1 Thessalonians 1:4-5 "So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure: Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:"
Our natural selves are never happy about any kind of suffering or persecution. Our natural selves seek to avoid it at all costs. However, this church was not walking in their natural selves. Instead, they were walking by faith in the Spirit of God. As a result, they were able to see beyond the here and now.
The key here is patience and faith. Patience, knowing that this too shall pass. This is not the end of our story, merely a chapter and we just have to wait patiently until the end is revealed. And faith, believing that there is a reward coming. Believing that serving Christ faithfully is worth any price we must pay. Believing that persecution and tribulation are manifest evidence that we are counted worthy of God's Kingdom.
How do you view suffering and persecution? How are you doing on patience and faith today?
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