Jesus Sets the Example

"Amen, amen, I say to you, no slave is greater than his master nor any messenger greater than the one who sent him." - John 13:16

As a society we think something is wrong with us or wrong with our relationship with God when we are suffering. We want to be happy and any struggle is so adverse to what we feel we deserve. But where do we get that from? The example Jesus gave us was actually the opposite! He came to suffer. He had it rough from the beginning. He was born in a manger, criticized all His life, and died on a cross while His friends abandoned Him and His enemies mocked Him. But as the saying goes, without Good Friday there can be no Easter Sunday. If no servant is greater than His master, than most of our lives will be marked by struggle and hardship. In Jesus' case, His suffering redeemed us and gave us our salvation. In our case, our suffering makes us stronger and our salvation personal.

Jesus' life gives us the perfect example after which to model our suffering. He was always prayerful and always in full obedience to the will of the Father. Because of this Jesus was crucified on Good Friday, but He was raised in full glory by the Father on Easter Sunday. And for us, if we remain faithful and look to Jesus during our struggle, instead of pitying ourselves and lamenting, we will also be lifted up by the Father.

Today's Prayer:
Jesus, please remind me that if You suffered, I must take my cross and follow You. Be my strength. Help me to be obedient to You instead of complaining about what I'm going through. Be my guide. In Your Name we pray, amen.


Lumineux: Letting God's Light Shine
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