To Be a Partaker

I John, your brother and partaker with you in the tribulation and kingdom and patience which are in Jesus, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and the testimony of Jesus.

Revelation 1:9

There are three things mentioned here that we as followers of Christ are called to be partakers of. 

1. Tribulation.

      As disciples of Jesus we are called to suffering for His sake,

Because to you it has been granted in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer in his behalf.

Philippians 1:29

Just as the first apostles, the early Church, and Christ Jesus Himself suffered persecution at the hands of the world, we to are called to suffer as we live for Jesus in an unbelieving world. But we are to rejoice in this, we are in good company (Matthew 5:12)

2.  A Kingdom.

     As believers in Jesus we have been translated into a new kingdom, one that is not of this world.

Who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love.

Colossians 1:13

It is a kingdom we are now part of, and make our life's priority to see it grow (Matthew 6:33). While everything around us may be shaken, this kingdom cannot. It will endure for all time.

Wherefore, receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us have grace whereby we may offer service well pleasing to God with reverence and awe: for our God is a consuming fire.

Hebrews 13:28-29

3. Patience.

     Patience here means perseverance, or steadfast. When trials and tribulation come our way, by God's grace we can stand firm and unmovable, enduring unto the end. 

Being therefore justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ; through whom we also have had our access by faith into this grace wherein we stand: and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we rejoice in our tribulations: knowing that tribulation worketh steadfastness; and steadfastness, approvedness, and approvedness, hope: and hope putterh not to shame; because the love of God hath been shed abroad in our hearts through the Holy Spirit which was given unto us.

Romans 5:1-5

What Satan uses to destroy our faith is actually a means to endurance as we put our trust in Jesus. 

These things have I spoken unto you, that in me ye may have peace. In the world ye have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world 

John 16:33

I shall not want.

Jehovah is my shepherd; I shall not want.

Psalm 23:1

They say that familiarity breeds contempt, and I hate to admit that it has happened to me, at least to a certain point. It seems that the 23rd Psalm is one of the most beloved Bible verses of all time. It is found on bookmarks, cards, church bulletins, wall hangings, and so on. I must admit that it got to a point where I would read this verse, and not really get much from it. It was too "familiar" to me and I took it for granted.

It is also true that difficult circumstances can get our minds and attentions back to where they belong, on God and His faithfulness. That is what has happened to me. Over the last two years with all that has been happening in the world, I found myself growing stressed with many things. It was covid and the lockdowns. Lack of certain food items in stores, then prices rising, and the final straw seemed to be the recent surge in fuel prices. I was panicky and worried, wondering how we as a family could make it, as things seemed to be spiraling out of control.

My mind was brought back to this Psalm and its opening phrase, Jehovah is my shepherd; I shall not want. I began to think on this. Just as a rancher who raises sheep takes good care for them, providing food, water, and shelter, how much more does the living God care for us? The God who created this world and the things in it, who created us and cares for us, is perfectly able to provide our needs as well.  As I pondered this Psalm, I realized that the sheep who are well cared for by their shepherds lack nothing, so too, we who are cared for by our heavenly Father do not lack anything either. So why worry and stress about the economy? God is fully willing and able to meet our needs, and we too will not want. 

Be Not Anxious.

In the sermon on the mount we read,
     Be not anxious for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than the food, and the body more than the raiment? Behold the birds of the heaven, that they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; and yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are not ye of much more value than they (Matt 6:25-26).

Jesus goes on to show us that the world is caught up in the struggle for things. These things mentioned here are even necessary things such as food and clothing. Yet He assures us that our heavenly Father will take care of us.

So why is it that we often are consumed with anxiety over things such as these? Do we not believe Jesus when He tells us to focus on the kingdom of heaven, and God will provide these things for us?

We find in Paul's epistle to the Philippians the cure for anxiety.

     In nothing be anxious; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus (Phil 4:6-7).

Instead of worry, we are to take all of our cares and burdens to the Lord. The verse says everything. It is an act of faith to cast our needs and cares, with thanksgiving, upon Christ. But if we do so, releasing them to Him, we have the assurance of His peace filling our hearts and minds.

    

Expendable.

     Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a grain of wheat fall into the earth and die, it abideth by itself alone; but if it die, it beareth much fruit.
                                            John 12:24

     It may seem shocking to many, but the reality is that we are expendable to God! Yes God loves and cares for us. He who sees the sparrow fall, and knows the very number of the hairs on our heads, is concerned for us through the trials we go through. Yet, we are expendable. 
     God calls us to lose all for His sake, in His service; even our very lives if necessary. When He calls us to lose our lives for His sake, we might very well face persecution and martyrdom. We are in a spiritual battle for the kingdom of God and the souls of men. Just like an army will count men as expendable, sending them out to die for the greater purpose of winning the war, we too are sent out to die for the sake of the gospel, giving our very lives if it so be, so that another can find life in Christ.
     Remember, we are living in these bodies upon this earth for a short time. We are spiritual beings with souls that will live on throughout eternity. To face death for Christ is truly no loss to us, as to be absent from this body, is to be present with the Lord (2 Cor 5:6-8). So even though we are expendable for the cause of Christ, it is no real loss to us, in fact, it is great gain.

Kept From Stumbling.

     Now unto him that is able to guard you from stumbling, and to set you before the presence of his glory without blemish in exceeding joy, to the only God our Saviour, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and power, before all time, and now, and forevermore. Amen.
                                             Jude 1:24-25

     What a wonderful promise to us, that God Himself will bring us safely home, to stand in His glorious presence, complete in Him, beyond reproach. In this life, we travel a dangerous road, with temptations and trials on every side. The world seeks to draw our hearts away from our Lord, with all of its vanity and pride. Yet we see in this and other numerous scriptures, that in Christ we have all we need to remain free from spot or stain. In Christ we have the power to overcome temptations. His grace is more than enough for every need, to those who through faith, are made partakers of the divine nature (2 Peter 1:3-4).
     Able to keep us from stumbling! He will set us before His presence, without blemish. This is the overcoming life. We were once mired in sin, unable to change. But through Christ, we are now free. We can live upright lives, beyond reproach. We can know what it means to have a clean conscience; to be able to lay down in sleep without our hearts condemning us. What a blessed thing, to be so guarded by Jesus Christ.
     He has called us to live holy, upright lives. Faithful is He that has called us, and faithful is to do it (1 Thess 5:23-24)!

Knowing God.

     For I desire goodness, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt-offerings.
                                 Hosea 6:6

     The vast majority of people seem to believe that the way to God can be found through forms and rituals. This is how all of the world's religions work. The individual approaches their god through sacrifices, rote prayers, and various other religious exercises, that give one a false sense of God's favor.
     Sadly, many who call themselves Christians also approach God in this way. They pride themselves on all of the religious rules and forms that they maintain, thinking that this is what God desires.
     God desires us to know Him intimately. This is what eternal life is, knowing God, through Jesus Christ (John 17:3). He cannot be found through all of our empty traditions. We worship in Spirit and truth (John 4:23-24). The pursuit of God is carried out by faith, as we humbly submit ourselves to Jesus Christ, allowing Him to form Himself in us.
     Exercising justice, and compassion are what God really wants from us, as we walk humbly with Him. This far exceeds all the sacrifices and offerings we could ever bring to God (Micah 6:6-8).
    

His Will Only.

     Jesus calls us to have no will but His alone. What a blessed thing to be free of all the strife and turmoil of our cluttered lives as we live out the words of the Lord's prayer-

     "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so on earth."
                                        Matthew 6:10

     It is the clamoring after the things of this life, even the essentials, such as food and clothing, that keep us from the peace that one finds as they live for Christ alone.
     Jesus tells us to step out in faith-

     "But seek ye first his kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."
                                       Matthew 6:33

     We can find peace in our daily turmoil, fulfillment in our seemingly empty lives, if we would lay our plans, agendas, and wills down, and pick up one only, His.

Everything I Need.

                  Jehovah is my shepherd; I shall not want.
                                           Psalm 23:1

     As the great shepherd our our souls, we find all we need in Christ Jesus. What can we possibly lack of that which is essential to our spiritual life and the well being of our souls (2 Peter 1:3).
     God did not spare His only Son, but freely gave Him up for us. We can confidently trust Him to supply our every need (Romans 8:31-32).
     

A Patient Trust.

     My soul, wait thou in silence for God only; For my expectation is from him.
     He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my high tower; I shall not be moved.
     With God is my salvation and my glory; the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.
                                          Psalm 62:5-7

     It can be difficult to wait in silence for God when in the midst of difficult circumstances. We tend to want to do things our way, and in our own time. 
     We can learn a lesson from the life of Abram. The promise of an heir seemed our of reach, so at Sarai's urging, he took Hagar, his wife's servant, and she conceived and bore him Ishmael. However he was not to be the child of the promise. By taking matters into their own hands, instead of trusting in God, they faced some unwelcome consequences to their actions (Genesis 16:1-15, 21:8-21).
     True faith is a faith that endures, even in silence, when it seems that God is not doing anything. If we hold fast, we will see the salvation of the Lord. He is indeed a rock and a high tower of defense for those who wait for Him.