Since even the anointed king of the world suffered physically, you need to prepare yourself for the same and think like he did. Going the way of suffering like that means you’ve chosen not to go the way of sin. You have a choice here: Will you live the rest of your bodily life chasing after human desires or after the things God wants?
You’ve already spent too much time chasing after the things the culture around us clutches at. They live wasted lives ruled by their lusts, getting drunk, indulging their sexual appetites, getting stoned, and playing at self-centered spiritualities that have little to do with God. They look down on you because you don’t join in the “fun” with them. So they make fun of you. But their behavior isn’t going unnoticed by the Judge of the living and the dead. This is why the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead: Though they’ll be judged by what they did in their bodies, as humans are, the hope is that they might yet live in the Spirit, as God does.
We’re so close to the Great Conclusion, the goal of everything. Because of this, it’s especially important to remain focused, attentive, and unclouded in your thinking, which will keep your prayers focused, attentive, and unclouded as well.
The most important thing of all is this: Love. And not just with shallow emotion, love deeply. Love is the key to forgiveness, enabling you to erase the sins of others from your memory. Give your lives away to one another in hospitality (and don’t whine if you give more than you get). Everything you are and have is a gift you’ve received. And God wants you to use these grace-gifts he’s given you as effectively as possible. And the best way to do that is to serve one another.
Don’t treat your words as if they’re cheap. When you say something, treat your words as if they’re coming from God’s mouth. And the work you do? Treat every act and the motivation behind them as if they’re from God and for God and empowered by God. If you live life this way, people will praise God every time you do something. And it’ll be all because of Jesus, the anointed king of the world. Oh yes! May he get all the glory and power forever and ever.
I love you so much! Because of that, I don’t want you to be caught off guard when excruciating circumstances crash into your lives, pushing you to the edge. There’s nothing strange about these things. They’re expected. In fact, I want you to think about them like this: They’re your chance to participate in the sufferings of the anointed king of the world. Because of that, you can actually rejoice in them, just as you will rejoice when his Glory is uncovered so all can see it.
If someone insults you because you bear the name of the anointed king of the world, your life is actually richer and fuller because of it. How so? Because it’s proof that God’s Spirit of Glory is alive in you.
So when you suffer (and you will), don’t let it be as a murderer or a thief or any other form of criminal. Don’t even get caught being a gossip. When you suffer, let it be because you’re a Christian. And never be embarrassed by that. Instead, thank God that it’s true when people call you a Christian.
The time has arrived. God’s family is about to be judged. So think about this: If it starts with us, what’s it going to look like for those who disobey the gospel of God? As the Proverb puts it,
If it’s hard for good and just people to be saved,
Just imagine what will happen to the godless and sinful.
My point here is this: When you suffer in ways that fit in with God’s purposes in the world, trust your Creator that he’ll stick with you through it all. And never, ever stop doing what’s good.