We serve a God who is in control and has a plan. He will be victorious. We are not promised a life of ease and comfort, but a life of suffering. God's Grace through Christ gives meaning to our existence.
Zechariah 10:1-12 ESV
1: Ask rain from the LORD in the season of the spring rain, from the LORD who makes the storm clouds, and he will give them showers of rain, to everyone the vegetation in the field.
2: For the household gods utter nonsense, and the diviners see lies; they tell false dreams and give empty consolation. Therefore the people wander like sheep; they are afflicted for lack of a shepherd.
3: "My anger is hot against the shepherds, and I will punish the leaders; for the LORD of hosts cares for his flock, the house of Judah, and will make them like his majestic steed in battle.
4: From him shall come the cornerstone, from him the tent peg, from him the battle bow, from him every ruler--all of them together.
5: They shall be like mighty men in battle, trampling the foe in the mud of the streets; they shall fight because the LORD is with them, and they shall put to shame the riders on horses.
6: "I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph. I will bring them back because I have compassion on them, and they shall be as though I had not rejected them, for I am the LORD their God and I will answer them.
7: Then Ephraim shall become like a mighty warrior, and their hearts shall be glad as with wine. Their children shall see it and be glad; their hearts shall rejoice in the LORD.
8: "I will whistle for them and gather them in, for I have redeemed them, and they shall be as many as they were before.
9: Though I scattered them among the nations, yet in far countries they shall remember me, and with their children they shall live and return.
10: I will bring them home from the land of Egypt, and gather them from Assyria, and I will bring them to the land of Gilead and to Lebanon, till there is no room for them.
11: He shall pass through the sea of troubles and strike down the waves of the sea, and all the depths of the Nile shall be dried up. The pride of Assyria shall be laid low, and the scepter of Egypt shall depart.
12: I will make them strong in the LORD, and they shall walk in his name," declares the LORD.
We should have no fear of death for no one can steal our Eternal Life.
Philippians 1:21-30 ESV
21: For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
22: If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell.
23: I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.
24: But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account.
25: Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith,
26: so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.
27: Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,
28: and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God.
29: For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake,
30: engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.
While we yet live here we are to be living a life worthy of the Gospel. Side by Side in Community, suffering for the sake of Christ.
Romans 5:1-8 ESV
1: Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
2: Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
3: More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,
4: and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,
5: and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
6: For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.
7: For one will scarcely die for a righteous person--though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die--
8: but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
God uses suffering to produce endurance, character and hope. Suffering does not come from a lack of faith. Quite the opposite - Suffering comes as a proof of faith, and in suffering we learn not to hope in what we - or our leaders - can do, but to stand in His Grace, and to hope in His Glory. We must all follow the example of Jesus, Paul, Peter and the rest of the Suffering Servants of God.
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