Follow The Leader

For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps.

1 Peter 2:21

You show up bright and early for the first day of your new job and sit down with your boss to review your job responsibilities. Everything looks good—meet deadlines for reports, monitor departmental budget, supervise junior staff—until you get to the last item: “Suffer extreme persecution, harassment, and loss of some privilege for the sake of the company.”

Whoa! Are they serious? Not many people in today’s world would agree to a job that required them to suffer for the sake of the company. Yet, in a manner of speaking, that’s what Christians are asked to do. For instance, when Paul met the Lord Jesus Christ on the Damascus road, Jesus said He was about to show Paul “how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake” (Acts 9:16). And Paul never wavered throughout his life.

We are not promised deliverance from every hardship in this life. In fact, we are told that we will suffer. How often are you surprised at the suffering you experience in this life?

Following Jesus means imitating His example in all things—even suffering for the sake of the gospel.