Suffer For His Namesake

(Psalms 44:17-22) All this has come upon us, though we have not forgotten you, and we have not been false to your covenant. Our heart has not turned back, nor have our steps departed from your way; yet you have broken us in the place of jackals and covered us with the shadow of death. If we had forgotten the name of our God or spread out our hands to a foreign god, would not God discover this? For he knows the secrets of the heart. Yet for your sake we are killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.

(1 Corinthians 15:53-58) For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory." "O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

In our last devotion we discussed the Lord taking us through or allowing us to experience severe and extreme difficulties as a form of discipline to get us back on the right path. This can be a result of having ignored multiple opportunities to repent or because of the importance of your life assignment. Sometimes the Lord takes you through or allows you to experience these severe and extreme circumstances even when you have not strayed from His path; even when you have remained faithful in your service and worship.

In these cases you must also realize that God is after your attention. Here it is for the purpose of deeper sanctification and a closer relationship with Him. These types of circumstances in your life as a believer, when you are on the right path, should be viewed as exceedingly honorable. The Lord is counting you worthy to suffer for His namesake. He trusts you to endure these hardships without turning away from Him. He is taking you to a deeper level of spiritual growth and understanding of Him, a greater ability to serve Him, and a deeper intimacy of relationship with Him than most believers are capable.

When you experience severe and extreme difficulties begin with examining yourself. If you are right with God, consider the deeper and more intimate place He is taking you and count it a blessing, honor, and all joy to endure what you endure for Him.

Questions For Discussion

If God loves His people, why would He allow those who are faithful to Him to suffer?

How does experiencing extreme and severe difficulties take you to deeper levels of spiritual growth and understanding of God, greater abilities to serve Him, and deeper relationship with Him?

Who do you know that has suffered in this way?