Be Prepared, it will come

    

I Peter 4:1-2, 12-19

Suffering for Christ can deepen our walk with Him.

The first time I read through this passage, I felt discouraged, thinking about suffering.  There is a certain kind of fear that lingers on the edge of my mind when I consider suffering.  So I read the passage again, actually several more times, trying to grapple with that sense of doom that was trying to discourage me. 

I noticed that there are several things the Christian believer is told to do in order to prepare for the time when some kind of suffering will come.  As we prepare ourselves, our walk with God deepens.  Being prepared is what will carry us through those dark times of suffering, no matter what form the suffering may take.  Recognizing that there are things I can do to handle my suffering better gives me a renewed sense of power for facing whatever may come in my future.

How does a Christian prepare herself for that inevitable suffering?  We have all had suffering of one kind or another in our lives, and will no doubt have it again, so we may as well prepare, right?  I found several things I can do to be better prepared for the next time:

     1. Arm myself mentally (v.1).  That is the first step… let God help me see/understand the circumstances I face from His point of view.   

     2. Don’t be taken by surprise (v.12).  Remember that God allows suffering for a good reason, and He will help you through it because He wants you to become stronger in your faith and walk.

     3. Change your way of thinking about suffering (v. 13).  Instead of bemoaning your situation, ask God to help you see His hand at work.  When you do that, you will remember that God will be helping you face the situation.

     4. Think ahead (v.13).  Do what a runner does and think ahead to the goal you have and the reward if you succeed in your quest.  Our goal is the presence of God in our lives now and heaven in our future.  No matter what suffering we may have, the end result will be the same … eternal joy in heaven.

     5.  Do not be ashamed to trust God in your suffering (v.16).  Verses 15-19 remind me that everyone suffers, but I have no suffering compared to someone who does not know the Lord.  How many times have you (as I have) said, “I don’t know how someone could handle this if they couldn’t trust God”?  That is the principle at work in these verses.

    6. Let yourself continue to grow stronger in your faith (v.19).  Do not allow your suffering or your insecurity about handling your suffering deter you from trusting God. That will speak volumes to those outside the faith, or who are weak in their faith, as they observe how you handle your suffering.

My A.U.G. degree

A few weeks ago I did a presentation at my regular Bible study group at a local assisted living facility to which those who attended had an exceptionally good response.  So good, in fact, that several times since then they have asked me to write it out for them to share with their families!  Although that response is gratifying to me, I am humbled that such a simple presentation as I gave that day had such a big impact on them!  I think it inspired them to think about the value of the Word of God to our everyday lives.

This week I sat down and wrote out a simplified version of what I said in my presentation.  I'll make some copies to take to them this coming Sunday afternoon when I go for my next Bible study with them, but I decided to put my newly-written, as yet unedited, version here on my blog as well.

DO YOU HAVE YOUR A.U.G. DEGREE?

By Jo Ann Rhodes

II Timothy 2:15

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to   

     be ashamed   (New International Version)

(The King James Version puts it this way: Study to show thyself approved unto God, a

     workman that needeth not to be ashamed)

This verse tells us about a graduation of sorts.  Just what is “graduation?”  We usually think of it mainly in terms of completion of a course of study, but it can also apply to any situation in which we are ready to move on to a new level of life or experience, whether it is school or work-related.  In either case, it is a matter of being ready to move on to the next level.

What are the requirements of graduation, as for graduating from high school?  According to the state Department of Education, two main requirements are: 1) completing certain courses of study, and 2) passing an examination that proves that you have adequately learned the lessons you have studied.

There are several ways in which this study and graduation are very similar to our spiritual lives as well.  Our entire life is our course of study for our “graduation” to the “next level” of life, our eternal destiny, heaven for those who have committed their lives to Jesus Christ as their Savior.  As God’s children, we are working on our A.U.G. degree!  2 Timothy 2:15 tells us we are to study to show ourselves “APPROVED UNTO GOD.”

The word “study” in this verse means to “do your best”, “be diligent.”  Note that this verse does not say that we are to study in order to be approved by God!  It is not the studying that gives us salvation.  “He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.” (Titus 3:5)  No, our studying is living a life that honors God.  Our course of study for our graduation to heaven is our life experiences.   Each time we have an experience where we learn another step in loving God or trusting Him, or entrusting our lives and concerns into His hands, it’s like taking another course in that subject.

