“Our Daily Bread”     http://odb.org/

The Daily Devotions of Greg Laurie                                  

http://www.harvest.org/devotional/daily-devotions/home.ht   

“Homily Grits Devotional”   http://www.homilygrits.com/ 

Written by the wise 83 yr old Robert VanHoose, who writes the “Homily Grits Devotional” above:

June 5                                                          
Read Romans 5,
Psalm 34

                                                         
                  “The Privileges of the Cross”

   “For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him.” Philippians 1:29  (NLT)

    We don’t hear enough about the privilege of suffering as bearers of the cross of Jesus Christ. 

     While the Good News that we have eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ is Good News, indeed, we must never forget discipleship may also require a lot of pain, suffering, and separation as we walk the road less traveled.

     God loves us so much that He suffered a shameful death on the cross for us.  The disciples loved God so much that all of them except John suffered martyrs deaths because of their Christian faith.

      As we go through life fighting the good fight of faith, we must not forget that it is a fight.  Although victory has been won for us on the Cross, the forces of evil from within and without are still seeking to separate us from the love of God that is ours in Jesus Christ.

      Sometimes God will allow disappointments, pain and sorrow as part of His program for growing us into the fullness of Christ.

     Sometimes we must be separated from friends and loved ones who refuse to join us in our walk of faith. 

     The ridicule and persecution of Christians is on the rise throughout the world, and we should all be prepared to face it and endure it as the cost of discipleship.

      When we learn to “count it all Joy” that we have been given the privilege of suffering as part of the cost of our discipleship, we will find the all surpassing peace and joy of the Lord that is the highest privilege of our new life in Christ. 

   Father, may the unwelcome guests of pain, suffering, and sorrow always remind me of the privileges I have in you of being able to “count them all joy” by the strength and power of the Holy Spirit.  In Jesus’ name, Amen

Blessings in Christ,  bruce