“Mommy, can we get a puppy? I promise I’ll take care of it.” Many children make this plea to their parents. However, parents realize loving a fuzzy puppy requires commitment, responsibility, and obedience. It’s not all fun and can seem like suffering at times.

Committing to a relationship, animal, or job requires responsibility and can involve suffering. In your commitments and relationships, what good moral standards will you obey? Will they come from imperfect people, or will you choose to obey the instructions of Christ and follow his example? Will you choose Christ’s healthy standards and do the right thing even if you suffer?

What’s the Difference Between Suffering from Persecution and Just Suffering?

Many believers and nonbelievers believe all suffering Christians endure is God’s will. However, this is a lie. All suffering is NOT God’s will. We must know God’s truth about suffering for Jesus, which is persecution, versus allowing others to hurt us. We must understand several principles about suffering to see clear lines.

• Not all suffering is bad when consequences teach us valuable lessons. If you don’t go to work, you don’t get paid.
  
• Suffering due to your faith in Jesus Christ or God is the definition of persecution. Jesus tells his disciples about persecution.

"If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. (John 15:18-21 ESV)

• Suffering as a result of any form of abuse is not the will of God, nor is it following Christ’s example. Jesus never let anyone abuse him in any way. He gave himself into the hands of the Romans and Pharisees to fulfill the Scriptures and obey God’s plan, which brought great suffering.
  
• Suffering from choosing to be a person’s doormat versus persecution to prove you are a good Christian is not following God’s word or Christ’s example. Abuse is a choice to sin perpetually. Abuse is used to exert power and control over another person. Abuse is NEVER God’s will.

We must stand firm on the foundational teachings of faith in compassion and love without fighting. Standing in the foundational principles and standards of Christ’s love will go against the world and make others uncomfortable. However, we must not feed into the fight but rather share Christ’s word and be the extension of his compassion and love. 

Share God’s truth in love and let people choose. If they refuse, leave in love and move to the next opportunity. Never buy the lie that Christians must take any abuse to prove they are following God. Understand the difference between persecution and abuse. Remember, it’s never God’s will for us to be abused.

Jesus Chose Obedience and Suffering Because He Loved God and Us

God and Jesus lived in perfect peace in heaven, yet they chose to come to earth. They chose to experience life in a human body with all human emotions and frailty. They treasured us so much that they sacrificed everything to give us the opportunity to choose to live for them on earth and into eternity. Jesus chose to obey God’s plan and endure his suffering of crucifixion on the cross and bear the punishment for all the sins of humanity because of his love for us.

But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Rom. 5:8, ESV)

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33, NIV)

God’s goodness is the opposite of Satan’s evil. Living for Christ goes against the world’s morals and standards, which Satan influences. However, Jesus came to give us hope, eternal life, indescribable peace, and his supernatural strength to overcome our temptations and earthly challenges.

Being Christ’s Disciple Will Bring the Suffering of Persecution

Saying you are a Christian and living as a disciple of Jesus Christ has become twisted. Believing in God and Jesus does not make you a Christian, which means Christ-follower. If you don’t follow God’s ways, commands, and the example of Jesus in every area of your life, how can you proclaim to be his disciple?

Being Christ’s disciple only happens when you have a deep personal growing relationship with him daily. When you grow close to God and Jesus, you will develop a hunger and thirst to study and know God’s word and truth for yourself. You will obey their instructions and commands and live a life of continual repentance. 

You will work with Jesus daily in complete surrender to be transformed into his likeness regardless of what it costs. You will choose obedience and persecution for your faith in God and Jesus over caving into the world’s evil immorality and standards of living. You will live in total obedience to God and Jesus, even if you suffer death.

Jesus knew that his mission was now finished, and to fulfill Scripture he said, "I am thirsty." A jar of sour wine was sitting there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put it on a hyssop branch, and held it up to his lips. When Jesus had tasted it, he said, "It is finished!" Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. (John 19:28-30, NLT)

What Will We Choose When Suffering Comes?

There’s no way for Christ’s disciples to avoid suffering persecution on this broken earth in our imperfect human condition. But Christ dwells inside his disciples. They can live for God in obedience and triumph through their persecution. Any suffering from persecution now for their short life can never compare to living in perfect joy for all eternity. When their body dies, their soul walks into the arms of Jesus and they live in heaven forever! 

Choosing to follow Jesus must come from your love and gratefulness for his sacrifice and the repentance of your sins. Letting Jesus be the Lord of every aspect of your life ignites your desire to honor him and God and bring them glory. 

If God and Jesus were willing to sacrifice everything for us, why wouldn’t we trust and obey their ways even if we suffer persecution? What will you choose in your life?