Devotionals

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1 Peter 2:20-23 (AMP)
But if you bear patiently with suffering [which results] when you do right and that is undeserved, it is acceptable and pleasing to God. For even to this were you called [it is inseparable from your vocation]. For Christ also suffered for you, leaving you [His personal] example, so that you should follow in His footsteps. He was guilty of no sin, neither was deceit (guile) ever found on His lips. When He was reviled and insulted, He did not revile or offer insult in return; [when] He was abused and suffered, He made no threats [of vengeance]; but he trusted [Himself and everything] to Him Who judges fairly.

WHAT? For even to this were you called [it is inseparable from your vocation]. I was called to suffer! Are you kidding me? I do what I can not to suffer. I could almost hate this scripture. And yet to bear patiently with suffering is acceptable and pleasing to God.
I don’t understand it all but I cannot deny that scriptures like these, sort of comfort me. Though it is a strong call to follow, it’s not really the suffering that is the problem for me. Whether we follow the Lord or not, Jesus said we would have various trials and temptations. To me it’s the faith that I must have daily to trust myself and everything to Him Who judges fairly.
I am forced daily to either be the miserable wretch of a man I used to be or to follow Christ examples. Christ examples put us in a position to get hit hard by life and still bear fruit. Get hit then show love. Get hit then be patient. Get hit then walk in peace.
In the final Rocky movie, Rocky Balboa tells his complaining son this: “You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't how hard you hit; it's about how hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward. How much you can take, and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done.”
Paul said I press on toward the goal to win the [supreme and heavenly] prize to which God in Christ Jesus is calling us upward. (Philippians 3:14) We all know that Paul suffered greatly but he kept moving forward toward the goal.
I’m not one for suffering but I do want to follow and please my Father who loves me. Therefore I will draw from His grace to live the life I was called to live.

Will you join me?

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