February 26, 2008
1 Peter 2:12-14
We met the pastor in the village in Orissa. He said trouble started in four districts of Orissa on the eve of Christmas 2007. Militants came in thousands to harm Christians in the villages. It was all pre-planned! They burnt the churches and their houses. Most families fled to the forest. On Christmas day, a gang of 300 men came to kill the pastor. He fled to the forest along with an elder from his church, while the gang chased them. Sadly the elder tripped and fell. The gang came and killed him. They thought it was the pastor whom they killed. So they left. The pastor was thankful to God for protecting his life but was in great sorrow for the elder and the villagers. (The name of the pastor is retained)
Sufferings and trials are not uncommon to Christians. Early Christians were tortured, killed, burnt at the stake and thrown to lions. But they stood firm in their faith. Sufferings for Christians have not ceased.
But why should Christians suffer?
God refines us through sufferings. (1 Peter 1:6-7, Zec.13.9, Mal 3.3). He has designed the refining fire not to destroy but to burn the dross and to refine the gold. Job said, “When He has tested me I shall come forth as gold” (Job 20.10).
The devil challenged God, saying Job served God for material benefits. Was this why Job served Him? Of course not! Job was a righteous man. He loved God. Do we serve Jesus only for material benefits? A thousand times No! We serve Him because we love Him. No one can separate us from the love of Christ, be it tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword. God proves to the devil that even in suffering His children love Him and serve Him. The people of the world do not understand this. It is madness to them!!!
Sufferings make us strong. Storms help the roots go deeper when the trees are shaken! Tamed elephants in Kerala in South India are used to shake the coconut trees to yield more coconuts! Kerala is known for its coconuts!! Storms in our lives strengthen us and make us more fruitful in our spiritual lives.
It is in the midst of storms we realize the greatness of God’s love and power.
Once Jesus wanted to go to the other side of the lake of Galilee. He had to deliver a man possessed with a legion of demons! He got into a boat and told His disciples “ Let us go over to the other side ”. He was so tired from ministering to people; he went to sleep in the boat as they were rowing. Suddenly there arose a great storm and the high waves filled the boat. The disciples feared they would drown. They woke Him up, raising their frantic voices above the noise of the pounding waves “Rabbi we are perishing. Don’t you care?”
I love this story!!! Jesus woke up! He rebuked the wind and the waves, saying “Peace, be still” The storm ceased. There was great calm!!! The disciples were amazed. They said, “Who can this be, that even the storm and the sea obey Him!” When the storms of life threaten your life, and you have Jesus in your boat, you will know how much He cares, how much He loves and how powerful He is and how powerful His Words and His promises are for you!!! He told you “Let us go over”. He is with you. You will never go “under”!!!
We may face fiery trials. But at the end, God will bring us out victoriously. Paul said, “We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us”.
David’s enemies threatened his life. He was ‘walking through the valley of the shadow of death’. But God did not desert David in that valley. God was with him to give him victory over his enemies. That’s why David sang, ‘You prepare a table before my enemies and You anoint me. My cup overflows’. This is what God will do for you!!!
God may allow trials and tests to come into your life. Tests carry us to higher level!! Joseph did not stay in the pit his brothers threw him in. God lifted him out of the pit and finally, God lifted him up to be the Prince over Egypt. The sufferings and trials will be only for a short time. God will be right there with you in the midst of your difficulties. And in the end, He will vindicate you.
