So I had the most amazing night a few nights ago. It was all based around a concert I had been planning on attending for months. Without sharing details that would take about 7.23 hours to type and read I'll summarize... Basically, everything that could go wrong did go wrong on that day. I was so close to going home and giving up on getting to this show. Of course it is one that happened to be super close to where I live, unlike the majority of shows I go to. Those of you who know me, know I am very cautious when saying things like this BUT I truly believe there was some crazy spiritual warfare going on that night trying to keep me away from this show. But I persevered, I thought of Romans 5:3-5:
"And not only that but we also rejoice in our afflictions, because we know that afflictions produces endurance (other translations use the word perseverance), endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. This hope will not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us."
I love this passage. We who claim Christ as our Savior, as our Father, and our Lover, have something that those who don't know Christ, will never have or understand. We have His word that our sufferings, and afflictions are not without a positive effect upon our lives. This is such an uplifting truth! Most people I know have been through some tough times in their lives. I held tightly to this passage throughout the divorce, and even now 6 years later I am seeing this "proven character" and the hope produced by that trial. Paul knew what he was talking about.
On Sunday at church we got into Matthew 16 a little (yes, we're STILL in Matthew, but really chapter 23, we just went back to 16 for a moment). Matthew 16:24-26 is a very well known phrase, Jesus tells His disciples to take up their cross. What I hadn't thought much about is the part where He says "...and follow Me." What's there to think about right? Maybe I'm just slow, or whatever but I always thought of this as kind of a personal thing. I don't know that I can portray my thoughts well here but here goes... This always seemed like almost a physical following Jesus, like forget everything about this world, pick up your cross, and follow Jesus. But Jesus was saying to follow His example in what He did with His cross. He denied Himself, His deity, His rightful place in Glory at the Father's right hand, and He picked up the cross, literally, and used that cross to bring reconciliation to the world. It's still mind blowing! But this is what Jesus wants of us, His co-heirs, His brothers, sisters, daughters, and sons. He is calling us to shoulder our crosses and sacrifice our lives for the sharing of the Gospel, to further the news of reconciliation provided by the first one to do this. What's really cool is Jesus isn't like "Here's what I think you should do, it might be hard... well, it's probably hard for some, I wouldn't know really..." Jesus NEVER asks us to do something He hasn't already gone BEFORE us and done. It blows my mind CONSTANTLY that the Creator of the Universe never asks us to do anything HE hasn't already done... This is why Romans 5:3-5 is doable in my eyes. Afflictions suck, I won't say they are a wonderful thing, and that I feel privileged to endure through them, but I know He has gone before me and experienced what I have, and has provided the promises, and means (2 Peter 1:3-5) to power through them, without falling into temptation or the traps of the devil.
Hmm, I feel like I started this in one direction and went somewhere totally different... Oh well..
I know i've mentioned it a million times on here but... Do yourself a favor and check out the passage in 2 Peter!!
Blessings,
~Jennanana
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