We have spent a little time throughout the past year touching on suffering and the sovereignty of God, we have encountered countless passages that tell us that God's children will suffer in this life. You may recall 2 Tim 3:12..."Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted." What about 1 Pet 4:13, "but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation." If we do not embrace this teaching from God's precious Word it will lead us into despair when suffering comes.
This fifth seal has always amazed me...we see God telling those who have been martyred for their faith and faithfulness to wait until "the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been."
Rev 6:9-11 When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne. 10 They cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” 11 Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been.
We see in Isaiah that God does not deliver us from the storms of life BUT HE promises HIS presence through the storms!
Isa 43:1-3 But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. 3 For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I give Egypt as your ransom, Cush and Seba in exchange for you.
What a joy to know that the Lion of the Tribe of Judah is present with HIS OWN, those HE purchased with HIS OWN BLOOD, in all the storms of life...what a joy to know that though we have trouble in this world the one who owns us have over come the world...HE is King of kings and Lord of lords.
Pursue HIM!
love,
m