Christian Suffering

*John 15:18-19* __ If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. When couples meet the first time, they only meet on a few occasions, when they are all dressed up and happy. To enjoy a nice meal, a cup of tea, beautiful stories etc. Then comes the wedding. And the deal is sealed. We are officially off the shelf. We meet in laws. We watch our spouses come from work daily, with stories of his colleagues, siblings, enemies, sometimes car problems, extended family problems, etc. Then the baby comes, with all the joys and tears. Overtime, the relationship moves from 'meet only when we are happy' to 'joined by the hip'. We share common friends, enemies, neighbour's, goals, kids, .. When one looks with the physical eyes, it's not necessarily a better time compared to the dating time. But the couple knows that their relationship is much deeper. Less superficial. To me, such is the relationship with our Lord. After sometimes, we share same friends, same enemies, same kids, same parents. So the enemies of christ will most likely detest your ways. You will be viewed, like christ, as the unintelligent, foolish, weak, not financially savvy, mixed up. You will be hated by these people, and sometimes His friends will hurt you. But deep down your heart, you will know that there is no deeper, sweeter, real, love like the love for christ. You will, like Paul and Silas, go through suffering. When you decline that group of friends, that unholy relationship, that unethical business, that immodest dresscode; To physical eyes, you are in jail, but to yourself, you are happy knowing that the Lord has counted you worthy to suffer for Him. The relationship is beyond pretense. He can share His suffering with His spouse. You will have same friends with christ. And consolation will come, from Jesus alone. By spending quiet times with Him.Reading the word of God. And before the holy Eucharist. To strengthen us. Revelations 12:11 They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. And to remain faithful in suffering. With time, like Paul and Silas, we learn to sing and praise during tribulations instead of complaining and sulking. And very soon, there is an earthquake, and the spouse of the Lord is set free. How sweet it is when our love for our Lord gets to this level. Acts 5:41 The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Lords Name. Life isn't perfect, but Love for Him doesn't care...💖