“To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps” (1 Peter 2:21).

“Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin” (1 Peter 4:1).

“God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks to us in our conscience, but shouts in our pains. It is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world” – C. S. Lewis.

Suffering.

No one likes suffering. In fact, most of us have a natural aversion to it. Most of us would absolutely love it if becoming a follower of Jesus Christ was a guarantee of easy living.

But there’s no evidence of such easy living found in the scriptures. Instead the scripture writers tell us that part of what it means to be a disciple and a follower of Jesus Christ is that suffering is a regular part of faithful discipleship. There’s something about suffering that shapes, forms, and matures a disciple. You could even say that it is impossible to mature as a disciple without having an element of suffering.

This doesn’t mean all of discipleship is suffering. If that were the case who would ever want to be a disciple? There are great moments of happiness and joy.

The reason why suffering is an integral part of discipleship is because God is more interested in our spiritual maturity and growth than he is about our spiritual comfort.

Charles Spurgeon says, “Men will never become great in theology until they become great in suffering.”

God loves you so much he cannot leave us the way we are today. He wants us to grow. He wants us to mature. He wants us to become more effective for the kingdom. He wants us to be agents of even greater blessing to others.

“Now, every time I witness a strong person, I want to know: what dark did you conquer in your story? Mountains do not rise without earthquakes” – Katherine MacKenett.

Friends, this has been a hard year. Isn’t that good news? God’s been training and equipping you to grow and mature in your faith!

“Pray always” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

When we pray, the God of the heavens and the earth stops all things and becomes laser focused on you and your prayers. The moment you utter, “Father…”, God, in all his being, is fully present to hear your prayers.

What an amazing reality!

We are told in James 1:17 that, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights.”

When Jesus was instructing his disciples about prayer, Jesus says, “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:11-13).

The key phrase is “How much more.”

It is worth noting that Jesus couples prayers with the gift of the Holy Spirit. God wants us to pray prayers that honor him and further the kingdom.

Or put in another way, if God said “yes” to all every prayer you prayed in the last seven days, how would the world be different?

Would the world look more like God’s kingdom here on earth?

Pray always. Pray without ceasing. Pray God-honoring prayers.

“I have come that you may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10)

God. God who is the Creator and God who will one day hold everyone accountable.

To modern day Americans who values self-discovery, freedom, and independence, the entire concept of God seems so oppressive, so restrictive, so un-American.

We don’t like the idea of having to answer to anyone. As long as we are not hurting anyone, we should be free to dictate what is right for our own selves. So how does the concept of God even fit in the modern world anymore?

That’s a fantastic question. But there is one major flaw to this way of thinking. We are free to choose but we are not free from the created order of things. We are not free to reject gravity. We are not free to reject cause and consequences.

Fish are restricted to water. But water is the only environment fish are free to flourish. Outside of water, outside that environment, fish die.

That is the way with us. God’s rule and kingdom is the only environment where human beings can flourish. It is within the bounds of God’s laws that we can find true freedom to flourish.

• You shall have no other gods before me
• You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them
• You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God
• Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy
• Honor your father and your mother
• You shall not murder
• You shall not commit adultery
• You shall not steal
• You shall not give false testimony
• You shall not covet

God’s laws are given to us, not to restrict us, but to free us so we can flourish in the world God has created. It is when we submit and subject ourselves to the rule of God that we are truly free. Freedom without God is not freedom at all. Freedom without God’s laws entraps, enslaves, and ultimately kills.

Life is found in Christ and Christ alone.

That’s the meaning of Christmas. That’s why Christ came. Jesus tells us, “I have come that you may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10).

Friends, may you discover freedom as you submit to Christ.

Happy Advent! Let us prepare ourselves for the reality of Christ.