Monday: The Struggle
When believers confessed their faith in Christ and joined the church, they set a boundary marker that distinguished them from the rest of society. Unfortunately, this became a source for conflict because it implicitly passed a negative judgment on their community and its values.
Read Hebrews 10:32-34 and Hebrews 13:3. What was the experience of the audience of Hebrews after their conversion?
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It is very likely that the readers of Hebrews suffered verbally and physically at the hands of mobs stirred up by opponents (e.g., Acts 16:19-22, Acts 17:1-9). They were also imprisoned, and it is possible that they were beaten as well, because officials had the power of authorizing punishment and incarceration, often without following appropriate judicial norms, while they gathered evidence (e.g., Acts 16:22-23).
Read Hebrews 11:24-26 and 1 Peter 4:14, 1 Peter 4:16. How do the experiences of Moses and of the readers of 1 Peter help us understand why Christian believers were persecuted?
To “bear the reproach of Christ” simply meant to identify oneself with Christ and endure the shame and abuse that this association implied. Public animosity against Christians was the result of their distinctive religious commitments. People can get offended by religious practices that they don’t understand or by people whose lifestyle and morals could make others feel guilty or shamed. By the middle of the first century A.D., Tacitus considered Christians to be guilty of “hatred against mankind.” — Alfred J. Church and William J. Brodribb, trans., The Complete Works of Tacitus, (New York: The Modern Library, 1942) Annals 15.44.1. Whatever the exact reason for that charge, certainly false, many early Christians, such as the ones that Paul had written this letter to, were suffering for their faith.
| Everyone, a Christian or not, suffers. What does it mean, however, to suffer for Christ’s sake? How much suffering that we face is for Christ’s sake, and how much is brought about by our own choices? |
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God never wanted or intended that we experience suffering. Suffering is part of 'the knowledge of evil' that God desired we be protected from. But it was unfortunately unleashed in Genesis 3:6. Suffering is inherent to the (self-seeking) ways and domain of the Kingdom of Darkness. And true to its maleficent nature, the Kingdom of Darkness then turns around and exploits this tendency in whatever form it can as a 'weapon' to try and discourage, demoralise, defeat, or destroy all who embrace the Kingdom of God.
Suffering is a core theme in Hebrews. Within this theme there are distinct interwoven facets:
1) Suffering is unfortunately unavoidable within this fallen world - including for those who hold to the Kingdom of God (Hebrews 2:18; 11:35-38; John 16:33).
2) In the course of being authentically human, Jesus needed to, and did, share in experiencing extreme suffering (Hebrews 2:9-10; 17-18).
3) With suffering being used as a weapon by the Kingdom of Darkness against those who would embrace the Kingdom of God, enduring suffering is an unfortunate though unavoidable part of the 'resistance-training' involved in the process of character development for all - including Jesus (Hebrews 2:10; 5:8-9; James 1:2-4). This is done by focussing on something other than (beyond) avoidance of suffering (Hebrews 12:2; Romans 8:18,28).
4) Jesus achieved salvation by being willing to experience suffering even to the point of dying (laying down His life) rather than embracing self-seeking avoidance of suffering (Hebrews 2:9-10,14,17; 12:2; John 12:27; Luke 22:42).
5) Because Jesus has suffered, He has first-hand familiarity with our experience and therefore overflowing compassion for us in our experience. And because of this, He is abundantly willing and also able to assist us when we suffer and therefore invites us to call upon Him when we do (Hebrews 4:15-16).
I am sure that each of us knows by personal experience that it is a hard thing to accept suffering - especially when it wears you down. And unfortunately even though we are fatigued, we will continue to suffer while we are in this world a little longer. But strangely, knowing and accepting that this is an unfortunate but unavoidable reality for now and that Jesus is right with us to help sustain us so we can endure makes journeying through suffering possible. One day suffering will be over forever - just not yet. So in the meanwhile, hold on to Jesus all the more tightly no matter what for He will carry you to eternity - your true home - no matter what (Hebrews 12:1-3). And in that strength, strengthen others who are also suffering.
Thank you, Phil -
May I elevate that unwavering Faith in the living Word of God - our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus - is our only assurance for victory; as He said: "I have won the victory over the world." John16:33 Weymouth New Testament.
