We have a culture and value system that increasingly seeks to avoid pain at any cost. It even affects Christian culture. We may not realize it, but this is a form of leprosy. The greatest danger of leprosy is that it destroys the nervous system so that the person feels no pain.
If their hand is in the fire, they don’t feel it and the hand is destroyed. So too, when a culture tries to avoid all pain – it becomes leprous. If you seek to avoid all pain, you will never live a life of righteousness, godliness, and greatness.
Righteousness involves sacrifice and even pain. There is redemption in pain. God created it to alert you of danger to life. If you have pain in your body, it’s alerting you that something is wrong – so you can address it. If you have pain in your soul, it’s to tell you something is wrong.
You can fix it and it can help you.
Don’t go through your life seeking to avoid pain, or have only pleasure. Live your life seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. And all these other things will be added to you.
Today’s Mission: Today, seek not to avoid pain and pursue pleasure. But seek to pursue righteousness and the will of God , no matter pain or pleasure.
Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
1 Peter 4:12-14
God bless,
Mark