español 9Marks Explained : A Letter From Mark Dever

The Imperatives of Suffering

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When Christians suffer, they need the indicatives, the facts of the gospel.  They need to know the promises of God, the benefits of being in Christ, and the reality of the presence of the Holy Spirit.  Those truths are our comfort when we are wounded, slandered, or tempted.

But suffering believers also need the imperatives, the commands.  Yes, we need to know the objective truths of the gospel.  But we also need to know what to do with our hands and our hearts and our minds in the meantime.  And we find in these imperatives sure footing for difficult times, a clear statement of God's will when we don't intuitively know what to do.

  • But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. (Matthew 5:44 ESV)
  •  Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. (1 Peter 5:6-7 ESV)
  • Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. (James 1:2-3 ESV)
  • Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. (James 5:13 ESV)
  • But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. (1 Peter 3:14-16 ESV)

In your counseling and care, don't neglect the imperatives!

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When we realize that all true Christ followers have suffered in the past, then there is no difference today. Besides suffering makes human beings better Christians by putting our faith to the test. God bless

I agree. God molds us in our bad as well as good circumstance. I gues we should be worried if nothing is happening in our life.

It was comforting to hear , in a sermon the other day, that most Christians are going through stuff so God and mold us into his likeness. If you are going through stuff that should be a concern that God isn't working in your life. I'm learning that we must at every moment take things to God, praise God, spread God word.

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