Last Saturday, my wife and I went with a team from church to help a community in Chicago. We spent the day cleaning up and beautifying a community park. This was hard work and I am suffering now with numerous sore muscles. These pains are minor compared to the suffering that others endure because they try to do something good, like free medical work around the world, disaster relief, teaching, first responding, etc. Even beyond the pains that these people endure are the persecutions and murdering of believers in Christ in many parts of the world. These people are giving their lives to spread the good news of salvation, redemption, and hope.
I Peter 2:19-20 says, “For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.” Doing good often requires sacrifice. It is this suffering that God sees and honors among those who believe in Him. God knows this suffering well as He gave His own Son that we might have eternal and abundant life through the salvation provided in His sacrifice.
Reluctant Retiree 