Ephesians 3:13 (NIV)
In the novel
by Charles Knief titled Kim’s Rules; which is about a Honolulu policeman and
his family. He lists out ten rules by which he believes one must live their
life by. After reading these rules it sure seems to me that the rules certainly
reflect Biblical principles and maybe he was a believer. Here are the ten rules:
1. Never judge a day by the weather.
2. The best things in life aren’t things.
3. Tell the truth – there’s less to remember.
4. Speak softly and wear a loud shirt.
5. Goals are deceptive - the unaimed arrow never misses.
6. He who dies with the most toys - still dies.
7. Age is relative - when you’re over the hill, you picked up speed.
8. There are two ways to be rich - make more or desire less.
9. Beauty is internal – looks mean nothing
10. No rain - No rainbows.
That last rule, which has also become the registered tagline, certainly could have been written by the Apostle Paul. In fact, that may very well be a pretty good summary of Ephesians 3:13, no rain-no rainbows. He says, "I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory."
1. Never judge a day by the weather.
2. The best things in life aren’t things.
3. Tell the truth – there’s less to remember.
4. Speak softly and wear a loud shirt.
5. Goals are deceptive - the unaimed arrow never misses.
6. He who dies with the most toys - still dies.
7. Age is relative - when you’re over the hill, you picked up speed.
8. There are two ways to be rich - make more or desire less.
9. Beauty is internal – looks mean nothing
10. No rain - No rainbows.
That last rule, which has also become the registered tagline, certainly could have been written by the Apostle Paul. In fact, that may very well be a pretty good summary of Ephesians 3:13, no rain-no rainbows. He says, "I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory."
As a Follower of Christ, you and I will
Experience Suffering in our Life!
Paul began Ephesians 3 by describing himself as “a prisoner of Christ Jesus”, a reference to the fact that he was a prisoner in a Roman jail. But I don’t think that Paul was surprised at the trials he was experiencing. After his conversion experience on the road to Damascus, the Lord appeared to a man named Ananias and used him to deliver a message to Paul: “But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name." Acts 9:15, 16 (NIV)
At the very beginning of his life as a follower
of Jesus Christ, one of the very first things that he learns from God is that
he is going to suffer for the name of Jesus. What if I asked you those of you who need to receive Christ as savior and then said by the way, you’re
going to suffer for Christ. You might hesitate for a minute. Or like Paul you would run into Jesus arms. Just before He went to the cross, Jesus told His followers that they
would experience suffering as long as they remained here on this earth.Paul began Ephesians 3 by describing himself as “a prisoner of Christ Jesus”, a reference to the fact that he was a prisoner in a Roman jail. But I don’t think that Paul was surprised at the trials he was experiencing. After his conversion experience on the road to Damascus, the Lord appeared to a man named Ananias and used him to deliver a message to Paul: “But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name." Acts 9:15, 16 (NIV)
“…In this world you will have trouble…” John 16:33 (NIV) I love the whole verse, “I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble, but take heart, I have overcome the world!” Even though we may suffer or have trails in our lives, we are overcomers through Christ!
That's why James says: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,” James 1:2
Look at the word “whenever” in that verse. Notice that James didn’t write “if” you face trials. He wrote “whenever” you face them. In other words, suffering and trials are inevitable, even in the lives of believers. The advantage that God’s children have is not that they experience less suffering, but rather that they have God’s presence in their lives to help them through those rough times. So enjoy His presence in the good times or the trials, He's always there for you! You are loved...
No comments:
Post a Comment