S. Michael Houdmann Supporter Got Questions Ministries

 The Bible talks a lot about suffering for the sake of Christ. In the era in which the New Testament was written, followers of Jesus were often ostracized by their own families and communities. Som...

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July 01 2013 • 2 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

mary h Supporter

If we truly follow Christ we will suffer. For our hearts are full of sin. We have to start with ourselves, by denying the hardness, cruelty, spitefulness, envy, and our wagging tongues! Etc. Then replace this with loving those who hate us! This is why Jesus suffered so much. He showed love where others showed him hatred! It must have broken his heart when he came to bring them to God only to be persecuted. But God strengthened him so that he was able to endure to the end! So the suffering begins at ourselves first by following Jesus' example (although we can never compare to him as he never sinned!). You can't go to other people with God if you haven't lived it yourself. Just like you can't walk into a job by just listening to the teacher, you have to do the work and pass the exam yourself first!

November 07 2014 • 4 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

steven h Supporter

To suffer for Christ sounds like a burden but its the opposite to what you think.

Jesus said in Matthew 11 verses 28-30 come unto me, all you that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and you shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

But the burden of the worldly things is selfishness like have I got enough money can I get more, I don't have time for you right now, got to be somewhere else, to busy in your own life you don't even think of God.

Jesus overcome these temptations that Satan threw at him because he thought and walked with God in his heart, loving helping caring for people who had the burdens of the world, but they that had faith could if they walked and followed him have their burdens lifted off them.

So the answer to your question is that to suffer for Christ is less of a burden than if you didn't, if you have love and faith and love god with all your heart,mind soul and all you strength you will not even feel your suffering.

November 07 2014 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Bruce Morgan Supporter

Yes, in this present life we will suffer for a while.
When you find yourself in times of suffering, hold in your heart the words of Paul, "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us!"
(Romans 8:18)
Also take God's promises for our eternal life to heart:
Revelation 21:3-5 (NIV) says:
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God's dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.
‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death' or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

January 19 2015 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Billy P Eldred Supporter

I suppose to answer your question accurately, I would have to know whether you mean "will there always be suffering for Christ?" or "will I always have to suffer for Christ?" That is a big difference. 

The answer to the first question is easy and unfortunately that answer is yes or at least until Christ returns. The Bible is clear that suffering will only get worse in the end days and in fact in the Tribulation period be worse than this world has ever seen. 

But if you are asking "will I always have to suffer to serve Christ?", the answer is an emphatic "No way!" Jesus said "My yoke is easy and my burden is light". Serving Him should be a joy. If you are in the right Church, you should be experiencing this joy continually. This does not mean that trials and tribulations will not come, rather that even though there will be trials and tribulations we should "count it all joy" when they do. 

In closing I want to quote what I believe is an often misquoted and misunderstood verse: "Seek the Lord with all your heart and He will give you the desires of your heart". What this verse means to me is not that if you seek the Lord he will give you everything you want, rather He will give you what you are seeking with all your heart. HIM! He will give you more of Him. And that should be Joy for every Christian. Therefore, if you are suffering now, count it as joy and seek Him. I believe he will help you turn that suffering to joy by giving you more of Him. The closer you get to Him the easier it will be to count any suffering as joy.

June 06 2015 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report