Christ Leads The Way

“For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps.” – 1 Pet. 2:21

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God doesn’t always take us out of the raging storms of difficult times in life. We saw that in John the Baptist’s example of being imprisoned. The Lord will always provide us with encouragement through His Word to help us through the trying situations that we face.

After John’s disciples left Jesus to relay His message to John, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John. He said that “among those born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist” (Lk. 7:28).

That’s very interesting: here John is imprisoned and soon to be beheaded, and Jesus who had (and has) all power to do whatever He wants didn’t set him free from prison. He sent him a message reminding him of Scripture, and then He began to praise him.

It reminds me of Job – how God commended Job to Satan. The Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil” (Job 1:8).

When we go through difficult times – divorce, sickness, job loss, financial struggles, or whatever the case may be, the Lord knows of our suffering. We may still have to endure it, but when we do endure it, God is pleased with us.

God may have even recommended us because of our faith.

The Bible says, “When you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God” (1 Pet. 2:20).

See how when John was in prison the Lord commended him to others, and when Job kept experiencing severe hardships at the hand of Satan, the Lord kept commending Job. The Lord knew of their faith and their trust in God.

They were suffering and enduring it. And when we suffer and endure it, it brings favor with the Lord.

Just think about God commending you in the midst of your trial because He knows how much you love, trust, and depend on Him.

Jesus suffered in this world, and we will too. But we can take comfort because Christ has overcome the world (Jn. 16:33).

If you are going through a hard time in life, can the Lord commend you for trusting Him in the midst of your struggles and enduring them?

If not, put your trust in the Lord today. Believe that Jesus Christ is Lord, and obey him in repentance and baptism.

It’s a wonderful thought to think that I have favor with God because I’m enduring difficult circumstances and trusting Him. That gives me hope. I hope it does you, too.

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