Mark 8:31"And he began to teach them,that the son of man must suffer many things,and be rejected of the elders,and of the cheif priest,and scribes,and be killed,and after three days rise again."
After performing many miracles,Jesus now began to clarify the exact nature of his atoning ministry.If someone was to follow him,that person would have to follow the whole Christ,the crucified Lord and the risen Savior,by taking up their cross daily,and suffer as he suffered.Jesus told them what lied ahead,he was going to be crucified.He would be humiliated by the Romans not conquor them,and then he would display the power of God,by being raised from the dead.Jesus told the people if they followed him they stood to lose everything, including their life.He wanted them to place their trust in God,and Him alone.(We have to be willing to let go of things,if it means to hold on to God)
As christians ,we live daily lives around people who do not believe what we believe.We know that not everyone is going to feel the same way we do about God.Other people may not understand our passion for him, and may even mock us for it.Sometimes we might feel alone in our suffering, and that we shouldn't have to suffer at all.There is a popular message being preached by many today,proclaiming God wants success and monetary gain for all who believes,and your suffering is from a lack of faith.But suffering is and has always been the road christians have had to travel.Those Saints listed in hebrews 11 all had great faith, and suffered mightily for the Lord.Instead of being discouraged by our challenges,let us be like the hero's of faith,and be encouraged by our relationship with God.
We know life is going to be full of disappointments and struggles,but we are christians, our goal is to be like Jesus.We know that we can overcome any hardship or burden we're dealt,For we can do all things through Christ,our strength.Our trials are to prove and strengthen our faith in God.It is our faith and dedication to the word, will, and way of God, that will allow us to endure our times of suffering,that we might rejoice in is glory.
Saint it is hard to walk up the narrow road,you will suffer many bumps and bruises,but hold on Our Savior said, "Be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world."
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