Suffering for Christ sake isn’t new.

Romans 8:36 Just as it is written, “For Your sake we are being put to death all day long; we were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” In this verse, Paul referred to Ps. 44. The context of Ps. 44 is the suffering of God’s people. In the midst of tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, and sword they declare their steadfastness to God. Psalms 44:17-18 “All this has come upon us, but we have not forgotten You, and we have not dealt falsely with Your covenant. Our heart has not turned back, and our steps have not deviated from Your way.” Then in Psalms 44:22 they say, “But for Your sake we are killed all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” The lament closes with this: verse 26, “Rise up, be our help, and redeem us for the sake of Your lovingkindness.” Here in Rom. 8, Paul had been describing how God has risen to our help and redeemed us. He is for us. Apparently the persecution in Rome for being a Christian involved all of those things listed in the last verse. They suffered for Jesus’ name sake just as God’s people suffered for their faith centuries before. But suffering in this world for Jesus’ name doesn’t mean God is against us, it means we are beloved children and heirs of glory. Remember what Paul wrote in Rom. 8:16-18? “The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” Suffering for Christ’s sake isn’t new. More than likely in our lifetimes, we probably won’t suffer famine, nakedness, peril, and sword for our faith in Christ, but we will endure tribulation, distress, and persecution. Paul wanted his readers to keep focused on the glory of God that awaits them because of God’s love. They are loved with an everlasting love which overcomes the world and anything it can and will do to them. Living to love with Jesus for the glory of God keeps us focused on “that day” when His love is rewarded with glory—and we with Him. We are to arm ourselves with this purpose as Jesus did. Peter wrote that the one who has so armed himself with Jesus’ purpose of loving unto death, has overcome sin (1 Pet. 4:1). He doesn’t mean that person has become sinless, but that sin has lost its power in their life. Their willing to die for Christ rather than sin. Today, be encouraged to love with Jesus by laying down your life for others for the glory of God. Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com