Greetings brothers, welcome to my blog.
This topic that I want to share below is based on many of the afflictions that we as human beings suffer in different areas, races, social classes, no one escapes it, but what I want to share is something different and that is that when we know Christ we are able to enjoy ourselves even in suffering.
Before developing the theme I want to share an anecdote which happened a few days ago ... A sister of the church of 80 years of age had a small accident with a car door, someone closed the door abruptly without giving her the opportunity to remove all her hand and she broke her finger index her scream I still hear it ... but this left in me a great learning, she instead of crying and complaining, she only praised God she exalted her name, she sang praises, everyone in the car on the way hospital we prayed and sang and praised.
God in his infinite mercy allowed that there was everything necessary to attend it and because I say this, in our country Venezuela hospitals lack supplies even for the simplest, I work in a hospital and I know what I am talking about, the hospital seemed to be waiting, everything calm despite being a Friday when emergencies abound and the place sometimes becomes chaotic, but as testimony our sister of 80 years, came out with his finger with plaster and everything was fast and smooth, we left all thanking God and bringing us this wonderful experience of union in prayer. and praising our God in pain.
Philippians 2: 1-11 Reina-Valera 1960 (RVR1960)
1Therefore, if there is any consolation in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any communion of the Spirit, if there is any endearing affection, if there is any mercy,
2 complete my joy, feeling the same, having the same love, unanimous, feeling the same thing.
3 Do nothing by strife or by vainglory; rather with humility, esteeming each other as superior to himself;
4 Not each of them looks for his own, but each one also for the other's.
5 Let this feeling be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus,
6 who, being in the form of God, did not esteem being equal to God as a thing to cling to,
7 But he emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, made like unto men;
8 And being in the condition of a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
9 Wherefore God also exalted him to the utmost, and gave him a name that is above every name,
10 that in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those who are in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth;
11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is the Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
In this small study we will see the signs and learn from a true believer and what better example than the Apostle Paul.
In this letter we read a message that is more than doctrinal and correct; it is a very heartfelt and personal letter is a message from the heart of a Pastor to his beloved church we can see the heart of Paul; a servant who has given his life for the preaching of the gospel, which led him to suffer, but from his suffering he gives us a message of strength of trust. Of encouragement and joy which are necessary for us who are also often overwhelmed by the weight of living in this fallen world.
This letter is also a testimony of how the power of the Gospel, the word of God is able to break through even in environments where there is as much pride and hardness of heart as there was in Philippi and how the Lord is able to transform the hardest heart .
We must learn that the first thing we need to live a life full of joy, is to decide to walk in love and forgiveness, which is a matter of obedience not ability and not always result in bitterness and ultimately condemnation.
We must also learn that even though the natural response to trials despite God's promises is to get out of them as soon as possible, since it is not pleasant to be suffering at all, the Apostle Paul taught us how it is possible to live a life full of I enjoy despite the sufferings and the difficulties.
He showed us that:
We need a correct perspective of the difficulties, he was focused on the Gospel therefore he saw his circumstances in function to the progress of the: eternal goals and not merely temporary.
We also see that affliction does not only come from outside, but from inside the church with contentious people but in the same way we should not lose the eternal perspective, this protects us from losing joy and hope.
Paul perseveres and does not depend on someone else seeing him, congratulating, pushing or manipulating him.
When facing the test, he does not isolate himself or abandon his place in the body of Christ, but he fights unanimously as part of the same army, strengthened focusing on faith, truth and the gospel.
Conclusion:
If you believe in the fundamental Christian doctrine, your life is visibly transformed into obedience to Christ, having the full assurance that the perfect work of Christ will save you to the end. Although you are still not perfect, "... he who began the good work in you will continue to perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1: 6).
