by Leonard Keigher

Created on: September 17, 2010

Suffering for Christ is easy if you invite Christ's love into your heart. That is not to say that there won't be times when the suffering goes beyond your capacity to bear, but if you allow Christ and his love to be a part of your sacrifice, you are often given a greater capacity to bear the pangs. Perhaps it's a matter of faith or a combination of faith and courage that makes such suffering possible. However many people have found that if we are suffering for others and if we acknowledge that Christ loves those whom we are suffering for, and that he suffers for them too, then sacrifice and suffering for others can be a very moving experience. 

There are many ways to suffer and it doesn't hurt to seek them out. However you won't easily seek them out without believing what is said in the Bible by John in the New Testament: 

I John 4:12 

No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

Such simple words, but If we believe what this bible verse says then we can extend our love (augmented by Christs love) to our enemies and to those who might not seem to be worthy of our personal love (as opposed to Christs love). In fact you will probably gain new insight into other people who are suffering more than we might think. 

Even so never go beyond your own capacity without understanding that it may involve some pain. For example if you often drive someone to this or that appointment, you have probably set a time limit or some sort of distance limit on yourself. Perhaps if you consider the Bible verse above, you will find it in your heart to expand your driving so that the person concerned will have one less concern and may therefore be able to deal with some sort of issue of economic or social necessity more successfully. 

Later you may be surprised at what you will be willing to do for others and also be astonished at the results. Because there WILL be results and they will come upon both you and the person that you are helping. You will find that in many ways the greater beneficiary of this sacrifice and suffering and missing your favorite TV programs etc might be you!

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