It can be painful to follow Jesus; which is why many seek to find an easier (seemingly) path. And there are no shortage of those paths either where you will find plenty of company to join you. (Matt. 7:13)

But I should also mention that this ‘pain’ I speak of is…different…than the pain and suffering which so many people suffer needlessly and is often ‘self-inflicted’. Now I know some would be quick to chime in here and state matter-of-factly that: ‘pain is pain’. So maybe I can explain it this way…

How many of you have felt, if not been tormented by, the pain of guilt and regret because of actions taken or maybe words spoken to a friend or loved one (for example) that damaged forever, a relationship you once cherished? How many restless nights have you shed tears in the dark over a broken heart because the damage that occurred from that ‘falling out’ you had; and all seems lost and hopeless. And to make matters worse, you know your ‘sin’ played a huge part in bringing on this pain and suffering. I mean, the word tells us repeatedly that sin has consequences and will eventually lead to death. (John 5:14; Gal. 6:8; Rom. 8:13)

Or maybe you were NOT…the source or cause of that sin that brought about painful results. Perhaps you were indeed, the ‘victim’ and an undeserving one at that. Yet not only was the pain you experienced genuine and deep, it only worsened over time and was compounded by the fact that like any open wound can do…it lead to serious infection. You know, those ‘spiritual germs’ (I would call them unclean spirits) worked their way in to your heart in the form of resentment and anger. The infectious wound grew only more painful as bitterness and unforgiveness began to spread throughout your body.

I’m speaking to professing ‘believers’ now, as you ‘know in your head’ you ‘need to forgive’; but you find it so difficult to do so. I mean…after all, you did not deserve what happened to you.

Dare I remind us all that neither did Jesus ‘deserve’ what He endured? And yet not only did He ‘preach forgiveness’, He demonstrated it as well. “Neither do I condemn you…” (John 8:11) He told the woman caught in the act of adultery. Or as spikes were being driven through His flesh He prayed: “Father, forgive them…for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34).

Anyone remember what my post yesterday was about? *Hint* - loving others as Christ loved us.

But going back to the message of forgiveness that Jesus ‘preached’; may I direct your attention to Matt. 18:21-35. You can read through the whole passage on your own but I want to point out the last three verses there (32-35). The servant who had been forgiven of a great debt by the king, one he could have never repaid, then turned and refused to do likewise for someone else. When the king caught wind of this, he was angry and brought the servant before him, even calling him ‘wicked’. And do you know what the king did after that? He had this servant handed over to the ‘torturers’ or tormentors. You can probably guess what their ‘job’ was – to inflict pain and suffering. But this next and final line in that passage is a bit sobering, to say the least. It was spoken by Jesus who said, in regards to what had transpired in this parable…”So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.”

So there you have it…there is a pain that comes as a result of the consequences of our sins. There is also a pain that we can expect to experience that even when we are not guilty of committing the sin or offense, we then in turn refuse to forgive the one who committed the offense against us.

I could also bring in to this discussion that there is ‘pain’ associated when God ‘chastens’ us as well. (Heb. 12:7-11). But there really is a reason for this process and it is all about the hopes of us ‘turning’ that we might repent, be restored, and ‘saved’. (1 Cor. 5:5; 2 Pet. 3:9)

So what about this ‘other pain’ I speak of that is…’different’? Well, the pain that comes from following Jesus has more to do with the ‘putting to death’ this old sinful nature that not only ‘needs’ to die, but ‘must’ die if God is going to fulfill His ultimate plan in you (Gal. 5:24). This is the ‘suffering’ a believer is called to and can expect to endure that Jesus spoke often about. And I would liken it to the pain that an athlete in training feels or experiences. It’s a pain they almost relish in, professing a genuine love for it with catch phrases like ‘no pain, no gain’. Runners and weight lifters speak often of this ‘phenomena’ like getting a ‘runner’s high’. I will tell you here and now that I am no authority on this experience but I sure hear and read about it a lot. ;-)

Do you think this was what James was eluding to when he suggested we ‘count it all joy’ when we encounter these test and trials that are there for us to ‘endure’ so that we might be made ‘perfect and complete’? (James 1:2-4)

So, Yes…there will be some ‘suffering in the flesh’ that you will experience as you follow Jesus and are conformed into His image. (Rom. 8:28-29). But where I think we have failed to teach God’s people adequately is this idea that it’s not enough to simply ‘say you believe’ in Jesus; but you really do have to follow Him in obedience. And He expect us to follow Him if we are truly making Him Lord of our lives. (Luke 6:46; Heb. 5:9)

“For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.” - Jesus (John 13:15)

Jesus really didn’t leave much room here for us to interpret and spin our own take on what it means to be a “Christian” today. He demonstrated and modeled it out rather plainly for us all to see and learn.

This would be how “all would know” if we were truly a follower of His. (John 13:34-35) Jesus was the ‘template’, the ‘original’, the ‘Master Plan or pattern’. And we were told it would be unwise to try and compare ourselves with ourselves or anyone else other than Him. (2 Cor. 10:12)

It is the image/likeness of Jesus…that we are being ‘conformed to’. (Rom. 8:29). He is the One we are to ‘walk just as He did’ … IF…we are abiding in Him. (1 John 2:6)

“Let this same mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus….who humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross”. (Phil. 2:5-8)

“For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps…who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth…who when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously.” (1 Pet. 2:21-23)

“Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin…that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.” (1 Pet. 4:1-2)

“Be imitators of God as dear children and walk in love as Christ also has loved us...” (Eph. 5:1-2)

Friends…can it be said any more plain or clear than that?

And for all those who still think Paul continued, after his conversion, to remain… the ‘chief of sinners’, always struggling with sin and falling in to sin, let me ask you this: IF this was the case, why would he admonish any believer to ‘follow him as he followed Christ’ if he was unable to overcome sin and the flesh? ( 1 Cor. 11:1) Or what about that other statement he often repeated found in Gal. 5:21…those who continue to practice these things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

This would be about the right place to interject this admonition to see just how well we all are doing with that…since Paul said we ought to ‘examine ourselves to see if we are even ‘in the faith ‘ and to ‘test ourselves as to whether Jesus Christ is in us…implying we could actually fail that test or examination’. (2 Cor. 13:5) Now hang with me here….Please.

If anyone has the slightest inclination to truly wanting to serve, follow, and love the Lord; and you do indeed ‘hunger for righteousness’ (Matt. 5:6)…you may be close to ‘throwing in the towel’ in discouragement if you are truly looking into the ‘mirror of God’s word (James 1:22-25) and don’t like what you are seeing.

But believe it or not…this is not a bad place to be; I kid you not. Because if that place of despair and/or hopelessness describes you, despite all the years of you ‘trying to be a better Christian’, then I have some good news for you. You’ve been trying to do it in your own power. Where we often get tripped up is when we ‘mis-apply’ that verse we want to lean on, reminding ourselves that “it is only by His grace”.

Grace…was not some canopy or band-aid to cover up all our flaws and missteps of sin; on the contrary…this grace was/is the power of God that would transform us to be something we could never be on our own- Christlike. (Titus 2:11-14).   Join me tomorrow?