December 8, 2024 - How Are You Living?

We have everything Christ has including His suffering
“If indeed we suffer with Him” - verse 17

Suffering means to experience evil

You see . . . . . suffering, EVIL, came with sin; sin brought pain, suffering and EVIL

What do we do with suffering?
We try to insulate ourselves from suffering, deny we are suffering, we pretend we are ok

Jesus did not insulate Himself; Jesus did not deny suffering

We have a Savior who knows suffering like none of us know suffering

Jesus’ ultimate suffering was on the cross when He cried, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me.”

This was crushing, devastating, spiritual suffering!

Jesus experienced all of humanity’s sins placed on Him

It was at that moment that Jesus felt abandoned by God, alone, separated from all that is good!

Why must we suffer?
Suffering is necessary to kill the flesh, to break us from flesh control

Trials and suffering are part of a process which prepares us for His eternal glory

Suffering is not for nothing! Romans 5: 3; James 1: 2

While here, remember, it’s all temporary!

2 Corinthians 4:16-18
"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are acheiving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, that was is unseen is eternal."

Suffering changed our perspective from seen to unseen!

Suffering helps us understand grief share!

While here, remember . . . ..
"Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you." - Deuteronomy 31:6

1 John 5:4
YOU ARE AN OVERCOMER