Comments on: My Suffering Produces Followers of Jesus http://imitatingjesus.org/2007/08/my-suffering-produces-followers-of-jesus/ a blog about making followers of Jesus Tue, 7 Sep 2010 22:02:05 -0400 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Lewie http://imitatingjesus.org/2007/08/my-suffering-produces-followers-of-jesus/comment-page-1/#comment-43 Lewie Tue, 04 Sep 2007 15:35:23 +0000 http://imitatingjesus.org/2007/08/16/my-suffering-produces-followers-of-jesus/#comment-43 Paul, I love your insight about the proportion of joy to suffering! One thing I did not mention that is similar to your insight, is that suffering produces in my heart a love for God and a love for people. Lewie Paul,
I love your insight about the proportion of joy to suffering! One thing I did not mention that is similar to your insight, is that suffering produces in my heart a love for God and a love for people.
Lewie

]]> By: Paul http://imitatingjesus.org/2007/08/my-suffering-produces-followers-of-jesus/comment-page-1/#comment-42 Paul Mon, 03 Sep 2007 21:53:32 +0000 http://imitatingjesus.org/2007/08/16/my-suffering-produces-followers-of-jesus/#comment-42 Thanks, Lewie, for your post. I have seen how this is true in my own life. As our community was preparing to lay down our lives financially for another family, I realized this: the measure of suffering I share with someone during the trial is proportionate to the measure of joy I share with them when victory/relief is granted. I believe this is true because it is seen in the life of Jesus. He has been given the ultimate place of joy--sitting "at God's right hand"--because he endured more suffering than any other being in history. As Hebrews states, Jesus "endured the cross" because he knew joy would be his ultimate reward. What is particularly astounding and miraculous about his death is that, as Paul says in Romans 5, he died while we were sinners--still his enemies! If "greater love has no man than this: that he lays down his life for his friends," then it can only be a divine and supernatural love that compels someone to die for their enemies. As Paul says in II Cor. 9, "Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!" Thanks, Lewie, for your post.

I have seen how this is true in my own life. As our community was preparing to lay down our lives financially for another family, I realized this: the measure of suffering I share with someone during the trial is proportionate to the measure of joy I share with them when victory/relief is granted.

I believe this is true because it is seen in the life of Jesus. He has been given the ultimate place of joy–sitting “at God’s right hand”–because he endured more suffering than any other being in history. As Hebrews states, Jesus “endured the cross” because he knew joy would be his ultimate reward. What is particularly astounding and miraculous about his death is that, as Paul says in Romans 5, he died while we were sinners–still his enemies! If “greater love has no man than this: that he lays down his life for his friends,” then it can only be a divine and supernatural love that compels someone to die for their enemies. As Paul says in II Cor. 9, “Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!”

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