Who’s in Charge of a World That Suffers? By Bill Graham

Day 5 of 5:

Suffering for Christ

In the power-packed Sermon on the Mount, Jesus included these words: “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matt. 5:10–12). According to what Jesus said, not only are we to expect persecution to be our lot as we follow Christ: we are to rejoice in those persecutions! Paul echoed that divine instruction when he wrote to the Philippians who were suffering for their faith, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” (4:4). They were to rejoice not only when the going was good, but always! Circumstances are not to color our reactions to persecution. When Christians encounter trial and testing, we are to rejoice again and again, right to the end of our lives. 

The apostle John in recording Christ’s message to the church in Smyrna wrote, “Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution . . . Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Rev. 2:10). 

Mysterious as it appears to be, true faith and suffering go hand in hand. You can’t have the one without the other. 

Again, it is difficult to understand that suffering is with God’s permission. We may sometimes forget that we can bring suffering upon ourselves. It is wrong to believe, for instance, that if you are sick it is because Satan has inflicted it upon you and if you have enough faith, it will go away. Sometimes God delivers, but not always; and when He permits suffering, His grace is sufficient for you to endure it. He gives added strength. He walks hand in hand with you through your suffering, but He does not necessarily deliver you out of it. 

Writing to Timothy, his young son in the faith, Paul said, “Everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Tim. 3:12, italics mine). That is putting it pretty bluntly! I think the principle is stated clearly so that you and I, as Christians, will not be in doubt. To be sure, some seem to suffer for their faith far more than others. Some of us have never known what it means to be physically persecuted for our faith, but all true Christians are subject to subtle suffering and insidious persecution. It may lie in the ridicule of our faith by those in the world around us. It could also exist in the discreet discrimination often practiced against Christian principles in the sophisticated arena of economics and society. For example, there are often discriminatory practices against the businessman, labor leader, or political figure trying to practice biblical, ethical, and moral standards. 

Subtle persecution may happen to you in your office, school, or social gathering; an outcast and not considered “one of the crowd.” 

Victorious Suffering

No suffering that the Christian endures for Christ is ever in vain. Living for Christ, walking in His way, is not an easy path—but it is a path to peace and power. The way of the cross is a hard one, but it offers eternal rewards.

At the heart of our universe is a God who suffers in redemptive love. We experience more of His love when we suffer within an evil world. Someone has said that if one suffers without succeeding, he can be sure that the success will come in someone else’s life. If he succeeds without suffering, he can be equally sure that someone else has already suffered for him.

Respond: 

When have you experienced persecution as a result of following the Lord? How did you respond?

Read Philippians 4:4-7. What does this passage say about God’s character towards those who suffer? 

Why do you think that Christians are not exempt from suffering?

Matthew 5:10-12 King James Version

10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

Revelation 2:10 King James Version

10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

2 Timothy 3:12 King James Version

12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

Philippians 4:4-7 King James Version

4 Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.

5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.

6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Who’s in Charge of a World That Suffers? By Billy Graham

The Significance of the Cross

We humans view life from our personal point of time and space, but God views us from His heavenly throne in the light of eternity. We see ourselves as self-sufficient, self-important, and self-sustaining; God sees us as dependent, self-centered, and self-deceived. Our worldly wisdom has made us calloused and hard. Our natural wisdom, as the Scriptures teach, comes not from God, but is earthly, sensual, and devilish (James 3:15). 

There is a difference between wisdom and knowledge. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. All truth is from God, whether it be scientific, psychological, philosophic, or religious. The truth in the Bible points us all to the cross of Jesus Christ. It is there that we find forgiveness of sins and the solution to the dilemmas and problems that face us both nationally and individually. 

