April-May 2002

Savior Understands Forever Feeling Every Roughness, Intercedes Now Graciously! (S.U.F.F.E.R.I.N.G)

Ramesh C. Reddy

Managing Editor

Hi y'all

May you all find peace in the everlasting arms of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who for your sake endured the cross that you may spend Eternity with Him as you yield to Him and His ways! Amen!

Quiet Times (Psalm 69, Proverbs 29, & Philippians 1:29-30)

 ^“For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him, since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.” (Philippians 1:29-30)

 Observations:

 I learned two things that have been granted to the Philippians on behalf of Christ:

To believe on Him! 

To suffer for Him!

I asked myself why?

Then it occurred to me that the Philippians to whom Paul was writing to very well could have been facing persecution and suffering. This is evidenced by verse 30: “since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.”

Interpretation:

What struggles did Paul have?

We know that this letter is from Paul who is in chains at a jail cell and yet he is writing to the Philippians that it has been granted them on behalf of Christ to believe on Christ and to suffer for Christ. Other translations use the term ‘privileged’ to believe on Him and suffer for Him.

 What does it mean to ‘believe on Him?’

 I found it interesting that ‘on’ was used rather than ‘in’. Either way ‘believe’ stuck in my mind. I started thinking about ‘believing’.

 If I say that I believe Jesus than how far would I go to reveal that?

 An example came to my mind about a guy walking on a tightrope. He asked people if they believed that he could carry a person across without falling down. Knowing his skill and expertise, for he had an impeccable resume of tight-roping, people shouted that ‘He definitely could! (Example heard on radio but dramatized)

Do you know what happened?

Since they believed he could do it, he asked for a volunteer to come forward so he could take them across. Not one person stepped forward. Isn’t that something after everyone said he could do it but they did not want to put themselves in his care to be carried across!

 Friends, I ask you did they really believe that he could do it based on their reaction?

Friends, I do not think so. It was easy for them to say it until they had to experience being carried across and then they did not believe anymore.

 I learned that ‘I can say that I believe in Jesus’ but will my actions reflect that?

 Jesus wants to carry us through in life no matter what we are facing. We may believe Jesus can do this and that and even proclaim it but when suffering comes and it is our turn to allow Jesus to carry us through, will our belief be genuine?

Believing in someone means following what is told because there is an issue of trust involved. This issue of trust is not based on things going our way. Bringing the issue back to believing on Jesus, it means even when the circumstances look slim and our future look dim, we will still trust in Him. That is true belief. That’s the kind of belief Paul wants the Philippians to hold on to no matter what they are going through. 

It is having faith in the One who loves you and died for you to redeem you when you turn to Him.

 What does it mean ‘to suffer for Him’?

What came to my mind was picking up our cross and following Him. For that to happen we need to deny ourselves first. Denying ourselves and picking up the cross is not easy. It involves suffering but if we are to follow Him that is what Jesus asks.

 I ask you now dear friend, how do you handle suffering?

Many times we do not think that our suffering can do good for other people. Our minds are too self-absorbed in what we are going through that we are not happy to suffer. Paul was not self-absorbed in his misery of suffering but had a different attitude. His attitude is what helped advance the gospel and encourage others to courageously and fearlessly spread the Word. The key to Paul's attitude was His focus on the Lord Jesus Christ and His Word.

 I urge you when you are suffering not to be preoccupied with your suffering that you overlook focusing on the Lord Jesus Christ. I know it is really hard when we suffer to focus our minds on the Lord at times. It is much easier to drink our problems away, to be self-absorbed in working, or even try to sleep our problems away. The problem with these methods is that the suffering will still be there. I can speak from experience.

 For me sleep was the escape factor many times but my problems always woke up with me. Only through Christ can I endure and face life. I have been through a lot of rough roads. It has not been easy but I have seen the Lord work even through my suffering.

If we allow our attitude to be focused on Christ, our suffering can help other people's lives. If we look at it this way, our suffering would not be for nothing. Something good can come out of it.

In conclusion as I finished chapter 1 of Philippians, Paul left a testimony by his attitude and the gospel was advanced. It also helped others to spread the word of God outside the prison system too. Paul was suffering because of the sin of others and not his own. Paul could have been mad with God because he was doing all this for God and God allowed him to suffer. Yet, we see Paul joyful, having a desire to continuously spread the Gospel, and focused on Christ.

You may feel like no one understands the suffering you are going through. But Jesus understands and suffers with you. Even if things may not look bright for you right now, I do believe the Lord has a plan for you through your suffering. Even if the suffering is a result of our own actions, I do believe that God can give us the grace and strength to endure. Please do not dwell on your suffering but look to the cross.

 Jesus suffered because of the sin of the world and yet through His suffering we have all found grace when we have looked to Him. 

 There was a time I was suffering really bad and it was all my fault. I had made grades my idols and was obsessed in getting an A. An A- or B+ was not good enough for me. Eventually, what started to happen was I would make less than a B+. Idolism to anything whether it is in relationships, academics, career, etc over the Lord can make you fall. There is nothing wrong to strive for good relationships, good grades, and a good career as we allow the Lord to be first place in our lives.

 I started to really get mad with God because things were not going my way. I had to realize that God is not my genie. God does not have to do anything for me and yet the things He has done, He has chosen to do because of His love for me. Through my suffering I had written a poem given below as a reminder to myself, the importance of serving the Lord. It took me months to overcome my suffering but the Lord was there all the way bringing me through with His gentleness even though most of the suffering was my own doing.

Savior Understands Forever Feeling Every Roughness, Intercedes Now Graciously! (S.U.F.F.E.R.I.N.G)

 Serving the Lord

     by Ramesh C. Reddy

Ramesh is my name.

Serving the Lord is my game.

Christ did not come for fame.

Came to save you and me from the flame.

Yesterday, today, and forever, He is the same.

 So give Him a start

By giving him your heart.

So satan's fiery arrows, you can dart.

And the Lord can do His part!.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we know that not all suffering we face is our fault. Suffering comes because we live in a world filled with sin. Please Lord we ask for your forgiveness when we blame you for the suffering we face. We thank you so much that you love us and suffered for our sake. You became our suffering servant that your grace can be imparted in our lives as we seek thee with our whole heart. Lord, it is not easy when we face suffering. We ask thee for your deliverance. We know that you can deliver us from anything. We also realize that many times you give us the strength to endure. When the suffering is our fault, when we ask you for forgiveness, we thank you that you forgive us. Thank you Lord even if we have to face the consequences for our actions, you love us so much that you will take care of us when we turn to thee. We also thank thee there are many times you in your grace allow us to escape the consequences when we are truly repentant of our actions. You set us free from the bondage we face. Help us to be an example to others even in our suffering. It won't be easy and we need your help. Thanks Lord. And Lord, please help those who are suffering to experience your love and comfort. For only your healing touch in their lives can bring them through the pain they are facing. Thank you so much Lord. Thanks also for hearing us and answering us! In Your Name We Pray Jesus! Amen!

Love in Christ,

Ramesh