2 Thess 1:5 All this is evidence that God’s judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering.

Commentary: We can all take the easy, pleasurable, and comfortable road in our lives, or we can take a road of building ourselves in all 5 areas of our health. When we do that, it would look like a sacrificial and suffering path, but the result of such self-control would be good.

Prayer: Good Lord, help me build myself up in all five areas of my health so that I can do well in building Your kingdom time after time. Amen

Commentary: Here are few cross reference verses for our verse 5 above, and few commentaries:

Romans 8:17-18 And if we are children, then we are heirs: heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with Him, so that we may also be glorified with Him. / I consider that our present sufferings are not comparable to the glory that will be revealed in us.

Reflection: I have read and heard of people who suffered a lot and the Lord in his mercy decided to show in a vision to these people what glory life would look like one day in heaven. Stephen was one of those people, and E. G. White was another one.  

1 Peter 4:12-13 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial that has come upon you, as though something strange were happening to you. / But rejoice that you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed at the revelation of His glory.

Commentary: Paul is using contrast to help us trust in the Lord and what He is promising us as He comes back.

Acts 14:22 strengthening the souls of the disciples and encouraging them to continue in the faith. “We must endure many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.

Reflection: One of my first hardships in sports was my first half-marathon race. I had a big stomach pain because I was not well prepared for such an exhaustive distance. Some people would say, well Peter, keep on trying and others would say, Peter, keep on training. For the rest of my running carer, we used to run 30 km to prepare for 21 km. It worked well for us as we trained and prepared in so many ways.  

2 Timothy 2:12 if we endure, we will also reign with Him; if we deny Him, He will also deny us;

Reflection: This life that we are in requires a lot of endurance from us. We all want to finish this life well with not many regrets.

Matthew 5:10-12 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. / Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. / Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets before you.

Commentary: We need to make sure that we are persecuted, that we suffer for Christ’s sake and not for our own silliness, at least not much due to our own silliness.

James 1:12 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.

Commentary: There is blessing in persevering and finishing the race of life well, on Jesus Christ’s side.

Revelation 2:10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison to test you, and you will suffer tribulation for ten days. Be faithful even unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.

Philippians 1:28-29 without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a clear sign of their destruction but of your salvation, and it is from God. / For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for Him,

Commentary: Don’t sufferings in some way have potential to bring to the surface that which we believe in, and how that belief holds us while we suffer?

1 Peter 1:6-7 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in various trials / so that the proven character of your faith—more precious than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Prayer: May the sufferings and trials only build our character, dear Father, rather than make it worse. Amen

Hebrews 12:5-7 And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not take lightly the discipline of the Lord, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you. / For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastises every son He receives.” / Endure suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?

Reflection: When God or people show courage to rebuke us and correct us, that is much better than being ignored in life.

1 Corinthians 4:9-13 For it seems to me that God has displayed us apostles at the end of the procession, like prisoners appointed for death. We have become a spectacle to the whole world, to angels as well as to men. / We are fools for Christ, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are honored, but we are dishonored. / To this very hour we are hungry and thirsty, we are poorly clothed, we are brutally treated, we are homeless. …

Reflection: We might be houseless, but we are not homeless. John 14 tells us that God has a home for us in the New Jerusalem, and is making some final preparation to receive us there. 

Romans 5:3-5 Not only that, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; / perseverance, character; and character, hope. / And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.

1 Thessalonians 3:3-4 so that none of you would be shaken by these trials. For you know that we are destined for this. / Indeed, when we were with you, we kept warning you that we would suffer persecution; and as you know, it has come to pass.

Commentary: Hardships in a way show how determined we are to be in a saving relationship with Jesus Christ. Are we secure that we are destined to live forever, or do we lose that hope!

2 Corinthians 4:17 For our light and momentary affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory that is far beyond comparison.

Revelation 3:10 Because you have kept My command to persevere, I will also keep you from the hour of testing that is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.

Reflection: God’s commandments to us are there to help us maintain this saving, productive relationship with Him. All healthy and balanced relationship have some kind of agreements, some kind of commandments that maintain the health of such relationships.

Prayer: Thank you Jesus for the trials and hardship of life. Teach me to suffer well, to rejoice in suffering. May I train well, endure, and finish well the race that is before me. Amen Peter Caran

Pastor of Cobourg and Harmony Churches