The wisdom of this world, encouraged by Satan, is cynical of the cross. The apostle Paul said, “The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Cor. 1:18). It is impossible for the “natural man” (the one who does not know Jesus Christ as his personal Savior) to understand how God, in His grace and mercy, can forgive sinners and transform lives. It is also impossible for the natural man to comprehend how these changed lives can affect society. Those with their worldly wisdom do not understand the workings of God. The Bible teaches that the cross is an “offense” or stumbling block to the unbeliever (1 Cor. 1:23). 

I can preach on almost any subject and most people will accept it. I can speak about social injustice and human suffering and raise money for the poor, refugees or people in distress. But to proclaim Christ crucified is different. Even though the cross of Christ is the power of God unto salvation, it is also an offense to the world—and always will be. There is a tension here. Though the cross repels, it also attracts. It possesses a magnetic quality.

The apostle Paul said, “The foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength” (1 Cor. 1:25).

God says there is no hope for the world aside from the cross. For centuries the world has rejected God’s plan of redemption. Now, because of man’s refusal and rebellion, he stands on the threshold of what former Prime Minister Macmillan called “the extinction of civilization itself” (or Armageddon).

Stumbling and fumbling, man thinks that by his own wisdom he can save himself—that somehow he will be able to pull out of this path leading headlong to destruction. God warns that this perverted wisdom of man will lead to judgment.

Respond

In your own words, what is the difference between wisdom and knowledge? 

What does it mean to possess a “fear of the Lord?” 

Why might the cross be a challenge or stumbling block for someone who doesn’t believe in God or the Bible?

How does the cross provide hope for a suffering world? 

James 3:15 King James Version

15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.

1 Corinthians 1:18-25 King James Version

18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.

20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:

23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;

24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

The Passion Easter Devotional

Day 6 of 7:

“Pontius Pilate” Devotional – The Passion

The story of Pontius Pilate is an interesting one. Jesus is on trial, and the Roman governor could have been His saving grace. In fact, things start to even get a little hopeful when Pilate sides with Jesus at first, as Luke explains in his gospel:

So Pilate asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”

Jesus replied, “You have said it.”

Pilate turned to the leading priests and to the crowd and said, “I find nothing wrong with this man!” (Luke 23:3-4, NLT)

After discovering that Jesus was from Galilee, Pilate sent him to Herod. Maybe he wouldn’t have to actually deliver the verdict after all. But Herod (after mocking him, of course) sent him back.

Once again, Pilate concluded that Jesus was innocent and did not deserve the death penalty, and he told those gathered as much.

However, the crowd just got rowdier and yelled for Barabbas to be released instead. Verse 20 says, “Pilate argued with them, because he wanted to release Jesus.” But the shouts of the crowd to crucify Him began to slowly outweigh his gut instinct.

Still, a third time, Pilate took up for Jesus, saying, “Why? What crime has he committed? I have found no reason to sentence him to death. So I will have him flogged, and then I will release him.” (v. 22)

In that moment, culture prevailed. The opinions of others swayed Pilate, and he honored their demands. He released Barabbas—a man rightly accused of mutiny and murder—and turned Jesus over to be crucified.

Pilate knew Jesus was innocent, yet with one choice, he compromised for the sake of approval ratings. He chose to please his constituents instead of doing the right thing. Notice that he first tried to pawn Jesus off on Herod so he wouldn’t have to make the final decision. Then, once Jesus got thrust back into his court, he took the coward’s way out.

It’s tragic, really. Pilate had the chance to free Jesus, but he chose to release a murderer back into society instead—all for the sake of protecting his political standing.

How many times have we compromised for the sake of climbing the ladder, or for the sake of acceptance or popularity? If there’s anything Pilate’s story teaches us, it’s that as followers of Jesus, we can’t please everyone. After all, following Christ isn’t always popular. Belief always requires bravery. And if we’re going to follow Jesus, we’re going to need to be courageous.

Luke 23:3 King James Version

3 And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answered him and said, Thou sayest it.

Luke 23:20 King James Version

20 Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spake again to them.

Luke 23:22 King James Version

22 And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him, and let him go.