Suffering Shortened Mercifully

The day is coming when you will see what Daniel the prophet spoke about—the sacrilegious object that causes desecration standing in the Holy Place. (Reader, pay attention!) Then those in Judea must flee to the hills. A person out on the deck of a roof must not go down into the house to pack. A person out in the field must not return even to get a coat. How terrible it will be for pregnant women and for nursing mothers in those days. And pray that your flight will not be in winter or on the Sabbath. For there will be greater anguish than at any time since the world began. And it will never be so great again. In fact, unless that time of calamity is shortened, not a single person will survive. But it will be shortened for the sake of God's chosen ones. Matthew 24:15-22

Similar scripture is recorded in Mark 13:19-20. God is going to be merciful and shorten the time so that people won’t have to suffer so much. There will be calamity and anguish so great that it can’t be endured, but God has promised to give relief to the afflicted.

For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 2 Thessalonians 1:6-8 NASB

Endure to the end. That will be difficult for those who are still alive at that time—but endure is the key word. Endure to the end. God’s kingdom will endure forever. God in His mercy will shorten the time of anguish and calamity for the sake of His chosen ones. The Israelites…and the Christians? The Israelites are His chosen ones and the Christians are His adopted ones. Keep on keeping on. In the anguish of the time—don’t give up on Jesus. He didn’t give up on us…as He hung on the cross…He didn’t say—I’ve had enough and call on angels to rescue Him. No. He endured to the end.

Jesus knew that his mission was now finished, and to fulfill Scripture he said, "I am thirsty." A jar of sour wine was sitting there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put it on a hyssop branch, and held it up to his lips. When Jesus had tasted it, he said, "It is finished!" Then he bowed his head and released his spirit. John 19:28-30

Historic Golgotha - Jerusalem

He finished what He came to do…to teach people how to live—to be obedient to the Father—and to be the sacrifice for the sins of all mankind. He did that for you. Don’t be ashamed to tell others about Him…about what He has done for you…and what He is doing for us all. 

So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord. And don't be ashamed of me (Paul), either, even though I'm in prison for him. With the strength God gives you, be ready to suffer with me for the sake of the Good News. For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ Jesus. 2 Timothy 1:8-9 

Live obediently in that grace. That is what I think we are called to do. Endure. Live obediently. 

Prayer ~ Lord God, Help us all to endure and to live obediently. We can do all things through Christ who gives us strength. Philippians 4:13. Make us more sensitive to and appreciative of those believers who are suffering for our sake. When one suffers, as the body of Christ, we all suffer. Please do be merciful and shorten those days of suffering.

Daily Bible Reading: Matthew 25; Mark 14

© 2017 Text and Photos by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.

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