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"Not Surprised"
Thursday,
July 7, 2005
"Not Surprised"
"Do not be surprised at the painful
trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to
you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so
that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed" (1 Peter 4:12,
13).
Brooksyne and I took our early morning walk amidst the present peacefulness of the country. They are harvesting the wheat across the road from us so that's an especially interesting sight and reminder of a much greater harvest.
Prior to preparing the encouragement each day I usually check the news. Today I read of the multiple bombings in London, which again underscores the insecurity we have on this terrestrial ball in this temporal sphere. My pastor and his wife and several friends from our church just returned last week from a mission trip to London so this is especially interesting.
Then I received an email. One of the most fulfilling aspects to this online ministry is sharing encouragement to my brothers and sisters in "closed countries", where traditional means of ministry are prohibited or severely restricted. He writes, "The enemy is working double time in this place. Every now and then they're conducting raids on houses and camps even at dawn. Our underground church was ransacked and they're taking everything. But this doesn't move us to surrender. Again we regroup into small groups and the good thing is we become so close to each other." *
Look at the daily text again. "Do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed."
Many of us consider a painful trial in regard to a health issue, financial difficulty or job loss. And I certainly believe these issues can be fiery and very difficult. The principle of the daily text can be applied to them. However reading on through the context it's clear that Peter is speaking here of persecution and suffering because of following Christ, something scores of our brethren around the world, such as my email brother, know very well.
A Biblical outlook is that these fiery trials should not surprise us. Jesus warned us of them, the early disciples experienced them, and the apostolic writers, like Peter candidly wrote about them. May the Lord prepare our hearts today.
I especially want to encourage this brother this morning and let him know that I have prayed for him and others going through fiery trials. I also know that many reading this message will pause and consider their blessings and also pray for our persecuted brethren.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen C. Weber
Brooksyne had to leave early this morning and challenged me to share a prayer for our readers:
Lord, today I thank you for the blessings I share with all my brothers and sisters in Christ all around the world. It's great to be a part of the family of God, sharing redemption through your Son, Jesus Christ. I pray for my family right now. I ask you to be a present help amongst the turmoil in London. May many turn to you through this for you are the God of peace. I pray for my brother whom I've never met and probably won't on this side. But through email we have developed a spiritual kinship although our present lives are vastly different. Encourage him today. May he and the many that suffer with him find strength in the prayers and interest of believers half way around the world. Finally I pray for all suffering through a fiery trial regardless of the nature. May they have eyes of hope and faith to see the glorious truth and rejoice that they participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that they may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed. In the mighty Name of Jesus. Amen.
Recommended book "The Criminalization of Christianity"
* The personal email does disclose the country but I will not do so as I understand email and websites are screened and thus I might further endanger him or others. Suffice it to say it is among the most oppressive regimes in the world. As I correspond with him I realize the many giants of the faith serving God faithfully that most of us have very little contact with.
Brooksyne and I took our early morning walk amidst the present peacefulness of the country. They are harvesting the wheat across the road from us so that's an especially interesting sight and reminder of a much greater harvest.
Prior to preparing the encouragement each day I usually check the news. Today I read of the multiple bombings in London, which again underscores the insecurity we have on this terrestrial ball in this temporal sphere. My pastor and his wife and several friends from our church just returned last week from a mission trip to London so this is especially interesting.
Then I received an email. One of the most fulfilling aspects to this online ministry is sharing encouragement to my brothers and sisters in "closed countries", where traditional means of ministry are prohibited or severely restricted. He writes, "The enemy is working double time in this place. Every now and then they're conducting raids on houses and camps even at dawn. Our underground church was ransacked and they're taking everything. But this doesn't move us to surrender. Again we regroup into small groups and the good thing is we become so close to each other." *
Look at the daily text again. "Do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed."
Many of us consider a painful trial in regard to a health issue, financial difficulty or job loss. And I certainly believe these issues can be fiery and very difficult. The principle of the daily text can be applied to them. However reading on through the context it's clear that Peter is speaking here of persecution and suffering because of following Christ, something scores of our brethren around the world, such as my email brother, know very well.
A Biblical outlook is that these fiery trials should not surprise us. Jesus warned us of them, the early disciples experienced them, and the apostolic writers, like Peter candidly wrote about them. May the Lord prepare our hearts today.
I especially want to encourage this brother this morning and let him know that I have prayed for him and others going through fiery trials. I also know that many reading this message will pause and consider their blessings and also pray for our persecuted brethren.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen C. Weber
Brooksyne had to leave early this morning and challenged me to share a prayer for our readers:
Lord, today I thank you for the blessings I share with all my brothers and sisters in Christ all around the world. It's great to be a part of the family of God, sharing redemption through your Son, Jesus Christ. I pray for my family right now. I ask you to be a present help amongst the turmoil in London. May many turn to you through this for you are the God of peace. I pray for my brother whom I've never met and probably won't on this side. But through email we have developed a spiritual kinship although our present lives are vastly different. Encourage him today. May he and the many that suffer with him find strength in the prayers and interest of believers half way around the world. Finally I pray for all suffering through a fiery trial regardless of the nature. May they have eyes of hope and faith to see the glorious truth and rejoice that they participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that they may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed. In the mighty Name of Jesus. Amen.
Recommended book "The Criminalization of Christianity"
* The personal email does disclose the country but I will not do so as I understand email and websites are screened and thus I might further endanger him or others. Suffice it to say it is among the most oppressive regimes in the world. As I correspond with him I realize the many giants of the faith serving God faithfully that most of us have very little contact with.
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Scripture
references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version.
©
1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD
BIBLE®,
Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by
permission;
and the King James Version.
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