December 21________________________________________
They encouraged them to continue in the faith, reminding them that we must suffer many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God. -Acts 14:22(NLT)
SUFFERING GIVES US ENTRY TO GOD’S KINGDOM
A poem and essay by ILMA
What are you tormented with these days?
Is it a relationship, offense or health issues that makes you dazed?
If you are a believer of Christ, you must embrace pain
There’s no need to avoid it, fix it or constantly complain.
There’s none like Christ who was abused to death
He was sinless, yet he endured for all our debts
If you want to enter God’s kingdom, you need to endure
If you can’t share his suffering, you’re not living in truth.
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Our world today likes to deaden pain or avoid confronting issues that makes one uncomfortable. We have become a world of “comfort” huggers. We won’t let go of anything we have been used to and relaxed with. As soon as trouble comes, we run away from it so very quickly. No wonder many of us don’t grow up. We have grown in age but not in wisdom.
I can’t tell you enough about the pain and abuse I have experienced in life, but don’t we all go through it? The bible tells us that as Christians, we need to follow Jesus’ example. He endured all suffering so we can all be saved. Shouldn’t we share in that suffering as well? That will give us the key to heaven.
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PRAYER
Lord, let me know what you are teaching me through adversities and trials.
REFLECTION
Why do people avoid suffering?