Tag: imitation

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I’ve had a rough week, so it’s led me to ponder a bit about suffering. Maybe these reflections are random, but I just wanted to share them with you. I don’t claim this post is the final word on the subject. Until Jesus returns to set this world right, suffering is an issue we’ll have to confront.

Persecution

In the Bible, pain is largely a result of persecution. I don’t say it’s only about persecution, but much of what Scripture teaches about adversity is related to our commitment to the ways of the Lord.

My experience as a pastor, plus the fact that I’m getting older, has shown me the difference between a lot of the struggles we American Christians deal with and those spelled out in the Bible. I’m almost finished teaching a Sunday School class about the book of 1 Peter in which the apostle tries to stabilize and support believers who were facing ostracism, rejection, and worse, for their loyalty to Jesus.

Yet most of the problems I wrestle with, and many of those I hear about from others, don’t derive from persecution. They stem from natural, circumstantial, or relational causes. A lot of our trials have to do with not having enough money, battling a disease, disagreeing with co-workers or family members, and so on. These are real problems, but take a stroll through 1 Peter and you might be surprised how these don’t come up. Peter writes to Christians who are in danger of losing their jobs, families, and maybe even their lives. Because they’re Christians. No other reason.

Here’s what the apostle wrote toward the beginning of his letter:

“In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. ⁷These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith–of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire–may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” – 1 Peter 1:6-7

The trials we endure relate to our faith in Jesus. When we live for Him, the world notices. Sometimes it admires us, but often, it doesn’t.

Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? ¹⁴But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.” ¹⁵But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, ¹⁶keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. ¹⁷For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. – 1 Peter 3:13-17

I’m not suggesting we ignore physical afflictions and economic hardships. Nor am I saying God doesn’t care about these matters. He does! But it seems to me that the Lord prioritizes a lifestyle loyal to His Son. Whatever consequence we encounter because of that commitment is worth it.

Pursuit

I don’t know of any verses which tell believers to chase after suffering, but I wonder if in many situations we should. While we don’t know the future, given a choice between a seemingly safe option and one which impinges on us, I’m beginning to think Christians should select the difficult one. How else can we deny ourselves?

Of course, I wouldn’t impose this on anyone else. If I had a choice between putting a smile on someone’s face or making him frown, I’d choose the smile. Yet that has limits. A coach can’t make game preparation easy, or the team will probably lose. Pain in discipline seems unavoidable.

Paul thought so.

“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. ²⁶Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. ²⁷No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.” – 1 Corinthians 9:25-27

And so did the writer of Hebrews.

Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as His children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? ⁸If you are not disciplined–and everyone undergoes discipline–then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. ⁹Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! ¹⁰They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in His holiness. ¹¹No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. – Hebrews 12:7-11

I suppose we don’t have to pursue pain for its own sake. But we should always be aware that divine discipline and training will cost us something–comfort, preferences, ease. When we face a decision, we do ourselves a service by prioritizing the effects of discipline and self-denial. Such fruit is worth the discomfort we endure.

Passion

Suffering isn’t an abstract notion for Christians; our Lord died on a cross to secure our redemption. Unless we keep our eyes on Jesus, our opinions about suffering will help no one. Including ourselves.

“Therefore, 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, ²fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” – Hebrews 12:1-2

Christ’s passion, His death on the cross, saves us from our sins. Praise God! But it also serves as a roadmap for the Christian life. Disciples imitate their masters; so we Christians must imitate our Lord. When we choose to follow Jesus, we will meet occasions of pain and shame. At the cross, Jesus defeated both of them. The torture was real, as was the dishonor, but neither was final. He knew the joy that lay before Him, and so should we. Whatever we suffer now doesn’t get the last word. God does! He raised His Son from the dead, and He will raise us out of our trials, too.

Contemplate the cross. How much do you base your life on what Jesus did for you? And how does His passion serve as a role model for you?

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Author James Baldwin observed that “Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them.”

The older we get, the more we adults want to impress on the next generation the lessons we’ve learned and the wisdom we’ve gleaned. We can discuss our experiences, but like Baldwin pointed out, young people may ignore our stories and advice. But they notice how we live. And, not to sound morbid, they watch how we deal with the end of things. A job that gets cut. The last day of high school or college. An elderly relative losing a battle against cancer.

