July 16 Saved to Suffer

Revelation 1:9-11 I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.
 
JESUS told his disciples they would be persecuted as they ministered the gospel. John 15:20 Remember the words I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also.”
    I don’t think it’s possible to imagine the depth of opposition to the apostles’ preaching Jesus of Nazareth is the Savior. Consider the opposition to the remarkable miracles of Jesus’ life: born of a virgin, crucified, dead, buried, risen and ascended – then coming again to judge the world!
Acts records the apostle James executed by Herod, great persecution in Jerusalem, plots to kill Paul, poverty among the believers and great controversy to overcome centuries of division between Jews and Gentiles.
    In verse 9, John gives us a concise summary of his own sufferings. John is writing to his brothers and sisters in the church. Ge calls them  his companion(s) in the suffering! Think about this. When you were last in church, did you think you were a brother/sister to the others as you suffered together? This was not suffering as in being sick or facing a hard week in some relationship. This was a suffering of persecution, threats of death, jail, separation form family and struggles against Jesus’ church.
    Further, John notes they are companions in the kingdom, which is good. But then kingdom citizenship requires patient endurance. The church continually had to endure, to suffer, to carry trouble and hardship in their lives because it was, “ours in Jesus” – they belonged to Christ.
    John’s suffering also included his exile on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. John, the apostles, the early church leaders and all members of the new churches suffered because they believed Paul’s words in  Romans10:13: “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
    Think of this: When Jesus transformed the Pharisee Saul, who was persecuting Christians, into the apostle Paul, who called the Jews to believe in Christ, he said this to Ananias in Acts 9:16 I will show (Pau) how much he must suffer for my name."
    What would happen if you told an unbeliever, “Call on the name of the Lord and be saved. Truly believe in Jesus Christ as your eternal Savior. And when you truly do, you will surely suffer. Your life will not be your own. You will learn patient endurance through trials and even separation form those you love because Jesus is your Lord. Are you ready?”
    Would anyone accept your invitation? Would you?
 
Prayer: I pray, Lord, I love you enough to suffer for you. In your name I pray. Amen.