Suffer in His Footsteps!

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Servants, you must obey your masters and always show respect to them. Do this, not only to those who are kind and thoughtful, but also to those who are cruel.   God will bless you, even if others treat you unfairly for being loyal to him.  You don't gain anything by being punished for some wrong you have done. But God will bless you, if you have to suffer for doing something good.  After all, God chose you to suffer as you follow in the footsteps of Christ, who set an example by suffering for you.  Christ did not sin or ever tell a lie.  Although he was abused, he never tried to get even. And when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he had faith in God, who judges fairly.

1 Peter 2: 18 - 23

Following in the footsteps of Jesus means that you will suffer.  The crucifixion of Jesus was not the only time that He suffered.  The Bible says that Jesus was "despised, rejected, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief."  Following Jesus is not the way to escape suffering here on earth.  It is just the opposite.  When you choose to follow Jesus, you are guaranteeing that you will suffer in many ways!  

Jesus suffered and died to pay the price for sin, but why must those who follow Him suffer as well?  The answer to that question is simple, but it is also quite sobering.  When you put your feet in the footsteps of Christ you will find that the Evil that caused Him to suffer is still there waiting to attack you as well.  Jesus defeated Satan's ability to condemn you before the Father by taking the penalty for your sin, but He did not eliminate the Devil from the equation of life!  That will come later.

Sometimes Jesus does calm the storms of life, but He also enables you to walk on water in the midst of the storm!  When you walk with Jesus through this life, you will be blown about and suffer, but you will not sink and drown!

"Lord Jesus, show me how I must suffer today for being Your disciple!  And Lord, give me the strength to walk through the storms of this life with You at my side!  Praise Your Holy Name, now and forever.  Amen."