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For those suffering for the cause of Christ, a word of encouragement...
Consider what our Savior was willing to endure for our sakes, just so Almighty God can say "been there/done that" in regards to our present trials and tribulations.
Yes, Jesus was a Man "acquainted with sorrows", even "despised and afflicted", "familiar with pain", and even "considered stricken by God" (Isaiah 53). He suffered rejection, ridicule, slander, mocking, blasphemy for all of His ~ 33 years here. And then even torture and death - faithful to our Father to the last groan and breath.
All this so that His faithful followers could righteously claim this about our Man/God/Redeemer:
Hebrews 4:14-16 NIV
Jesus the Great High Priest
"Therefore, since we have a great High Priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."
OK? But hold the phone, folks. If you study His life here carefully and thoroughly, you will come to this conclusion...
Jesus was able to carry grief and joy simultaneously.
And therefore He is encouraging us... so can we! In fact, we can't escape joy because it is found in the pleasure of knowing Him - and more fully over time. And seeing Him in our brothers and sisters, and shared with those still in chains of unbelief.
In fact, joy for us is one of His chief desires. His end game:
John 15:9-17 NIV
“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command: Love each other."
Is there any greater joy than God calling us His friends? Even considering that we all nailed His Son to that cross? So thankful for our High Priest's last prayer for us - those who will accept it... "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."
Go and do likewise, brethren. Pick up our crosses and follow Him to the end - for the exquisite joy set before us - the pleasure of hearing these words one day...
"Well done, good and faithful servant!" Matthew 25:21 NIV
Joy In The Journey - Michael Card
Consider what our Savior was willing to endure for our sakes, just so Almighty God can say "been there/done that" in regards to our present trials and tribulations.
Yes, Jesus was a Man "acquainted with sorrows", even "despised and afflicted", "familiar with pain", and even "considered stricken by God" (Isaiah 53). He suffered rejection, ridicule, slander, mocking, blasphemy for all of His ~ 33 years here. And then even torture and death - faithful to our Father to the last groan and breath.
All this so that His faithful followers could righteously claim this about our Man/God/Redeemer:
Hebrews 4:14-16 NIV
Jesus the Great High Priest
"Therefore, since we have a great High Priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."
OK? But hold the phone, folks. If you study His life here carefully and thoroughly, you will come to this conclusion...
Jesus was able to carry grief and joy simultaneously.
And therefore He is encouraging us... so can we! In fact, we can't escape joy because it is found in the pleasure of knowing Him - and more fully over time. And seeing Him in our brothers and sisters, and shared with those still in chains of unbelief.
In fact, joy for us is one of His chief desires. His end game:
John 15:9-17 NIV
“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command: Love each other."
Is there any greater joy than God calling us His friends? Even considering that we all nailed His Son to that cross? So thankful for our High Priest's last prayer for us - those who will accept it... "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."
Go and do likewise, brethren. Pick up our crosses and follow Him to the end - for the exquisite joy set before us - the pleasure of hearing these words one day...
"Well done, good and faithful servant!" Matthew 25:21 NIV
Joy In The Journey - Michael Card