E.G.White wrote: “The Christian life is a life of struggle, of continual conflict. It's battle and
march. But every act of obedience to Christ, every act of self-denial in His behalf, every
well-supported proof, every victory gained over temptation is a step in the march towards
glorious final victory”. Manuscript 65, 1894
Sometimes it's hard but I'm learning to say "Praise Jehovah for the struggles!" The lesson states, "Everyone, a Christian or not, suffers." Sometimes we think that we're struggling and suffering because of things that we lack. Adam and Eve were locked out of Eden away from the tree of life (Genesis 3: 24). Imagine if they had gained access to the tree of life, eating and living until now to see the degeneration of Gods creation! God in mercy reserves it for the right time.
Struggles aid memory and helps us to remember that we can pray without ceasing. Think of Jonah on the ship in the mighty tempest - fast asleep, while others cried unto their gods (Jonah 1:5). See him though in the belly of the fish, praying (Jonah 2:1).
1 Corinthian 10:13 with reference to 'struggles' says "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."
Jude 24 also speaks to us, "Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy..."
God is with us. Wnether or not the suffering that we face is for Christ’s sake, or is brought about by our own choices, Psalm 46:1 comforts our weary soul with this precious truth, "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."
In Paul’s account recorded in the book ‘Hebrews’, one should not overlook that 'Christ’s Faith', the New Way, the 'Covenant of Faith' was being introduced to the followers of the ‘Old way'/Old Covenant of Law’. This new 'power' ignited the ‘war’ between established religious and civic rulers and Christ Jesus and His followers of the 'New Way'.
Church and state being one ruling entity, used their power based on God's Word; but it had become corrupted. Under Roman rule, the religious leadership had become even more corrupted by self-interest and ambition; attempting to remain in good standing for the prospect of power-sharing with the occupying forces.
“But recall the former days”, implies that some time had passed during which the believers were punished for their ‘falling away’ from the old, established power-system.
To me, “identifying oneself with Christ” means that the believer was no longer the submissive subject of the Sanhedrin administering law in religious matters; another power had risen - Christ's Faith. Since the interests of church and state were vested in the same subjects, both saw their power and influence diminish as the ‘New Way’ gained new believers/followers.
The world’s struggle is all about ‘who’s authority judges man’, and therefore governs the affairs of man. Christ Jesus’ Faith and doctrine poses an eminent thread to earthly authority - then and now; man's faith in God takes away his/her fear of being judged/threatened by earthly powers.
Fear and intimidation against the physical life of the person are the means by which those powers keep their subjects in submission. The new Covenant represented in/by Christ’s Faith sets everyone free from this fear of the destruction of the physical aspect of our life; it teaches that True Life is spiritual.
Christ's Faith, the 'New Way', informs us that ‘True Life’ is found in the spiritual aspect of physical life as the believer lives by faith by/in the Word of God as exemplified by/in His Son, our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus.
The spirit of this world governs the earthly powers, and through them mankind. These powers are afraid to loose the influence over their subjects as they are used for their own, selfish gains. In our day and time we hear the accusation – “hatred against mankind” -, levied against faithful Christian believers; those who do not adhere to the teaching of the 'Social gospel' - 'wokeness' and ‘situation ethics’.
Laws are being transformed to reflect new ‘ethics’, exempting anyone from punishment by 'judging' their unlawful act to have been ‘necessary due to need’; i.e. lying, steeling, assault, etc. This ‘woke’ culture’s philosophy is build around this ‘concept of unaccountability’ and calls it - love -, based on perceived entitlement or need.
I see our ‘suffering’ to be for our faith in the FAITH of Christ. Earnestly living by His Faith/in Him protects the believer from the earthly powers arraigned against it. Steadfastly adhering to this Faith against all threads and intimidations by the world leads the believer to endure to the end – entering everlasting Life in the company of others who love God with all their heart and desire to elevate His Glory as they are obedient to His Word and Will.
Eph.6:12 ‘Weymouth New Testament’ - ”For ours is not a conflict with mere flesh and blood, but with the despotisms, the empires, the forces that control and govern this dark world – the spiritual hosts of evil arrayed against us in the heavenly warfare.”