BUT GOD IT HURTS!
Brother James, OIC
Rom 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Suffering is not something to look forward to, it hurts. Loss of loved ones through separation, divorce, sickness or death, physical, spiritual and emotional abuse, addictions to sex, drugs, alcohol, etc all cause suffering. And while suffering is meted upon us other suffering comes by way of own poor choices. Suffering even then does not come near the suffering you’ll receive as you obey God by loving others as Christ loved you. You cannot be in this world in Christ without being a partaker of His sufferings. These sufferings can take the shape of suffering for righteousness sake or sufferings for wrong decisions both of which God uses to shape us. Whether you throw yourself on the Rock of Christ and be broken or it falls on you and pulverizes you suffering occurs.
Mat 21:44 And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.
Partaking in Christ’s sufferings will produce in us what it did in Him:
Heb 5:8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered
Yet this suffering reveals a glory a glory that no amount of suffering can be compared with. But wait why is there even an unworthy comparison between sufferings and glory? Because sufferings is a glory…I’ll explain;
2Co 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
1Co 13:12-13 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity
Being changed from Glory to Glory would be wonderful if it was a steady non challenged growth in a ever increasing light of knowledge of Gods Word, but it isn’t that simple though it is popularly perceived to be. Doesn’t a a mother giving birth experience birth pains contrary to the blessing that will come? Doesn’t the child experience growing pain? So it is in the Faith. When we do things contrary to the law of Faith which is an unfading glory we transgress the law into a fading glory. These areas where you may be at Liberty, being the called of Christ, are not expedient to the ever increasing glory of a life that lives fully by Faith. And these areas hurt, they cause pain, they cause heartache, they cause grief and they cause many regrets.
1Co 6:12 All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.
Life itself delivers unto you heartaches not of your own making, these if met head on in faith become bearable and understandable. Things we choose outside of faith hurt worse as God then has to grant us repentance to the acknowledging of Truth so then we again are back in the faith; the good news is though it hurts Gods Grace is with us.
Seek Gods Face before making decisions. It wont mean there will never be any pain but it does mean there will be less self inflicted pain. Grow in Grace always in the Faith and His Glory will shine in your heart as the Daystar Christ is birthed in you.
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