Affliction becomes Adoration!

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"Rejoice, in as much as you are partakers of Christ's sufferings" (1 Pet 4:13)

Sufferings in life normally develop grumbling in the lips and bitterness in the heart. Sometimes they seal the grieving sufferer's mouth in dead silence. But facing those sufferings courageously and embracing them cheerfully would transform suffering into worship (Acts 5:41).

Accepting injustice and ill-treatment patiently and pleasantly is worship. Hear Peter in 1 Peter 4:14-16, "If any one suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter." If those who crucified Jesus would brag that they had murdered Him, Jesus would say that He had offered Himself "as a pleasant aromatic sacrifice to God." Yes, Jesus offered Himself at His own free will. It was a voluntary sacrifice!

Every stone pelted at us can become a bowl of incense offered to God provided we do not retaliate or murmur (Acts 6:12,15). When Stephen died as a martyr, he endured suffering in the spirit of worship. His angelic face; open heavens; vision of the glory of God; Jesus standing up to pay tribute to the first martyr of the Church; a sweet martyrdom entwined with forgiveness to his killers!

Now let us peep into Heaven to see the multitude of white-robed worshippers. Who are these beautiful people? "They are the ones who came out of great tribulations! .... They are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple" (Rev 7:9-15).

Going through the list of the heroes of faith we find on one side those who had done exemplary valorous deeds (Heb 11:33-37); on the other side we meet those who, expecting a  glorious resurrection, embraced torturous deaths. Blessed are those who accept brickbats thrown at them as bouquet showered on God! Watchman Nee (1903-1972) in China was arrested and persecuted for his faith in the Gospel. Even when death was at the threshold, he refused to renounce his faith. All these men and women built sanctuaries with the stones pelted at them!

Praise Him for the trials sent as cords of love,
Binding us more closely to the things above;
For the faith that conquers, hope, that naught can dim,
For the land where loved ones gather unto Him!
                                                (E.E. Hewitt, 1851-1920)

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