https://odb.org/MY/2022/12/22/bending-low
Today’s story of a mom comforting her child who fell while cycling, which prompted the child to continue cycling points to the Lord keeping Paul going despite the afflictions the latter suffered. When Jesus chose Paul to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles, He did tell that he was chosen to suffer for the sake of the Gospel when the Lord spoke to Ananias in Acts 9:15-16: “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and the kings and the children of Israel. For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.”
Today’s story also reminds me of Pastor George Chen, who spent 18 years in prison for his faith persecuted by the Chinese Communist regime back in the day. He spent most mornings cleaning a cesspool, but the Lord comforted by being with him in those long and difficult days dealing with human excrement. He experienced the Lord Jesus Christ being with him in the garden where he sung hymns and worshipped.
https://www.asiaharvest.org/in-memory-of-george-chen-forever-in-the-garden
Paul’s suffering was in a way voluntary as he knew what awaited him, and yet for the sake of Christ, he went ahead. George Chen’s was forced upon him by his cruel captors. Whether our suffering is voluntary or not, if we suffer for the sake of Christ, Christ will find a way to ease our suffering. The promise is that He will give us comfort and joy in our obvious pain and discomfort.
I recall taking a bus trip every Thursday afternoon from Pasir Puteh to Kota Bharu to serve and attend church on Friday (the Malaysian East Coast weekend) when I was 17 to 19, during my peak public examination years. 20 years later, I was doing the same ferrying my whole family to serve and attend church in another city for 6 years every Sunday, early morning. This is not a suffering but a sacrifice and dedication that brought about faithfulness in faith and perseverance and discipline responding to a call from God.
The message this morning is that whatever we are going through for Christ, whether it’s persecution or just our faithfulness to serve Him, come what may; Christ will find a way to make something good out of our suffering, pain or sacrifice or dedication. If we clean the church toilets every weekend after everyone has gone home, Christ will be there to accompany us. If we prepare the sacraments for Holy Communion every week or teach the children every Sunday, Christ will be there with us as we serve Him with our hearts. Persevere on our walk of faith. We will reach the finish line one day with Christ at our side in the journey every step of the way!
Ronnie's Thoughts 