Walking in obedience and submission will be tested and will reveal the state of our character!
It is easy to be obedient when there is no pressure or suffering involved.
It is written by The Holy Spirit in Hebrews chapter 5:
5 So also Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest, but it was He Who said to Him: “You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.”
6 As He also says in another place: “You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek”;
7 Who, in the days of His Flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him Who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His Godly Fear,
8 though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.
9 And having been perfected, He became the Author of Eternal Salvation to all who obey Him,
Do any of us want to suffer? Of course not. However, it may be necessary to suffer as we learn obedience to HIS Word. It is all about trusting IN HIM!
Luke recorded by The Holy Spirit in Acts chapter 9:
10 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.”
11 So the Lord said to him, “Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying.
12 And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight.”
13 Then Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem.
14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your Name.”
15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My Name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel.
16 For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My Name’s sake.” [17] And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, Who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.“
18 Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.
19 So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus.
Paul who penned 2/3 of the New Testament by The Holy Spirit, suffered for Christ’s Name’s sake, because of his passion for Christ.
Suffering reveals whether our trust in God is genuine.
When life is easy, obedience can remain theoretical. Hardship exposes pride, self-will, fear, impatience, and divided loyalties.
Suffering can train a person to surrender control, persevere, trust God without immediate reward, obey even when emotions resist, and Love Truth more than comfort.
Jame wrote in his Epistle by The Holy Spirit in James chapter 1:
3 For you know that when your faith is tested it stirs up in you the power of endurance.
4 And then as your endurance grows even stronger, it will release perfection into every part of your being until there is nothing missing and nothing lacking.
And Peter wrote by The Holy Spirit in 1st Peter chapter 1:
5 Through our faith, the mighty power of God constantly guards us until our full salvation is ready to be revealed in the last time.
6 May the thought of this cause you to jump for joy, even though lately you’ve had to put up with the grief of many trials.
7 But these only reveal the sterling core of your faith, which is far more valuable than gold that perishes, for even gold is refined by fire. Your authentic faith will result in even more praise, glory, and honor when Jesus the Anointed One is revealed.
And Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in Romans chapter 5:
3 But that’s not all! Even in times of trouble we have a joyful confidence, knowing that our pressures will develop in us patient endurance.
4 And patient endurance will refine our character, and proven character leads us back to hope.
5 And this hope is not a disappointing fantasy, because we can now experience the endless Love of God cascading into our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who lives in us!
We will be tested by trials and sufferings for Christ. Let us patiently endure those tests so that our character will be fully refined as precious gold.