02/09/2021
*EGO* DAILY DEVOTIONAL
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2021
THE FELLOWSHIP OF HIS SUFFERINGS
BIBLE READING: PHILIPPIANS 3:10; JAMES 1:2-4; MATTHEW 4:1; MARK 10:29-31; ACTS 14:22
"But may the God of all Grace, Who called us to His Eternal Glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen and settle you." 1Peter 5:10 (NKJV).
Suffering is an integral part of the Salvation Package which every Christian believer is privileged to partake of. The Bible categorically stated this truth as seen in the attitude of the Apostles during the Early Days of the Church: "And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His Name" Acts 5:41 (KJV).
Suffering for the Sake of Christ Jesus and His Kingdom in the Early Church was a thing of joy (see Jam. 1:2) mainly because our faith in Him isn't known until it is tested.This is so critical because until you are tested, you cannot become a testimony.
For the purpose of clarity, it is imperative to note that there is a difference between the EXAMPLE of Christ in suffering and the SUBSTITUTION of Christ in suffering. Apostle Peter stated: "For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His Steps" 1Pet. 2:21 (NKJV).
You see, Jesus took our place as our Substitute, suffering the Crucifixion during the Passion Week so that we wouldn't have to. However, He also suffered being reviled, persecuted and spoken against, serving as our Example in how to act whenever we face the same circumstances (see 1Pet. 2:22-23).
Suffering for the Sake of the Lord Jesus Christ and His Kingdom is also part of the Way of the Spirit whereby we can trace God in the midst of all the circumstances we face daily (see Ecc. 11:5). There are four different categories of suffering every believer must go through during our Christian Journey in order to become the mature believer God can rely on:
1. Trials: These
