Carry His Cross

Hebrews 12:3

"For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls."

Christ is the ultimate example of obedience to God. He was willing to suffer the severest persecution and the cruelest death for the sake of His Father. So although we may grow weary in our hearts because of our own personal sorrows, none of us has ever faced the pain and contempt that our Saviour did while on this earth, and the rejection that He still endures. When we are persecuted, we are being persecuted for His sake. When we are hated by the world, it is because it hates Him who is in us. (John 15:18,20b) Sinful humanity is rejecting Christ as much now as when He first came, but since He is no longer on this earth, the world persecutes His faithful followers. 

During our fleeting time on this earth we may face much sorrow and rejection for our faith, but God is not blind to our earthly sufferings! As He has glorified Christ, so He will also glorify His faithful children, and when Christ comes back to earth in all of His glory, the world will fail, and He will will have complete victory over all of His enemies both present and past! Every knee shall bow before Him, and both He and His people will claim eternal victory over the power of sin, Satan, and those who rejected the Son of God.

1 Corinthians 15:58

"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord."