INFINITESIMAL SMIDGEN OF TIME

Understand we follow the God who chose the way of the Cross.  If our Father and our Savior did not avoid the “place of the skull”, then we should not be surprised where God might lead us. His will is unpredictable, His ways beyond our comprehension, and He does not esteem this infinitesimal smidgen of time we call life. 

The Apostle Paul met the Flogging Post of most towns he visited, enduring whippings, canings and scourgings, planting churches by the flesh of his back. It is clear this was God’s will for Paul, God having showed him how many things he would “suffer for My name’s sake.” Hear how the great Apostle to the gentiles viewed suffering by his own words: “For I (Paul) consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us … I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ … That no one should be shaken by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we are appointed to this ... From now on let no one trouble me, for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus … For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” Notice the plural pronouns -- us, we, our – Paul uses to clarify that “we”, the saints throughout time, “are appointed to this”… appointed to affliction.

Hear the Apostle Peter’s words: “Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin.” Suffering produces a change in our nature – holiness – whereby we “cease from sin.” Suffering and sacrifice arm us with the mind of Christ producing transformational faith as we learn to trust in, cling to, rely upon, and depend upon God. Adversity and affliction are therefore “not worthy to be compared with the glory (the nature of Christ) which shall be revealed in us.” We learn obedience through the things we suffer, just as Christ “learned obedience by the things which He suffered.” Suffering and sacrifice are not the worse things that can happen to us - disobedience to God is! 

(Rom. 8:18; 1Cor. 4:17; Acts 9:16; Gal. 6:17; Col. 1:24; 1 Thess. 3:3; Heb. 5:8; 1 Peter 4:1)

ARM YOURSELVES WITH THE MIND OF CHRIST