Word for the Day March 15 Saturday
By:
Evang. Cascille Hammack
"For it is better, if it is
the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil." 1 Peter 3:17
When we are done with sin, we live for the will of God. This will at times bring suffering. 1 Peter
4:12-14 tells us, "Dear friends, 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. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and
of God rests on you."
We live in an ungodly world where we are "...children of God without fault in
a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life..."
Php 2:15. Obeying God even when it means ridicule, suffering and rejection strengthens us spiritually and we receive
a greater grace from God. We must live by the Spirit. Suffering because of righteousness is evidence of genuine
devotion to Christ. Paul and Barnabus traveled "strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true
to the faith. 'We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,' they said." Acts 14:22
Only lukewarm and compromising "believers" will find peace and comfort from the world. (Rev.3:14-17).
The present world and false believers will remain enemies of Christ until the Lord overthrows the worlds system at His coming,
(Rev. 19-20). 2 Tim. 2:3,4 explains, "Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs- he wants to please his commanding officer." 2 Tim.
8,9 instructs, "Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, for which
I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God's Word is not chained.
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."
