Does it pay to be a Christian? What kind of life should a
person expect having identified with Jesus? When people consider the Christian suffering,
they shudder; but the truth is that Christians suffer for two basic reasons.
This article explains these two reasons why Christians suffer.
Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A
servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also
persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also – John 15:20
(NKJV)
Yes, and all who desire to live godly in
Christ Jesus will suffer persecution – 2 Timothy 3:12 (NKJV)
But be doers of the word, and not
hearers only, deceiving yourselves. But he who looks into the perfect law of
liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the
work, this one will be blessed in what he does- James 1:22, 25 (NKJV,
emphasis mine)
It really pays to be a Christian, a
follower of Christ. But following God has a price attached to it, which when
you really consider is very minute compared to the glory that awaits you. The
blessings of being a Christian are enormous and they cover your life on earth
and life after death, i.e., eternal life in heaven. However, the list of
blessings will be for another time.
Let’s consider why Christians suffer.
The two basic reasons are: first, for being a Christian and secondly, for being
disobedient to God and His words
A. Suffering as a Christian
Jesus made it clear
that His followers will suffer persecution because He too suffered persecution
– John 15:20. And Paul writing to Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:12, expanded it a
little more by saying that all who desire to live godly in Christ will suffer
persecution. That means, any Christian who is not suffering persecution is
not living godly!
Christian suffering
means that you have truly identified with Jesus. The scriptures in 2 Timothy
2:12 (KJV) makes us to understand that if we suffer with Him we will reign with
Him but if we deny Him, He will also deny us.
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