Committment.

I did not get to read my morning devotionals as I had to go in early and do a case at the hospital. Two things that really mess my morning up...no coffee and no quiet time. Finally, this afternoon, I took the time to read them. The first one stated, "commitment...the apostle Peter wrote to some followers of Jesus: God will bless you, if you have to suffer for doing something good. After all, God chose you to suffer as you follow in the footsteps of Christ, who set and example by suffering for you." I sat soaking in these words. When we suffer doing something good. That's a huge statement. Many times I complain and fret about my suffering, and ask God why, but I have to realize sometimes my suffering is a result of poor choices. Suffering for good. Following Christ isn't for the faint at heart. Asking God daily to help me be the mother, nurse, friend, wife, person, is a challenge and can bring suffering easily. Or does it? Actually, I find that when I don't ask God and Jesus to help me do their will....then I am lost, afraid, overwhelmed, confused, diluted. Suffering as a result of following Christ should be considered a gift, a blessing, an opportunity to make a difference in some one's life. When Jesus lives in our hearts as our personal Saviour, we are called to stand at the gates of Hell and rebuke the enemy of Satan. So maybe you aren't too impressed with the word Satan. Maybe you don't believe in his evil force. Just tell that to a drug addict on the street, a mother or father who lost their child to the streets, a school teacher struggling with a student whose home is rocked with violence, a child who doesn't understand why their mother or father leaves home, the woman at the well, the prodigal son, David, Saul, Peter, the Levite man consumed by evil spirits. Walking the road with Jesus will not be easy. It will bruise our feet, hurt our heart, cut our knees, weaken our legs, push us to the point of exhaustion and despair......BUT this is when the walk turns into mercy and grace. HE will provide just what we need to put one foot in front of the other. We are not called to keep looking around the corner. We are called to look at Him. I remember my track coach, Coach Frost, with tobacco spilling down his chin, telling us to "run past the hurt, the cramps, the dead lungs and legs. Eventually your body realizes you're not going to quit the race and it will rise to the challenge. You must always finish the race running." You may be worn out today. A bad week, a bad night, a lost teenager, spouse problems, financial stress, disease, job stuff, friend stuff, whatever.... Jesus is enough for you to make it. No it won't be painless. No it won't be easy or peaceful. It will be the commitment we are called to make when we decide to follow Jesus and the finish line is where He is standing.... waiting, watching, and committed to us.