08/10/2023
Are you suffering in or through something that God has called you to do? If so, how are you approaching your hardship? Does it cause you to question His presence in what you are doing, or are you experiencing pride in your suffering? Neither of these is a proper way to deal with your spiritual hardships because it makes His calling about yourself. Only a humble trust in God is the proper reaction.
“Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.”
1 Peter 4:19 ESV
I know a pastor who has been called to travel to the Middle East where he serves the church and wins souls in an incredibly hostile and dangerous environment. He has pastored a church here in the United States for many years, and could have chosen to safely remain with that for the rest of his life, but God called him to do more. If you were to meet this man during one of his return visits to the United States, your first impression would be "this is a humble man of God who serves Him in a calm and unremarkable manner", but he is a spiritual superhero for the Lord. You would have little clue that he is actually a superman and that you are only seeing him as Clark Kent. He bears the burden and the suffering of his calling by entrusting it to God. Peter had to learn this lesson before he could deliver the message we just read. Listen to what Jesus said to Him as he was being taught what it means to give one’s life completely...
“But he turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man."”
Matthew 16:23 ESV
Peter had to learn how to recognize his calling and its associated suffering, especially as it pertained to others... in this case the suffering party was Jesus Christ. Our first scripture today (1 Peter 4:19) is the direct result of the lesson Peter was taught when Jesus looked at him and said "Get behind me, Satan!"
We need to see the suffering of other saints, and even our own pain, in this same light. The calling of God isn't about us, or our comfort, but about something far greater; so we need to go with the flow of His will and not become a hindrance to what He has called us, or others, to do.
One Sunday I listened to one of my pastors teach about blessings, and our giving as it pertained to tithing and the church, but something else he said actually became the true lesson for me; he said... "God's greatest treasure is people, or souls." My pastor spoke about how there is really nothing of this world that God needs from us, after all it is his creation in the first place. He said that tithing is a biblically good thing but even that is about relationship... not pleasing God with what we give Him, because what gives our tithe value is our desire to give it. Even our tithing is founded in God's greatest treasure... us... our souls, and the relationship we have with Him. So I say this to make a different point today; if God's greatest treasure is souls, then our physical suffering when called is insignificant and pales before His will and purpose.
“Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents."”
Luke 15:10 ESV
We tend to look at our suffering first and God's will second. We wear the hardship we endured during our Calling like a badge. Is that appropriate? When we do this it makes our effort for Him about ourselves. We are seeking glory in our own suffering, and claiming God's victory as our own.
The greatest hosts and hostesses are those who make you feel that all of the hardship in preparing for your visit was a pleasure. They might have spent days laboring to make their home ready for your arrival and cooked all that day, but when you walked through their door it was as if they had done nothing that inconvenienced them... they made the visit about you... you were their treasure; their reward, and they made your comfort, not theirs, what was most important. Nothing is said during your stay with them that would make you feel that your visit was an imposition. Our suffering for God is like this; we shouldn't reveal our hardship in an attempt to gain acknowledgement, glory, or reward, because our every effort and difficulty should have been focused on preparing God's feast and His treasure.
Standing on the corner and praying for all to hear, or proclaiming our suffering to gain notoriety or reward, is not how we should deal with serving or suffering for God. My pastor friend, who travels abroad, places himself in harm's way but he never makes it about the danger or hardship, he speaks of the will that God has for him... he speaks of God's treasure... the souls that come to Him. Peter talks about trusting in God and our suffering while we do the good He has set us about... the gathering of souls... of serving to collect God's greatest treasure.
So how are we dealing with the hardship and suffering we are facing in doing God's will? Are we making those souls that we are tasked to save feel like a burden when they come to our church, or our home? Do we brag about the extreme measures we have dealt with as we delivered the gospel, or do we speak fondly of the one soul that all of our suffering produced and the great victory that was won for Jesus? Whose treasure do we value most? His or ours?
Prayer:
Father, I thank you for your call in my life, and I pray that the suffering and hardship required along the way is not what becomes a stumbling block to me. I pray Father that your glory and treasure are all that I find of importance as I go about doing your will. Holy Father, let my prayers with a repentant sinner be simple and to the point; don't let me feel that I must impress with oration, or become the focus of this prayer in any way. Let your presence be all important, and the gathering of this soul to you my greatest desire. In your call I know that there will be inconvenience and hardship, but that by trusting in you I can face all things with humility and grace. Should you call me to clean the church building, mow the lawn, teach others, or go abroad with the gospel... whatever you call me to do, help me to do it in such a way that my suffering is not the focus, but that serving your will directs all glory to you. Help me Lord to be a good servant in directing others into your house and your presence. Let me wait on those who dine today at your table, and keep me humble and invisible as I lay the bread of Jesus before them and fill their glass with his finest wine. Then Father, as I retire to the kitchen, let me feel a touch of your joy in having been present at the feast.
Rich Forbes