Strengthening the disciples by encouraging them to continue in the faith and by telling them, “It is necessary to go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.” —Acts 14:22
Many modern-day evangelistic efforts have promised sinners unending peace, joy, a home in heaven, and a prosperous life between here and there if they will simply come to Jesus. That kind of preaching, stripped of the call to discipleship and cross bearing, has produced a generation of soft, flabby “disciples” who have no stomach for the battles of the Christian life. When their hopes are dashed by the inevitable trials and tribulations, they whimper and whine and make a dash for the quickest escape route.
By convincing us that our suffering is undeserved or unnecessary, the enemy succeeds in getting us to resent and resist the will and purposes of God.
The message that was preached by the Lord Jesus Himself and by the apostles who followed Him was a call to take up the cross; it was a call to sign up for battle; it was a call to suffer.
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Lies Women Believe: And the Truth that Sets Them Free ©2001 Nancy Leigh DeMoss ©Revived Hearts Foundation
Scripture taken from The CSB
Make it Personal
How has God used suffering to change you into Christ’s image and to deepen your intimacy with Him?