Friends in Christ Weekly Message
March 24, 2012
[NOTE: This message was originally published April 5, 2003.]
Though he was God's Son, he learned trusting-obedience by what he suffered, just as we do.
Hebrews 5:8 (Message*)
It is one thing to be trusting and obedient when surrounded by those who affirm you in that. It is quite another thing to be trusting and obedient when we suffer for it.
The author of Hebrews says Jesus himself learned how to be trusting of God and obedient through His suffering. It was true for Jesus just as it is for us.
We may never face the level of persecution that Jesus did. But there are times when being faithful may cause others to make fun of us, or question our judgment. We may become unpopular, or face financial sacrifices. These are the times when we truly learn the meaning of trusting and obeying God.
I pray that each of us will stand firm when following the way of Christ brings us suffering. May we be faithful when the world around us tells us we're foolhardy or naive or unrealistic, and even when we risk our jobs, our safety or our lives in order to follow Jesus rather than the ways of the world.
Bill Samuel
* The Message version © by Eugene H. Peterson.
©2003, 2012 Friends in Christ, Inc.
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Document last modified on Saturday, 31-Mar-2012 15:28:27 EDT
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