The Daily Fountain Daily Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 9 August 2020 – TOPIC: THE GLORY IN HIS SUFFERING
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TOPIC: THE GLORY IN HIS SUFFERING
READ: 1 PETER 5:1-11 (NKJV)1. The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed:2. Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly;3. nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock;4. and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.5. Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to [your] elders. Yes, all of [you] be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”6. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,7. casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.8. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.9. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.10. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle [you.]11. To Him [be] the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.THE MESSAGE:The word ‘suffering’ is not celebrated in our generation. Even in Christendom, we are not comfortable with it, forgetting the fact that Jesus earned the CROWN through the CROSS. The human nature at work in us hates suffering. Apostle Peter used his personal experience in his walk with Christ to exhort the elders like himself on the inevitability and necessity of suffering if they would fulfil their God-given purpose in the kingdom agenda(verses 9-10). “…though now for a little while you may have to suffer various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith … is tested by fire, may be found to praise and glory and honour at the revelation of Jesus Christ’’ (I Peter 1:6-7). The word ‘suffering’ is repeatedly emphasised in our text to show us that as followers of Jesus Christ, it is a means of revealing the glory of He who has called us. Peter wrote this letter when opposition to Christians intensified rapidly, during the reign of Emperor Nero; Christ’s followers were regarded as anti-social because of their refusal to partake in social practices which were full of evils and immoralities, just like our own days.As a child of God, when you suffer for the things and issues that have eternal value, you should count it as joy (Matthew 5:11-12; James 1:2). Your endurance in time of suffering proves your faith to be genuine, increases your joy and makes your love for Jesus Christ, the Saviour stronger. “And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace ,who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, establish and strengthen you” (verse 10).PRAYER: My dear Father, strengthen me by the power of the Holy Spirit to remain firm and strong in time of suffering, that in the end, I may rejoice and reign with You in glory ,in Jesus’ name! Amen