“Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.”
1 Timothy 6:18-19 (NIV)
The apostles were a part of the inner circle of ministry, and ministry is all about service. Peter, James and John had the honor of being the only three who went inside the home of the little dead girl who Jesus raised to life. They were the three who went on the mountain of transfiguration with Jesus, and only those three saw the vision of Moses and Elijah.
Being the chosen ones in the inner circle was not for a life of glamour, popularity or prestige. They were chosen to live for and serve Jesus, which is no different for any disciples of Jesus today. The first disciples all died a martyr’s death except John, who died of old age, while banished to the island of Patmos. We learn through them, that it is through sacrifice, service and many tribulations that we enter the kingdom of God. (Acts 14:22)
The disciples of Jesus lived a life of courage, faith and endurance. They served God long after Jesus left them and ascended to heaven. We are all His disciples, and have been adopted into the family of God. We trust Him in our troubles and our faith takes us through so much, yet there will be times in each of our lives, when we look at what is happening to us or our loved ones and we wonder why?
I have recently received so many texts and phone calls from friends and acquaintances, who are very distressed and desperately asking for prayer. At first, I looked up to heaven and asked “Why so much suffering?” We will never have all the answers regarding suffering, but it’s easy to overlook some of the mysteries of suffering that are revealed in scripture.
The two most overlooked words of Jesus are “Follow Me.” The disciples were called by Jesus with those two simple words. Following Him means more than observing His words and teachings. He told us to pick up our cross and carry it, in order to follow Him. In any trial of suffering that we encounter, our faith leads us to ask for healing and deliverance, but until He heals or delivers, we are asked by Jesus to pick up and carry our cross. He asked us to follow Him in all His ways, and that is one of the ways.
Jesus served others, and offered Himself as a living sacrifice for all. In some mysterious way, we are all living sacrifices for God in our suffering, whether we recognize it or not, as it is written:
“I urge you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship.” (Romans 12:1)
Offering our bodies, means offering our present life and our whole being of existence here and now, to God, as a spiritual offering. One of the deep mysteries hidden in every believer’s suffering, is that there are treasures being laid up in heaven for them, by accepting their cross.
When we don’t see suffering as a way of following Jesus, we will spend all our energy and efforts in getting rid of our cross instead of carrying it. If we embrace the idea of becoming a living sacrifice, as a service of worship to God, we begin laying up those eternal treasures. There is a deep peace in knowing Jesus sees us following Him by carrying our cross and trusting that He has a purpose in our pain.
Paul told believers to be rich in good deeds and to lay up treasure for themselves in the world to come. He also told the Roman believers that we were meant to be living sacrifices, who willingly offer ourselves to God. Whatever we are suffering, let us offer ourselves and our suffering up to God.
Jesus paid the price in His blood on His cross, for our free gift of eternal life. Now is the time to carry our cross and follow Him. Now is the time to serve and sacrifice for Jesus, and we will lay up the treasures that count for eternity.
Lord, we offer ourselves to you, and we will follow you by embracing the cross we carry. We thank you for the salvation you have given us and trust your purpose in our pain until the day of your deliverance. Amen