Each of us will face our last day on this earth, whether by death or the return of Jesus Christ. We don’t know when either event will occur, but we do know that the end will happen.

In light of this unavoidable reality, we can ask the question posed by apologist Francis Schaeffer–how should we then live?

God’s Word provides biographical guidance for us. It does more than convey sound moral principles; the Scriptures offer us profiles of faithfulness to God’s call. Many of the saints described in the Old and New Testaments served the Lord until their deaths. In particular, two apostles, Peter and Paul, left a record of their dealings with the end of their ministries. How they did so is worth emulating.

In this post, we’ll look at the approach of Peter; next week, we’ll start to delve into Paul’s attitude.

Christ’s Prophecy

“‘Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.’ ¹⁹Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, ‘Follow me!’” – John 21:18-19

Following His resurrection, Jesus made periodic visits with His disciples to prepare them for two situations: His departure and their ministry. After three years of training, and the soon bestowal of the Spirit, the apostles would continue and extend the work Jesus had begun. His ministry would progress through them.

Having denied the Lord, Peter no doubt felt disqualified for such service, but Jesus didn’t abandon him. He not only restored Peter, He also warned him about the end of a ministry that hadn’t even started yet.

Clothing is one of the basic ways we communicate with the world. What we wear expresses our values, standards, and preferences. Jesus told Peter that in his younger years, he could assert himself in whatever manner he wished. And that’s a blessing for us to know when we get ready to minister. It’s easy to assume that we have to conform to a rigid pattern to be acceptable to God, but Jesus doesn’t think that way. He called Peter but He allowed the apostle to choose the ways in which he would serve. What he wore, where he went–Peter made his own decisions.

But that won’t last.

At the end, someone else will dress him; another person will lead him where he doesn’t even want to go. Peter’s life will end under the control of a society which disapproves of him and hates his Savior.

Peter will oblige; he could resist, but he won’t. In his final interaction with the world, he will give himself up to an unjust sentence. He will lose his life but please the One for Whom he lived and died.

How could Peter prepare himself for martyrdom? Not by contemplating the future, but by following Jesus. And that’s the key. As long as he focused on the Lord, he could handle anything in his path.

And that’s what Jesus requires of us. We don’t need to have a prophecy about our death to live for Christ. We need only follow Him. And when we do, He will equip us for what we will face.

And He will change the direction of our hearts.

Peter’s Response

“I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, ¹⁴because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. ¹⁵And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things.” – 2 Peter 2:13-15

At the end of Peter’s life, Jesus spoke to him a second prophecy: it’s time. His ministry was ending and he would soon go home.

Peter didn’t argue with the Lord about this; he accepted the disclosure. But he’d grown in the years of his apostleship. Jesus had prepared His disciples for His departure; likewise, Peter felt it necessary to prepare the Christians he served for his.

Peter wanted the church to survive his death; to thrive even. And believers would do so if they could recall his teaching. So Baldwin was mistaken, at least about spiritual children. Peter wished for them to hold onto what he’s telling them, to let his words support and sustain them through the challenges they would encounter. He wrote to encourage Christians that they could endure trials, they could experience God’s grace, and they could live in ways that pleased the Father.

At the end of his life, Peter was more concerned with others than he was with himself. This demonstrates how God’s Spirit had formed his character over the years. With the clock winding down, he didn’t reflect on personal desires or goals. Instead, Peter devoted his last efforts to blessing others.

Application

French writer Jean de la Fontaine recommended that “In everything one must consider the end.” This applies to ministry, too. We do not have unlimited time. Developing efficient systems will improve our productivity, but investing in others will produce fruit even after we’re gone.

Follow Peter’s example. If you have liberty to make your own choices, take advantage of those opportunities. If you don’t, you needn’t despair. Jesus will honor your service whether you’re free as a bird or hemmed in by circumstances. You’ll know you’ve grown when you discover that you care more about others than you do about yourself. When you think like that, you’re imitating Jesus. And with that, God is well-pleased.

imitation

Reflections on Suffering

Consider the End, Part 1

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