Preparing Our Hearts for Easter: Day 6 – Facing Hardship

An article by Frank    No Comments

In the lead up to Easter we will be putting up a new lent devotion each week day. These devotions will also be available in the discussions section of our Facebook page and will be played on New Zealand’s Rhema.

In his first letter to the Church in Corinth, Paul talks about the hardship of the Apostles and he says this in chapter 4:

“To the present hour we are thirsty, we are poorly clothed and beaten and homeless, and we grow weary from the work of our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we speak kindly.”

The Apostles were clearly pouring themselves out in service to the mission they had, with little concern for their own lives.

As we prepare our hearts for Easter let’s consider the place of hardship in our lives. Often we get fed the idea that life is supposed to be pleasurable, fun and happy and if it is not, then we are doing something wrong – but the Apostles faced hardship as if it were a part of life and note their response – they blessed, they endured and when slandered, they spoke kindly.

Their response to hardship and abuse was not one of happiness, but holiness in keeping with Jesus’ challenge in the Sermon on the Mount to even love our enemies.

How would our life be different if we looked at hardship not as something to avoid at all costs, but something to embrace with a humility that sees it at as an opportunity to grow into being like Jesus? What if we made a commitment to react to hardship with patience, blessing, endurance and kind talk? It’s a tough challenge.

Pray

Jesus, when we face hardship, may we be reminded of the lives of the Apostles but also the forgiveness you expressed towards the very people who beat you and hung you on a cross.

Amen