Suffering and Reigning with Jesus

[Christ4Ever]

"If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him." 2 Timothy 2:12


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We must not imagine that we are suffering for Christ, and with Christ, if we are not in Christ. Beloved friend, are you trusting to Jesus only? If not, whatever you may have to mourn over on earth, you are not "suffering with Christ," land have no hope of reigning with Him in heaven. Neither are we to conclude that all a Christian's sufferings are sufferings with Christ, for it is essential that he be called by God to suffer. If we are rash and imprudent, and run into positions for which neither providence nor grace has fitted us, we ought to question whether we are not rather sinning than communing with Jesus. If we let passion take the place of judgment, and self-will reign instead of Scriptural authority, we shall fight the Lord's battles with the devil's weapons, and if we cut our own fingers we must not be surprised. Again, in troubles which come upon us as the result of sin, we must not dream that we are suffering with Christ. When Miriam spoke evil of Moses, and the leprosy polluted her, she was not suffering for God. Moreover, suffering which God accepts must have God's glory as its end. If I suffer that I may earn a name, or win applause, I shall get no other reward than that of the Pharisee. It is requisite also that love to Jesus, and love to His elect, be ever the mainspring of all our patience. We must manifest the Spirit of Christ in meekness, gentleness, and forgiveness. Let us search and see if we truly suffer with Jesus. And if we do thus suffer, what is our "light affliction" compared with reigning with Him? Oh it is so blessed to be in the furnace with Christ, and such an honour to stand in the pillory with Him, that if there were no future reward, we might count ourselves happy in present honour; but when the recompense is so eternal, so infinitely more than we had any right to expect, shall we not take up the cross with alacrity, and go on our way rejoicing?

Charles Spurgeon

 

[rag4aCrown]

Blessings;
So very true; When we step out of God's will and into self will, horrible storms are coming. We took our heart focus off Jesus for one moment and gave a door for evil to come in. Fleshly, carnal storms we bring on ourselves are loaded with chaos, and confusion.
Spiritual storms happen when walking in God's will also; however, that are a bit different kind of storm. We stepped in faith, believing what we have heard or what God laid upon our heart to do; in doing so our faith is IN HIM (not self) and we stand during the storm in confidence and peace and joy....in our hearts towards God, not being tossed to and fro.
All praise, glory, and honor be to God. Amen.

 

[clark thompson]

If we are not suffering for Christ we need to look at if we are serving Christ.