"For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like those condemned to die in the arena. We have been made a spectacle to the whole universe, to angels as well as to human beings. We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, we are dishonored! To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless. We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; when we are slandered, we answer kindly."
1 CORINTHIANS 4:9-13
To know Jesus - his truth - his spirit - his purpose - is to see him. When you see him - his great love - his great perfection - you are banished into a complete relationship to him by the will of the spirit - and by the truth revelation that will fill your entire being.
It is seeing the unseen when this happens - you feel heaven and know that eternity is real - and it is the real truth of Christ Jesus. In this truth - nothing else matters, but to speak the gospel to teach and share about Jesus - to unmask the mystery of God - to build his kingdom - to allow his spirit to live in me - such that in your suffering - they too will see Jesus in me and be saved.
In Jesus, you are redeemed for eternity. Suffering in this life for love in the name of the Lord is but for a short time in the scope of eternity. God is love and provides unfathomable everlasting peace in the face of persecution - in hardship - in sorrow. The God of love lives forever and his grace lives from everlasting to everlasting in his kingdom.
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