our Lord and called to imitate Him must be prepared to sacrifice, suffer poverty, contempt, and abuse for our faith as well.
Satan and his demons, the ruler of this world, sees us in Christ, sees Christ’s face when he looks at us, and with rage desires to insight every form of violence and affliction on and against us. “For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake,” (Philippians 1:29). Yet it is better to be rejected, despised and abused by the world as outcasts, knowing we are precious in God’s sight and in His Kingdom and that He will gather us outcasts, us scum to the world together in His loving hands and place us in His throne room.
My family, I pray today you allow yourself in meditation over these Scripture and with the Holy Spirit to reveal where you are avoiding Spiritual growth in Christ by an unwillingness to accept the sacrifice involved, the unpopularity it will cause you, or any suffering or persecution that will result. In Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
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