The fruit of endurance

                                                           

  The essential ingredient of being a true follower of Christ is to having the ability to endure the pain, suffering, and persecution for His sake. We all, at one point or another, feel victimized or thinking that our sufferings and heartaches are massively insurmountable. It’s quite understandable to feel that way, but as followers of Christ, we need to view our suffering within the purview of Christianity and within the framework of our commitment to Christ. It means that we are not of this world even though, we live in it, but we are from a world that is above these mundane human –made trivialities and the superficial wounds and aches that we may sustain during our temporal citizenship here on earth.

Paul‘s suffering is the epitome of who we ought to be as followers of Christ and how to fight the adversity and yet remain content and spiritually unshakable.

Read what Paul says, “Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel,⁹ for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God’s word is not chained. ¹⁰ Therefore I endure everything for the [sake of the elect] that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory” 2 Timothy 2: 8-10

Paul’s suffering and his enduring character must encourage us to stand tall while we are boldly preaching the gospel in the face of all the adversities.

We must endure all the unjust causes for Christ’s sake, and then we’ll clearly see the fruits of our endurance blossoming into love, and compassion for those who unjustly caused us pain and suffering. “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. ¹² Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you” Matthew 5: 11-12

From a worldly vantage point, it’s easy to rebel and fight back against those who inflict pains upon us but Christ taught us to confront it with love and compassion and be happy because our reward will be great in HEAVEN.

Amen,

Barukzoy