For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again, when he suffered, he threatened not, but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: [1Peter 2:21-23]


"...even hereunto were ye called...suffer..."

There is a lot of mix-ups today in Christianity. I think the real joy of Christianity, the depth of joy that is richly spiritual has been misplaced and substituted with the superficial joys of the world that never lasts. When we first became Christians, it was very clear unto us that the joy of The Lord is purely spiritual, it is bound in the fact that the believer has a hope of heaven to go, there is a passion, a desire in the hearts of the new believer that 'heaven is my home, I am only a pilgrim, a sojourner here', and his joy is bound up in his eternal home. Nothing of earth has any attraction before his eyes anymore, his die is cast, his eyes have become opened, he is no longer interested in what earth can give him anymore, he has seen the superficiality and transient nature of the whole world system, and with ecstasy, he has also seen the glories of heavens beyond.

Those days, when we suffered anything for the sake of Christ and his cross, we were happy about it, we didn't think of liberation from that suffering, it was so attractive to us because we knew that divine glory was wrapped up in that suffering, we never fasted and prayed so that ours will become 'better' in this world, when we suffered for Christ's sake, we just looked to heaven and hoped for the joys beyond, we shed tears, not to be relieved with the rags of the world which men call beauty, but we longed for heaven.

Today, there is a complete paradigm shift, there is a hidden belief that I must 'make it' here below, and that has become the new pursuit of Christians, heaven is so vague before our eyes, it has no attraction again, the cross has lost its attraction, the pains of the cross now is so hard to bear, the thought of heavenly joys and presence of God alone is no more sufficient for the believer to suffice for all the tears below, Jesus is now for bread and butter, no more for grace and truth...

It must be very vivid before my eyes that I am not called to be a millionaire, I am not called to have a name here, the accolades of the world don't incite me, even if millions of Dollars come to me every month, it is not for me to make a name with here below, it's for God, it's for my home in heaven, it's for me to make a name in heaven. I am called to fellowship with Christ in His sufferings, to partake with Him in His agony. Surprisingly, this is a new generation of Christians who believe that happiness is explained or possessed by the measure of things you possess in this world, the joy of Christians increase today because a contract is won, because money has increased and there is more money to spend in the pocket, testimonies of God's goodness fly up and down everyday not because the revelation and knowledge of God has increased, but because earthly favours and goods and wealth have increased. The messages of consecration given to Christians today have been panel-beaten to affect the earth rather than promote heaven, we are told to consecrate our substance today, so that we can build the church, no longer to build the heavenly kingdom.


"...He was reviled..."

Sometimes I used to have an edgy understanding of the kind of life a true Christian ought to live, I used to think that if you are actually living the Christ kind of life, then all men will revere, respect and honour you. I used to think that if men belittle you, if they speak against you anyhow, if they don't respect God's grace in your life but rather insult you or just push you aside in ridicule or derision, then you have a problem. My thinking was that if truly you carry the presence of God with you, all men should reverence you. But that's not so with Jesus as the Bible reveals. Of course the above has some elements of truth in it and when you've got God's presence in your life, it shows, it works, it touches the hearts of men, even, it does convicts sinners, but this is not in every situations and circumstances. Here, can you imagine, Jesus, the perfect Master, the One who is the embodiment of the Divine presence of God, He was REVILED!!! He SUFFERED!!!


"...suffered, He threatened not"

Those who don't have spiritual backbones are those who threaten when they suffer. If you actually understood spiritual things very deeply, you would know that those who suffer for Christ's sake in anything should actually be full of joy, being counted to suffer for Christ, being a partaker of the pains of Jesus. They are the ones who have more blessings and rewards in heaven. But because spiritual blessings do not immediately translate to physical, tangible things, many with dim eternal sights are offended when they suffer for Christ's sake.

I'm sure if you hear: 'there is $1000 reward for every suffering you undergo for Christ', it will be a joy to partake of Christ's sufferings, no one will never threaten, but because many don't SEE eternal glory which far outweighs $1000 worth, that is attached to the shame and pain you bear for Christ's sake, it therefore appears burdensome to suffer for Christ.

Imagine if you were trekking to a spiritual function where you were scheduled to minister - maybe in teaching, singing or praying, and you're so excited to trek the long distance. But on the dark, lonely road to the function, you missed your steps and fell into a stinking pool of stagnant dirty water, and your clothes were heavily stained, what would be your decision from that day forward? For many who don't understand eternal things, you feel so embarrassed, ashamed, you begin to admire those who had money to take transport down, you begin to see yourself as unfortunate because you don't have a car of your own - not knowing that you, who suffered because you trekked, have greater reward than the man who enjoyed an air conditioned car to the function. Immediately you begin to make up your mind that you will never serve God in that capacity again unless something 'better' happened to your poor state - what blindness!!! But for those who have seen Christ's glory, oh, they are so excited to undergo that shameful thing for the sake of Christ. To them, they are tasting just a little part of the cross, they wish, like Paul that they could fellowship daily in Christ's sufferings, so, they simply look for a little corner, clean themselves up and they move on to the event.

What if because of the fall, you arrived the spiritual assignment late, and the minister in charge spoke against your unseriousness, will you be too quick to tender your reason for coming late?, will you want people to sympathise with you and say "oh!, sorry, sister", while they help you to check your legs for any bruises?, will you be quick to accept all the pity of the people?, oh no!, you have received your reward by that singular action. Rather, tell the leader, "I'm sorry for coming late sir, I will be more punctual as God helps me, forgive me Sir" Finish!!!. Don't allow what you glory in- the suffering for Christ - to be turned to an object of ridicule, instead, add that suffering to your credentials, accept it wholeheartedly, and look forward for other ones that will come.

Friend, what if you broke your leg in the fall, will you be quick to tell everyone that asks, or even warn everyone that asks that it was in the service of The Lord that your leg got broken?, will you warn them to do gently and reduce their vows, or sometimes you start threatening?, that will not be right, instead, you could tell people how you broke your leg, but NEVER blame it on God or on spiritual things, never use it as a note to press for better treatments, just accept the suffering with joy, and don't allow that in which you glory to become an object of threatening or disdain.