1 Peter 4:16

However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name ~ 1 Peter 4:16


In my daily readings this morning, I was reading that we are called to carry our cross just as Jesus carried his. Being a Christian and following Jesus calls is a difficult path. We have to put our flesh aside which means that what we want, and desire comes second, after what Jesus leads us to do. This sometimes places us in the way of those who disagree with our values, our morals, our decisions, and for that we may suffer. If you are antiabortion, you will suffer for your thoughts and your opinion. If you stand up and proclaim loudly that Jesus is the only way into heaven, you will suffer for mentioning his name in public and denying other faith groups access into heaven. Jesus calls us to be different from the world though. We are not to stand up for commercialism, or for prejudice and oppression. We are to stand up for freedom in Christ which means we live by his commandments as we bear his mark. For this we will suffer, but, as Peter says here, praise God that we do bear his name! For we are his witnesses. We are his hands and feet, we are his comfort and love, we are his peace and joy, and we will suffer for all those who need to hear the name of Jesus from our lips and through our life. He is the only way, the true way, and the living way, even in suffering and even if that suffering leads to our physical death.

Pastor Julia

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