Worthy to Suffer
“This man [Jesus] was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house [Jesus is the Son, beloved of God; the man Moses was a beloved servant of God] has more honor than the house” (Hebrews 3:3).
To God be all the glory! “[God, the Father] has made [Jesus Christ,His only begotten Son], to be sin for us (Romans 8: 32). [Jesus], who knew no sin [was made sin]; that we [Christians] might be made the righteousness of God in him” (II Corinthians 5:21).
The Apostles, giving God all the glory “…departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name” (Acts 5:41).
Where there is no suffering there is no loss of honor or esteem, but there is also no understanding of shame. Confessed sinners understand their own shame in the sight of God and having turned away from sin and shame our “faith grows exceedingly, and the love of each one of you multiplies toward one another, so as for us to boast ourselves in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions, and the afflictions which you endure, a clear token of the just judgement of God, for you to be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you indeed suffer” (II Thessalonians 1:3-5).
Christians are blessed of God and so are cursed by men. If a Christian doesn’t encounter the hostility of the world from time to time, that Christian isn’t presenting himself as a child of God. Those who refuse to recognize Jesus as their savior persecute us so that “Being defamed, we intreat: we [Christians] are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day” (I Corinthians 4:13).
Those Christians who willingly submit to suffer for the name of Jesus shall be blessed of God eternally. “Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine” (I Timothy 5:17).
“Blessed is the man that walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night” [Psalm 1: 1,2].
Here shall the sinner stand In the judgment! “Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace” (Hebrews 10:29)?
Christians are worthy of death; but, through the love God are given grace from which flows mercy and forgiveness through Jesus’ name. They are exhorted to mortify the flesh (Romans 12: 1,2); while, rejoicing in the Holy Spirit! It is sin to take pride in being saved; but, it brings glory to God to rejoice in the Spirit for salvation purchased by His Son. If you stand up for the One in whom your salvation rests, you can be assured that you will be persecuted. But, you can also be assured “that the sufferings of the present time are not worthy to compare to the coming glory to be revealed in us.” (Romans 8:18)
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