The Cost of Following ChristSample
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A Hope That Can’t Be Taken Away
I look around the world or, even, around my own church, and I see followers of Jesus doing it much tougher than me. Some fit the mould of what Peter describes as ‘suffer[ing] for what is right.’ I admire the faith and tenacity of those who not only persevere in the face of real persecution, but continue to consider themselves blessed.
When someone is in a terrible situation, and they still count their blessings, it can sound as if they’re avoiding painful reality. But this 1 Peter passage points to why believers feel blessed even while they count the cost of following Christ. Such people know the reason for the hope they have – the reason spelled out in the final sentence.
Jesus Christ suffered for sin to bring the faithful into a right relationship with God. Such a powerful truth of righteous reality can sustain someone through suffering. While that reason for hope in Christ might not make suffering go away, suffering cannot take away that hope.
Written by BEN MCEACHEN
Want more? Check out the Real Hope Conversations Podcast and listen to David Smethurst delve deeper into the topic of The Cost of Following Christ Available wherever you listen to podcasts.
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The truth of the matter is that we all are called to forsake all and to pick up our cross and follow Christ. That is the Christian life. The readings this week help us reflect on the cost of following Christ. The goal is instead to shift our attention heavenward and to cultivate a heart that can see God’s big picture.
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