Topic: Partakers of Affliction 1 [Thursday, 13th July 2017]
Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; 2 Timothy 1:8
If you ever thought that upon accepting Christ, your life will just be sweet to the end of time, or till He calls you home, well, you’re right, and also wrong. Now, Christ is the greatest gift given us of Love – God, and in Him, all things we need for life has been made available. However, when you chose to acknowledge the gift of salvation, and accept Christ, you placed yourself at enmity with the devil and with the world. (Romans 8:7). What this means is that afflictions are going to come from different angles.
Jesus said in Matthew 10:34-36 “think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.” If your family and friends don’t believe in the salvation gospel, then that’s an affliction. Affliction come in different ways, and it is peculiar to a person and situation. For some,it might be that the environment is not favourable for a new convert, you are being denied a contract because you are a Christian, etc. The principle that applies are however the same.
The first thing you need to do is partake gracefully of the affliction. Count it all joy that you are afflicted for Christ. 1 Peter 4:12-13 puts it thus: “beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.” Just imagine how fulfilled you’ll be when the glory is revealed and you know that you partook of the afflictions. 2 Timothy 2:12 says: “If we suffer, we shall also reign with him.“
Keep winning daily.
Prayer:
Father, thank You for choosing me as a partaker of the afflictions of the gospel. Help me to keep keeping on till Your coming, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
By Esun Tekeme
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