DAY 14: THE TRYING OF THE FAITH I (LONGSUFFERING)

 30 DAYS DEVOTIONALS WITH PREACHER SAM

THE RHEMA WORD FOR TODAY

SEPTEMBER 14, 2022.

TOPIC: THE TRYING OF THE FAITH I (LONGSUFFERING)

BIBLE READING: 1 PETER 4:12-19

VERSE FOR MEDITATION: 2 TIMOTHY 3:12 NKJV

Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

The word, ‘longsuffering’ could literally mean ‘to suffer for a long time.’ But the Bible said of our Lord God that He is longsuffering (Ex. 34:6; Ps. 86:15; 2 Pet. 3:9). How then can we define longsuffering?

The word ‘suffer’ as used in ‘longsuffering’ refers to ‘forbearance’ or ‘endurance’. Thus, we can define longsuffering as being slow to anger, to persevere patiently and not to lose heart. It can also be regarded as ‘patience’. For example, ‘longsuffering’ was used in Galatians 5:22, but some Bible versions replaced it with ‘patience’.

Apostle Peter in our Bible reading compels us to partake in Christ’s sufferings. What were Christ’s sufferings and how can we partake in it? Earlier in his writings, he wrote, “For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps.” (1 Pet. 2:21). Then he went on to explain what Christ suffered for us to follow, “Who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously.” (1 Pet. 2:23). The succeeding verse reveals the other part of Christ’s sufferings which we need not to pass through, “Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness- by whose stripes you were healed.” (1 Pet. 2:24). We are no longer to suffer for our sins, Christ has taken them all for us, so that we might live for righteousness. And we are not to suffer for sickness or diseases because we’ve been healed even before we were born. We are only to suffer for persecution.

Jesus Christ in John 15:20 says, “Remember the 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.” Christ laid the example for us to follow of how He learned obedience by the things He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation (Heb. 5:8, 9). The word, ‘perfect’ simply means ‘maturity’. So the sufferings (persecution) matured Jesus Christ (cf. Heb. 2:10).

To suffer for the sake of Christ is to suffer as a Christian, and there is a blessing for that; the glory of God (1 Pet. 4:14, 16). But some Christians are suffering for the wrong thing of which there is no glory for (1 Pet. 4:15). Earlier, we said that we are not to suffer for sins, so if you sin and the world punishes you for such, there is not glory for that. To be a busybody can bring grief; simply put there’s no glory for sicknesses. In Mark 10:29 & 30, Jesus Christ talked about prosperity with persecutions. Meaning that, even in material blessings, the world will still fight or talk against you. So being poor is not also the sufferings of Christ and there is no glory in that too. In fact, Christ had to become poor on the cross so that we through His poverty might become rich (2 Cor. 8:9). Meaning Christ was wealthy while still on earth!

In conclusion, you are not to suffer for sin, sicknesses and poverty. But you are to suffer persecution, that the trying of your faith will produce patience (longsuffering) which will mature you to be the carrier of God’s glory.

PRAYER:

SWEET HOLY SPIRIT, PLEASE I NEED YOUR HELP RIGHT NOW TO BEAR THE PERSECUTIONS OF THIS WORLD FOR CHRIST’S SAKE. AMEN.

DECLARATION:

I AM AN OVERCOMER! THE STORMS OF LIFE WILL NOT SHAKE ME!

JOURNEY THROUGH THE CHRONOLOGICAL STUDY OF THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST:

MATTHEW 16; MARK 8; LUKE 9:18-27