March 3

Resurrection

And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.  Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later. For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are.  ––Romans 8:17-19, nlt

It’s safe to say that in the Christian life, we’d all love to skip the persecution and crucifixion parts, and jump straight to resurrection. Am I right? Suffering, surrender, self-denial? No thanks! Come to Jesus, have your best life with no bad vibes, and then die peacefully at a ripe old age.

And because the Christian life doesn’t always work that way many Jesus followers become disillusioned or drift off course. I believe “consumer Christianity” is a key problem, particularly in the US: It’s the fallacy that says once you accept Jesus, life becomes one happy road of blessings. And if you encounter hardship, sickness, or trauma? Well, you either don’t have enough faith, or God is somehow punishing you. I have one word for that school of thought: poppycock (poppicockiae in the Greek).

I’ve watched spiritually mature, godly men go through one hardship after another, while I’ve also seen lukewarm believers breeze through life with few visible issues. But here’s the important thing to remember: Life trauma happens to everyone, and God isn’t out to “get you” when you mess up. Do our decisions matter? Of course. If you drink, eat, and smoke heavily for a few decades, you can’t then turn around and blame your health problems on the devil. Conversely, if you live a holy life and then contract cancer, it’s not because you lack faith.

Man of God, as you face persecution (all your problems and traumas) and live a crucified life (surrendered and submitted) in God, your resurrection will come. It’s not that God wants us to suffer for our resurrection; His Son suffered for us so we don’t have to die as He did. But God will use the traumas of this fallen world to shape us into the person He wants us to be. Who He designed us to be.

Man of God, what we often see as persecution is the very thing God uses to take us through crucifixion and into resurrection. God doesn’t bring the cancer or a spouse’s extramarital affair, but when we walk with Him and submit these difficult circumstances to Him, He can use those messes to bring miracles. Put another way, He loves you way too much to allow you to remain in the wilderness, and when we choose Him, He never quits us. And resurrection is the result. Every time.

Father, I fear persecution and crucifixion, but I submit all my trials and troubles to You and ask that You would give me the strength to walk the road I am on with You. Thank You for Your love, which I know will sustain me.