When we perceive the simplicity of Paul’s words — “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” — we perceive them as a badge of honor earned by our Christ and placed upon us.  But there is a greater import than the words themselves reveal.  Just as Christ came among us as the righteousness of God and suffered because of it.  By extension of God’s grace and Christ’s righteousness we have inherited not only the glory of our Christ, but also the burden of suffering for the righteousness of God.  It’s not something we think about much.  Perhaps because of our aversion to suffering, pain, being falsely accused and other things that come when we live lives of faith, we pretend that the suffering we endure doesn’t impact us.  And yet as ambassadors of Christ, our lives become subject to the same persecutions and suffering that Christ had to endure.  We speak the same love language, share the same mercies of compassion, draw the attention from those who would rather see people hurt than healed, hungry than fed, homeless rather than housed, and many other ministries we do imitating our Christ.  It’s working to do ministry with the least of those Christ’s brothers and sisters while standing in the breach for the “have not’s” of our culture that draws the retribution of those who lack the compassion to help and not hurt people.  And that is the source of our suffering.  But the cause is our ongoing efforts of faith and faithfulness to imitate our Christ.

• Why do you think showing love and compassion to others causes some people to create situations of suffering for those who do?
• How does suffering for imitating Christ impact your willingness to continue being an ambassador for Christ?

Todays Prayer

Today’s Prayer —
Loving God, in the midst of doing what I can to imitate Christ with my life, help me to remain faithful during times of suffering and persecution.

         In an article published in “FaithWorks”, the issue of persecution was addressed concerning the suffering church.  In the article a list was compiled outlining the degrees of persecution one could face for the practice of religious faith.  They were listed in this order:

1. Disapproval    2.  Ridicule       3.  Pressure to conform      4.  Loss of Educational opportunities     5.  Economic sanctions    6.  Shunning     7.   Alienation from Community      8.  Loss of employment      9.  Loss of property.      10.   Physical abuse.         11.   Mob violence     12.  Harassment by officials     13.   Kidnapping      14.   Forced labor           15.   Imprisonment     16.  Physical torture      17.  Murder or execution

          It would be difficult — given the time difference between Paul’s relationship with the church and ours — if any of those on the above list impacted him.  I can imagine by number, 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, and 16 all impacted Paul’s life.  Not that his list isn’t long enough, but we also — if we are living faithfully — can possibly face the same types of persecution which lead to our mental, emotional, and spiritual suffering.  And yet, the suffering is only redemptive if it emanates from our efforts to do what is right.  The suffering we experience only has true spiritual value if we suffer from our efforts to imitate Christ.  This type of suffering is not masochistic.  It is not suffering for suffering’s sake — because we take some great joy from suffering.  This suffering is endured because our greatest desire is to satisfy the will of our God by imitating Christ.

• Of the numbers listed in the list above, which ones have caused moments or times of suffering in your life?
• How have these times of suffering affected your faith and faithfulness to Christ?

Todays Prayer

Today’s Prayer —
Gracious Christ, help me to become more aware of the times I suffer because of my faithfulness to you. Humble me to find solace in my feeble attempts to live imitating Christ.

         I saw a person at the hospital the other day wearing a T-shirt that said, “I’m very comfortable with violence!”  Not all, but some people live with the attitude in life that they’re not going to take anything off of anybody.  They often display a hardened exterior that defies being cooperative showing a “My way or the highway” attitude.  It’s almost as if they’re more than willing and capable of inflicting harm and suffering on others.  Sometimes those attitudes are projected onto the public by officials of the state.  We’ve experienced several incidents over the past few months and weeks as ICE agents have brutally attacked peaceful protesters who were simply showing their rejection of the unjust policies of the current political administration in power.  For those who are out publicly, standing up for what they believe is right, it has become obvious that suffering for what is right, fair, and just is a part of the penalty for fighting injustice, or doing what is right in the midst of something that’s all wrong.  And yet, we were all forewarned.  When we stand up for that which is morally, spiritually, and physically abhorrent to us, we can expect that those wielding the power over such matters will retaliate in ways that cause people to suffer.  And while that kind of suffering may be considered uncomfortable for all involved, it serves a particular spiritual benefit for those who suffer for righteousness’s sake.  If when we are forced to suffer for what is right and fair and just, it is equated with the suffering that Christ endured.  We are doing what we can, imitating Christ to the best of our ability.  And I’m not sure if practice makes perfect, but it is a good faith effort forward to imitate the suffering of our Lord.

• Why do you believe some people are willing to “stand up for what is right” while others are less likely to engage in activities that might “get them in trouble”?
• To what lengths would you go to stand up for what is right even if it meant you would have to suffer for it?

Todays Prayer

Today’s Prayer —
Gracious Christ, grant me the courage to stand strong in the face of adversity imitating you, even if it means I have to suffer for it.