Suffering for Christ

Suffering for Christ can be seen in many ways. It can be laying down your life or giving up your status. It is taking a stand for what you know is right and true. Not caring about the consequences. I suffered in a weird way this week.

This week I discovered that I had the nastiest batch of poison ivy that I have ever had. I have never had this before and at first was not that scared. As the days went on the poison ivy spread until it had moved onto both my legs and was looking upward! You may wonder how having poison ivy has anything to do with suffering for Christ. Yet, in my mind, this discomfort gave me a glimpse into the world of those that have to suffer so much more than me. They go day after day with disease and infection. Sores and beatings. All for the name of Christ. Did I receive that this week? No.

I did spend most of my time terribly dis-comfortable. I spent my hours dreaming of scratching. Somehow soothing this ever increasing pain. I had dried out my leg so much that it was no longer the poison ivy that itched but the dried skin underneath. The constant pain and heat on my legs caused them to swell and for my head to ache constantly. Yet can this be compared to suffering for Christ? It was through this pain that I still had a ministry to lead. Many important decisions were needed this past week and no one else could make the call. It came down on my back. Yet here I was trying to think straight and make sound judgement with my legs on fire.

I tried to keep a smile on my face, but that had somehow left. I tried to play with my children but feared that they would get it as well. I cannot imagine contracting leprosy in the bible times. One would lose all that was dear to them and have to walk away from their family. A terrible disease. Just having to keep my two year old from clinging to my weeping legs makes me want to cry.

It is so wonderful that God cares. That He heals us. That He provides those with the knowledge to save us from our inflictions. I pray from those that God does not allow to escape. I pray that He will give them a better seat than me, for I do not deserve it. We complain so much in our country about how tough things are. Yet we do nothing about it. We fall into the same groove, the same pattern as our neighbour and think nothing of it. Yet the more we do it the more comfortable we become and the more we believe it is our right, our desire grows and feeds our actions until we are unable to see through the lies.

So what has suffering taught me, what little I have suffered? It has made me think and pray that the more I suffer the more I will run to Christ and cling to His robe and let Him guide me. Poor is the man who blames his misfortunes on God. Pity is the man who curses God for his state without clinging to Him first. A true desire for God.

The truth is no one wants to suffer. We expect and desire heaven here on earth. Yet that is not possible. This earth has seen to much blood shed, to many tears, to many years of corruption and malice. To many years run by the hands of humanity. I have never truly suffered. I suppose that is what this poison ivy has taught me. What are your days if you have not suffered? Does that mean I throw myself out to the wolves so that you will suffer? That is not what I am saying. Just next time you have to go out of your way or give up something to help a stranger. Next time you have to go without so someone can have or love when there is nothing but hate. Do it.

This blog post was originally published by Richard at discoveryourministry.com