What are the courses that are requirements for graduation?  Here again, we see a beautiful parallel between studying for graduation from high school and our spiritual study in preparation for what lies beyond this life on earth.  We can learn some valuable lessons for our spiritual “study” by looking at the course requirements from the Department of Education.

ENGLISH AND LANGUAGE ARTS

By studying God’s literature (the Bible), we learn what pleases God and that in turn equips us for living our lives in a way that pleases God.

     All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and

     training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for

     every good work. ~ I Tim.3:16-17

      

MATHEMATICS

God uses this short life on earth to help us prepare for eternity.

     Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. ~ Psalm 90:12   

 SCIENCE

 God, who created the vast universe as well as this earth and all of us, loves us as

 individuals and cares for us, and provided a way of salvation from our sins.

     When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which

     you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings

    that you care for them? ~ Psalm 8:3-4

 

HISTORY

God never changes so what we learn of Him from the Bible, which was written hundreds of years ago, is still true today.  

     Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. ~ Hebrews 13:8

ECONOMICS

The most important thing we do during our lives on earth is to put into our heavenly savings account by remembering that our most important investments are spiritual investments.

     Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, 

     and where thieves break in and steal.  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven,

    where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.    

    For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. ~ Matt. 6:19-21

             

GOVERNMENT/CIVICS

It is our responsibility to support our authorities in prayer and honesty, whether or not we agree with them.

     I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and           thanksgiving be made

     for all people—  for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and

     quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.  This is good, and pleases God our Savior.

     ~ 1 Timothy 2:1-2

     Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s. ~ Matt. 22:21

   

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

     Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in

     such a way as to get the prize.  Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict

     training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that

     will last forever. ~ 1 Corinthians 9:24-25

     Since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let            us throw off 

     everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.  And let us run with  

     perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus. ~ Heb. 12:1-2

We are to study, i.e., do our best, be diligent, and work hard to learn what God wants us to learn during our lifetime.  2 Timothy 2:15 tells us that if we do that, when we “graduate” and stand before God we will not be ashamed.  We will not be ashamed because we will have trusted in Jesus for our forgiveness of sin and our salvation, and we will not be ashamed because we will have studied our courses diligently so God could teach us during our time here on earth.   We will have our A.U.G. degree!

Be careful

Luke 21:34 Be careful or your heart will be weighed down with the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap.

It is so easy to get caught up in the cares and concerns of the present.  This verse reminds me that there Is more than just my current life that must be kept in perspective.  When I expend all my energy and interest on my present life, two things happen to me.  First, I become self-centered, which never brings about a good of wholesome outcome.  Even more importantly, second, I forget to live “with eternity’s values in view,” as the old song goes.  The result of this second effect is that the coming of Christ will surprise me and I will not be living ready for meeting Him.

Sharing

Matthew 26:18 Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, “The Teacher says, “My appointed time is near.  I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.’”

My mind is filled with questions and responses to this event as I read it.  Who was that “certain man?”  One of the most well-known events leading up to the crucifixion took place in the home of a totally unknown person who obviously was a friend of Jesus.  But his name is not mentioned.  What is immortalized in this story is not who he was, but rather what he made available for Jesus’ use.  What a good lesson for me as I grow older as an “unknown” person wondering what I have to offer the Lord.  The older I get, the more I see myself getting caught in a cycle of routine and am finding it more and more difficult to let go of that in order to make the extra effort to share myself, my time, or my belongings.  I need to remember that this sharing is an important part of my ministry in Jesus’ name.  It is not important who I am but rather what I have made available of myself and/or my belongings that matters.  Another question I ask is: was this a pre-arranged use, arranged between Jesus and the “certain man” ahead of time, or was a “spur of the moment?”  Whichever the case, I see the bottom line as the same principle: that man opened his home.  I can do the same, even without previous planning.  God will use what I make available for His glory.

Be dressed and ready

Luke 12:35 Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning.

This is a picture of readiness for whatever may come or whatever may happen.  There is a sense here that if I am ready, then I won’t have to stop and think how to respond when a call comes for service.  When I am confronted by a need I will be able to respond favorably because I am dressed and have my lamp already burning.  Being dressed is my picture of personal preparation; having a personal relationship with God means I am clothed with the garment of salvation and the shoes of the gospel of peace.  Having my lamp burning means I am able to see where and how to walk because the light of the Word is lighting my path.  With my clothing and my lamp already both in place, then I am automatically ready for service.