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“And others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection” (Hebrews 11:35).
After what we said yesterday about how God can make our way perfectly smooth, perhaps some of you may say, “But God does not always make my way perfectly smooth! And what about all the true Christians who suffer in this world, and sometimes even give up their lives for the Lord?”
Yes, God does sometimes allow difficulties in our lives, and allows us to pass through them. In some countries in the world, Christians are imprisoned, ill-treated, and even put to death for their faith in Christ. Why is this?
It is because the Lord Jesus is glorified when we suffer for Him, and honor Him by refusing to give up our faith, even though we may have to endure shame or even death for His sake. The early apostles counted it an honor to suffer for the Lord. But the greatest example of suffering for doing good was the Lord Jesus Himself. He never did even one thing wrong, yet this world cast Him out and crucified Him. Again, it is an honor to be called upon to suffer for Him. More than this, He has promised us a rich reward, if we suffer for Him down here in this world.
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