The Father's Menu

The Father's Menu

Apostle Dr. Richard Udoh

Tuesday, August 27, 2024

APPOINTED UNTO SUFFERING

Every believer is appointed to suffer for Christ. We aren't just called to enjoy the blessings of Christianity—righteousness, power, riches, strength, glory, honor, wisdom, and blessing—but also to carry our cross and endure suffering for His name's sake. Just as a law student must endure years of classes and the hardship of constant study before the glory of becoming a lawyer is realized, we too must embrace our suffering for Christ before the fullness of His glory is revealed in us. 1 Peter 1:11 “Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.”

We must be ready to endure hardship for Christ because it is through suffering that we learn obedience. Scripture tells us that Jesus Himself learned obedience through the things He suffered. In the same way, our suffering for His glory refines our obedience. Without this process, the manifestation of true obedience remains unclear, and until we fully obey the Lord, we cannot partake in the blessings He has prepared for us.

When you suffer for Christ, you share in His sufferings—how glorious is that? This should be our earnest desire. As the Apostle Paul said, “I count all things as loss that I may gain Christ.” This is the essence of true Christianity: embracing the call to suffer for the sake of knowing and following Him.

Confession:

I declare, I am fully dedicated to the gospel of Jesus Christ. My life is centered around the message of salvation, and I am committed to proclaiming this truth to the world. The gospel is my mission, and I am passionate about sharing its message with others. I consider everything in my life as loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. My personal ambitions, possessions, and achievements are secondary to the pursuit of a deeper relationship with Him. My greatest desire is to gain Christ and be found in Him, not relying on my own righteousness, but on the righteousness that comes through faith in Him.

Further Reading: 

Phil 3:8 “Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.”

Rom 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”

Read through the Bible in 1 year: Job 23:1-27:23 2 Corinthians 1:12-2:11 Psalm 41:1-13 Proverbs 22:5-6

Read through the bible in 2 years: Catch-up day & Ps 53