| Photo by Elisey Vavulin on Unsplash
As a follower of Jesus, we will face suffering, trials, and crises. We are not exempt from them as long as we are in this world.
Romans 5: 3-5 gives us the benefit of being a follower of Jesus.
Sufferings will produce these benefits in our lives:
- Suffering produces endurance! That we realize that Jesus is the only answer. We realize there is no quitting as we follow Jesus. We never give up following Jesus!
- Endurance produces character! Character is integrity and becoming more like Jesus. Growing to be more like Jesus. Are we becoming more like Jesus the longer we live for Him?
- Character produces hope! Are we growing in hope? Are we becoming a person of hope? Faith? The expectation that Jesus is coming again?
- Hope realizes that we are growing in God’s love because the Holy Spirit has more and more of us!
We cannot follow Jesus if we do not have His Spirit in our lives! Lord, I give myself to You today!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Pastor Ronald Squibb has been the International Christian Church (ICC) Lead Senior Pastor at Staten Island, New York, since 2011. He draws many experiences from his over 40 years as a pastor and significant emotional life experiences.
His new book, Following the Journey with Jesus, which he co-authored with Daniel McNaughton, was recently published and is getting rave reviews. His daily devotional appears in this publication.
