Mary Grobe - Missing NOT YOU, BUT JESUS
By Linda Sedrick PearsonIf someone attacks you and you are a Christian, it is not you but Jesus they are attacking.
Let's take a look at a man named Saul who was persecuting the Christians. (Acts 9:1-2 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.)
He was dragging them up before the magistrates, knowing that most likely they would be murdered for their faith in Jesus Christ.
Acts 9:4-6 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.
The Lord Jesus confronted Saul on the road to Damascus. When Jesus confronted Saul, Saul never denied that he had been persecuting followers of Jesus Christ. Actually, Jesus said that Saul was persecuting Him (Jesus)! Saul never denied that accusation.
When a person accepts Jesus Christ as LORD and Savior, he or she becomes one with Jesus. So, if a Christian is being persecuted or tormented, it is really Jesus the attackers are persecuting and tormenting.
How wonderful to have such a close relationship with someone that if you get slapped--Jesus feels it more than you. If you get cursed--Jesus is the one being cursed, not you. If someone tells lies about you, it is not you but Jesus they are lying about.
Whatever comes against you, remember it is not you they are coming against, but Jesus they are attacking. God knew you would not be able to carry any thing on your own. Jesus told us to take up the cross and follow Him
Mark 10:21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, "One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow Me."
He knew we would need help to carry our cross. Jesus needed help to carry His to Calvary.
Luke 23:26 And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus.
(See also Matthew 27:32) Notice that Simon carried the cross behind Jesus.
You are to take up your cross and begin to carry it. When you do, remember that it is not you carrying that cross, but Jesus. There is nothing that comes against you as a Christian that Jesus doesn't feel. Whatever happens to you, happens to Jesus. Whoever attacks you, attacks Jesus, not you.
You stand strong in your tribulations and trials because it is NOT YOU, BUT JESUS that is going through that. Yes, you still feel the hurt and the anger. You feel the sorrow and the pain just as Jesus does because of the close relationship with Jesus. But you stand strong. You pick up that cross and you walk behind Jesus. Follow Him. When you do, Jesus will take care of it.
† © 2003 GOD