In Affliction Our Lives Show Forth Jesus

As I am heading down the tail end of my run I look up and see the familiar tunnel that I must pass through in order to get to the other side.

The measurements are evident from the outside so that whoever tries to travel through knows there are limitations in order to access the other side.

The sign conveys a warning that there may be resistance if you pass through the tunnel.

As Jesus is finishing the sermon on the Mount in Matthew 7 he sheds light on the struggle to walk as a Christian when what the world offers is the path of least resistance.

"Enter by the narrow gate.  

For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, 

and those who enter by it are many.  

For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, 

and those who find it are few."

There you have it!  The way is hard that leads to life!  It is a life that will press in on you into areas you never wanted to go but must go in order to get to the other side of your God ordained path.

The word narrow is the greek word thlē'-bō which means to press as grapes, to press hard upon, to trouble, afflict, distress, to crowd, to throng or to trouble.

As Christians we cringe if we truly look at what Jesus is meaning in this text.  He is saying that in order to follow Him and walk in a way that fully pleases Him we must walk through sufferings.

It is His design that we are pushed to do things that we would never choose to do on our own in order that we are comforted and saved along the way.

2 Corinthians 1:6 says

And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation...

Consolation coming from parakiesis which means a calling near, a summons for help.
In terms of the Messianic salvation is means that the Rabbis call the Messiah.

So the point of our affliction is to get us to call out to our Savior!  When we are crushed on every side

2 Corinthians 4:8-12 says

We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; 

perplexed, but not driven to despair; 

persecuted, but not forsaken; 

struck down, but not destroyed; 

always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, 

so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.  

For we who live are always being given over to death 

for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested 

in our mortal flesh.  

So death is at work in us, but life in you.

It is all for our good and His glory so that Jesus will be manifested in our lives.  This is so that the mystery of Christ living inside us becomes visible and evident to those around us!  He is "saving" our lives over and over again!

If we were not pressed hard or  troubled no one, including ourselves would see Jesus spill forth out of our lives!

Our lives and the lives around us depend on Christ being manifest so that we are continually saved and delivered as well as others.

The salvation referred to in 2 Corinthians 1:6 comes from the Greek word soteria which means: deliverance, preservation, safety  and salvation.

future salvation, the sum of benefits and blessings which the Christians, redeemed from all earthly ills, will enjoy after the visible return of Christ from heaven in the consummated and eternal kingdom of God.

We have been redeemed so that we can continue to be redeemed from all earthly ills and this causes us to look forward to our future reward but let's not lose sight of the fact that there is a great reward in the affliction which is Christ himself!

Jesus comes near to the broken hearted!

Psalm 34:17-22 states is so clearly

The the righteous cry for help,  

the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. 

The LORD is near to the brokenhearted 

and saves the crushed in spirit. 

Many are the afflictions of the righteous, 

but the LORD delivers him out of them all.  

He keeps all his bones; 

not one of them is broken.  

Affliction will slay the wicked, 

and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.  

The LORD redeems the life of his servants; 

none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.  

Thank you Father that it is your design that we are afflicted so that we cry out and you come and redeem us out of the hand of our enemies.  Help us Lord to believe the truth of your word that all this suffering that we endure is only but for a moment and soon we will see your glory.

Help us by Your great grace to walk the narrow road not fearful but expectant that as we are pressed upon there is great purpose behind the affliction in that we ourselves will see you manifest in our lives and that those around us will see you as well and that we will all be saved as a result of our troubles.

This way is so contrary to the path that the world encourages us to take in avoiding difficulties but in the difficulties and suffering that is where you meet us and where we can see you.  Help us to walk the narrow road and not try to avoid going through by taking a bypass that the god of this world would want us to take so that we do not see you rightly.

We truly want to see You Jesus!