To Suffer part 4
I don't think longsuffering means you have to stay in a bad situation just so you can say you're suffering for a long time. I think it is the fortitude to bear what life throws at you. In this world you WILL have tribulations. That's just called life. But it came to pass, not to stay. And while you're in the midst of it, you have a pretty good opportunity to show people who you really are. What's that old saying? Christians are like teabags, you find out what they're made of when you put them in hot water. Let me say it another way: "For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God" (1 Peter 2:19 NIV). I mentioned yesterday that I was probably going to talk about rising above your circumstances. Or, as we just read, bearing up. Point being, just because something happens to you that seems unfair (or unjust)... you don't have to let it wreck you. You're strong. And in your weakness HE is strong. I'm telling you, the fire in you is ALWAYS hotter than the fire you're in. Like those three Hebrew boys who refused to bend the knee and got thrown into the fiery furnace. Their bonds were burned off, but they came out smelling like roses. Because there was a fourth man in the fire. And He looked just like the Son of God (because He WAS the Son of God). That's what God meant when He swore He would never leave us nor forsake us. Tough people don't cut and run when things get hard, or when things look bad. Tough times don't last, but tough people do. And the best way to last is by taking the high road. Don't fight back. Turn the other cheek. Let who you are and what you do speak for itself. Remember meekness? You don't have to toot your own horn. If you're doing right, the right people will know it. If you have to try to convince people that you're wonderful... you're probably not. But if you just go about your business, and take care of business, you'll be able to survive just about anything. Suffering is a part of life. But you don't have to be miserable. You don't have to wreck yourself trying to "get back at people" that do you wrong. Another old saying goes like this, "If you're looking for revenge, you should dig two graves." Point being: Let it go. Let go and let God. Don't sink down to other people's levels. Rise above. And I think one of the best ways to do this is to, "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ" (Galatians 6:2). I think when we're helping others we're really helping ourselves. Because we're too busy to worry about whatever is going on with us. And to bring it back to our first verse in 1 Peter, when we are people-centered (instead of being self-centered) that's when we are Christ-centered. Or conscious of God. Being conscious of God means being conscious of love. And being conscious of love means being conscious that we ARE loved, and that we CAN love. Love is the connection between Creator and creation. Love is the connection between you and me. The connection between people. And when someone ISN'T showing you any love... the best way to handle that situation is to SHOW them love. And if you do that, your "enemy" might just become your friend. And even if he doesn't, you still did what you were supposed to do. You still did something good, and commendable.