Be willing to take off your blinders, as you pray aloud the words of this Lazaroo:

“We had previously suffered and been insulted…”
(1 Thessalonians 2:1)

It is of enormous comfort to hear that Paul went through this, Jesus…

when I am suffering
when I have been insulted.

But it isn’t nearly as comforting when I’m experiencing smooth sailing.

I want my smooth journey to continue!
I don’t want anyone or anything to rock my boat.

I don’t want to believe that suffering and insults

are a normal part of the Christian life

to be expected
experienced
endured.

When I see somebody taking hit after hit after hit

I tend to wonder what they did wrong!

failing to remember that You Yourself were a man of sorrows

despised and rejected

that You plainly warn me as Your follower:

If they treated You this way
I can expect the same.

Forgive me for my harsh judgment of Your servants

who are even now enduring terrible trials.

_________
Isaiah 53:2-12; Matthew 10:21-25; Luke 6:20-26; Acts 14:22; Acts 20:22-24; 2 Corinthians 1:8-11; 2 Corinthians 6:3-10; 1 Thessalonians 3:2-4; James 1:2-4

What is Lazaroo?

Take Me Deeper

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright© 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.