Christ suffered and died a horrendous death for us, so why do we think, that once we receive Him that we are to live a peace-filled happy life?
Let’s take a look at the Apostle Peter for example; I want to look at his life after his denial of Jesus.
Acts;
Chapter 2 comes the Holy Ghost and Peter gives the Pentecostal sermon. Alright! The work for God has started and things are looking good.
Chapter 3 Peter and John cause the lame man to be healed. Woohoo! Healing!
Chapter 4 he and John have been arrested. Well, this isn’t good. Yet they boldly proclaim Jesus to the Sadducees and religious leaders. That has to give them a boost of encouragement
Chapter 5 Peter is given discernment that a man and his wife lied about what they had given to the disciples. So here he is experiencing gifts of the Spirit, again a good thing and something we want to know. But, again, the apostles are imprisoned for preaching Jesus. This time, the religious leaders wanted to slay them. They were beaten and let go. The Jewish penalty was being flogged with 39 lashes. Don’t know about you, but that doesn’t sound like my cup of tea. Yet in vs. 41 it says they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name. The strength that enabled them to face their trial with confidence and assurance was not their own. It came as they allowed Jesus to live through them.
It goes on to give a little bit more;
Chapter 8 began the persecution of the church by Saul. But Peter and John laid hands on people, and they received the Holy Ghost
Chapter 9 he healed Aeneas and brought Tabitha back from the dead. Now that is proof of the power of Jesus.
Chapter 10 and 11, he witnessed to the Gentiles and the whole household was saved
Chapter 12 Peter was back in prison. This time under penalty of death, but because the church was praying unceasingly, the Angel of the Lord released him from prison
Peter performed miracles, signs and wonders. He saw some mighty things. But he also suffered. Only 1 of the disciples/Apostles died a natural death
Each of us will suffer to some degree or another. But we need to remember how Jesus suffered terribly for us.