Dear Family,
Today is Thursday, May 16, 2024. It is Day 19 and Day 5 of Week 3 in our Count to Pentecost.
As we continue to rest with the Israelites at Elim, let us also continue to contemplate the lessons of the entire season from Passover to Pentecost. One of the more mysterious and glorious events of the true Passover story, written by God‛s love through the life and sacrifice of Jesus is the sufferings Jesus endured, and their connection to us today.
The Apostle Paul was aware of the magnitude of the sufferings of Christ, and he also understood that he himself was also set apart to endure some of the “afflictions of Christ.” As he puts it, “for the body‛s sake.”
Colossians 1:23-25 (23) If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister; (24) Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for His body‛s sake, which is the church: (25) Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;
Paul spoke of this concept to the entire Church at Corinth. He admonished them to truly consider the Body of Christ, in His full sacrifice, symbolized by the wine for His blood, and the bread for His broken, sinless flesh. He also spoke of “discerning” the Lord‛s Body from the point of view of the Church. In essence, God is telling His people through Paul that we are to be very careful how we interact with others, especially those in the Body of Jesus Christ.
There may be some suffering on our part required of us, also, from time to time.
1 Corinthians 11:26-31 (26) For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord‛s death till He come. (27) Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. (28) But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. (29) For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord‛s Body. (30) For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. (31) For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
Notice that Paul reminds us that if we judge ourselves, we will not be judged later. And, we learn from passages in 1 Peter that if indeed, there is some suffering we must endure for the sake of the Body of Christ, we need to commit ourselves to our faithful Creator in faith and confidence so that God is glorified in us.
1 Peter 2:21-22 (21) For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps: (22) Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
1 Peter 4:15-19 (15) But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men‛s matters. (16) Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. (17) For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? (18) And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? (19) Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to Him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.
Ben Faulkner, Pastor
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