10 After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. 11 To Him be dominion foreverand ever. Amen.
We read so much of what Jesus' disciples wrote (Peter, being one of them), that it's naturally within us to desire to be one of his disciples, too! We read, on Sunday, through Jesus' charge to the disciples from Matthew 10. Jesus kicked his ministry into gear with a vibrant speech to the twelve men who, at that point, knew nothing of what it meant to give all they had. Jesus laid it all out, beginning with "THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS AT HAND!"
- Freely you received, freely give
- Do not acquire
- Share, share, share the Good News
- ...and much, much more!
From all these "standard" things that Jesus says -things that we'd expect in a "religion" - Jesus continues and proceeds to draw a line in the sand, effectively communicating that if you stand up for the name of Jesus, you will face opposition and persecution. The line was drawn 2,000+ years ago and it's still there today. Our Christian life must be radiant in a way that others around us either get it, or oppose it. The name of Jesus is, without an equal, the most polarizing name ever given among men.
So, we've been challenged by Jesus to live a different life and we will face the opposition and suffering that goes along with it. BUT THE BEST IS YET TO COME!!
Peter says that after we've suffered a little while, we get Jesus HIMSELF to make us complete, perfect, lacking nothing, superb, whole, adequate, strong, and everything else we lack in this life. I am reminded each and every day of what I lack to be a good friend, a good husband, a good dad, a good employee, a good manager, a good man and certainly a good Christian. BUT WHAT I CAN'T DO, GOD DID!!! It's DONE! Jesus, through His Holy Spirit, is working within me to get me to that perfect state, even now, but this body of flesh keeps holding me back. One day, O GLORIOUS DAY, Jesus HIMSELF will come and rescue me from this body of flesh and instantaneously transform me into the man God sees through Jesus Christ right now.
AMAZING, huh? God sees me, right now, through the focal lenses of Jesus Christ because I have accepted His death and resurrection as my payment for what I owe, which is my death. Jesus paid it all.
I could write forever on this subject because the Holy Spirit lives within me and He loves talking about his best bud and Trinity-cohort, Jesus. But for now, remember that Jesus is coming again. He came the first time and healed the sick. He's coming the second time to CURE US, ONCE AND FOR ALL!! AMEN!!
Lord's best to you all this week!
Your friend, _David
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