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God's Words For US
by Cecelia Lester
Suffering
“I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.” Philippians 3:10-11 (NIV)
I had a relative who had walked away from the LORD. During this spell, she developed some health issues and spoke of suffering, as one would speak of an enemy. She did not like going through it. I understood what she meant. No human likes pain. Then I heard the Apostle Paul’s thoughts he shared with believers at Philippi.
I often wonder what Paul meant. He was under house arrest in Rome. He managed to share God’s word to those who came to his house. I heard it said that the powers-that-be had to change the guards assigned to him regularly because he would preach to and convert them.
Suffering in Life
Suffering is a part of life. We see people develop diseases and disorders causing them to go through difficult days and nights. We hear of people having car wrecks and losing their lives as a result. Their families grieve for a life cut short, as well as their loss.
People who have had injuries in which a bone or bones broke and healed always have some degree of pain, especially during times of rainy or cold weather.
Martyr-(N) a person killed because of his or her faith in God.
(V.) to kill someone for his or her beliefs. (1)
In March of 1563, John Foxe compiled “Foxe’s Book of Martyrs” to allow future Christians the knowledge of those who stood for Christ in the face of those who tried to control the way people worshiped. Most of the ones included in Foxe’s book lived in 16th Century Europe.
Those who come to Christ and live in nations closed to the teaching of the Gospel face persecution that people in the rest of the world cannot imagine.
We have heard the story of Jim Elliot, Nate Saint, Roger Youderian, Pete Fleming, and Ed Mc Cully who lost their lives to the Auca Indians in Ecuador in the mid-20th Century. (2) The outcome of that massacre is an act of God. The villagers, who the missionary team wanted to reach for the LORD, over time, became Christians.
I can not say that I have suffered for the LORD compared to the people in parts of Asia.. We in the United States have not
suffered from religious persecution like those in the areas of the world closed to the gospel. In the prayer groups to which I belong,
someone always prays for the persecuted church. We need to pray that God will prevail and reward those who suffer for Him.
- The New Unger’s Bible Dictionary, Moody Press, Chicago, revised 1988. Page 822
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Elliot, accessed May 11.2016.
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Cecelia Lester has been serious about her writing for over two decades..
She composes Christian essays and posts them to her blog quietspirit-followingmyking.blogspot.com/
She has served in a faith-based organization, Grace In Action by writing two newsletters and searching for possible grants.
In July 2017, she published her first book, 'Times of Trouble Bring Rays of Joy.'
She and her husband of 54 years live in central Indiana. They have one grown son.
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