One of the big lessons we can learn from the Bible is that God wants us to be prepared. There are a lot of warnings in the Bible, and we’re told many things in advance so we won’t be surprised. There are also many examples we can look at, particularly things that happened to Jesus Christ, that give us hints about what we might go through.

Following Jesus in Everything

Writing about Jesus, the author of Hebrews said, “he was obligated in all things to be made like his brothers, that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make atonement for the sins of the people” (Heb. 2:17, WEB). He became like us, and we’re supposed to become like Him. If Jesus did something, then we shouldn’t be surprised that we’re supposed to do that as well.

“If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you too ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example—you should do just as I have done for you. I tell you the solemn truth, the slave is not greater than his master, nor is the one who is sent as a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you understand these things, you will be blessed if you do them.”
John 13:14-17, NET

We’re supposed to follow Jesus’s example. We’re even supposed to become perfect just like God the Father is perfect (Matt. 5:43-48). We can also expect that many of the things Jesus experienced will be things we go through as well. He took part in flesh and blood like us, He was tempted just like us (though He never sinned), and He learned humility and obedience just like we have to (Heb. 2:14; 4:15; 5:8; Phil. 2:5-8). If something happened to Him, we shouldn’t be surprised that it happens to us.

“Remember what I told you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they obeyed my word, they will obey yours too.”
John 15:20, NET

We might marvel when we look at how the disciples handled persecution in the book of Acts. They even rejoiced “because they had been considered worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name” (Acts 5:41, NET). They’d seen Jesus persecuted and they knew that they shouldn’t expect to be treated better than their master. He put up with unjust persecution for following His father, and so they put up with unjust persecution for following Him. It’s part of following His example.

Image of foggy mountains overlaid with text from 2 Peter 3:1-2, NET version: "Dear friends, this is already the second letter I have written you, in which I am trying to stir up your pure mind by way of reminder: I want you to recall both the predictions foretold by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles." — Image by yamabon from Pixabay

Expecting Tough Times

We get to see how the disciples handled the truth of Jesus’s statement that, “If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you” in the book of Acts. We also get to read about Peter’s take on this topic in his first epistle, where he applied Jesus’s words to the whole church body of believers (and expanded it to include other types of suffering as well).

Dear friends, do not be astonished that a trial by fire is occurring among you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice in the degree that you have shared in the sufferings of Christ, so that when his glory is revealed you may also rejoice and be glad.
1 Peter 4:12-13, NET

Often when something bad–or even just inconvenient–happens to us, our human reaction is to bemoan, “Why me?” Peter thinks we shouldn’t be surprised by tough things, even if it’s something that could be categorized as “a trial by fire.” It isn’t strange, it’s just part of life as followers of Jesus. Our Messiah suffered persecution, so why shouldn’t we? He was tempted and tried (see Matt. 4:1-11), so why wouldn’t we be? That doesn’t make it easy, but it is expected.

We sent Timothy, our brother and fellow worker for God in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen you and encourage you about your faith, so that no one would be shaken by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are destined for this. For in fact when we were with you, we were telling you in advance that we would suffer affliction, and so it has happened, as you well know.So when I could bear it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith, for fear that the tempter somehow tempted you and our toil had proven useless.
1 Thessalonians 3:1-5, NET

Like the people of Thessalonica, we’ve been given warnings that life will be hard sometimes. We read the Bible and listen to sermons, and we know that following God doesn’t exempt us from facing trials (though He does promise to work all things out for good in the end and give us a way to endure trials [Rom. 8:28; 1 Cor. 10:13]). That doesn’t always stick in our heads, though, when bad things happen. That’s one reason it’s so important to be connected with Messiah’s community–so people can check on and encourage you just like Paul did for the Thessalonians.

For this is the gospel message that you have heard from the beginning: that we should love one another,not like Cain who was of the evil one and brutally murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his deeds were evil, but his brother’s were righteous. Therefore do not be surprised, brothers and sisters, if the world hates you.
1 John 3:11-13, NET

John spends a lot of this epistle talking about how God loves us and our duty to love Him and each other. He also points out that when we love in a Godly way, it’s a radical departure from how the world lives. We’re supposed to love our fellow Christians–everyone who is fathered by God, practices righteousness, and is growing toward perfection (1 John 3:1-16). In contrast, many people in the world hate those whose deeds are righteous (John 3:19-20;15:18-19). That shouldn’t surprise us–it’s been that way since Cain and Able.

Other Warnings

Image of a person standing at the edge of a pond looking at a tall mountain, overlaid with blog's title text and the words, "God gives us many insights into how the world works, what we can expect, and what we're looking forward to so that we can develop a deep, strong faith and trust in Him." — image by chriszwettler from Pixabay

I didn’t plan on this blog post to focus so much on persecution and trials, but when you start studying warnings that’s a main theme that pops out. I suspect it’s because God and the Biblical writers know that the hardships we encounter can keep us from enduring unless we develop a strong root system of faith (see Mark 4:1-20). There are other warnings, though, and cautions so that we’re not surprised.

“For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. Remember, I have told you ahead of time.”
Matthew 24:24-25, NET

God tells us a lot about the future. We don’t know when the end time events that He prophesied are going to happen (Acts 1:6-7), but Jesus gave us plenty of warnings about what those times will be like and how we’re supposed to guard ourselves as we get closer to the time of his return (Matt. 24-25, and many other prophecies). He told us these things before they happened so that we won’t be misled (Matt. 24:4-5), alarmed (Matt. 24:6), deceived (Matt. 24:24), unprepared (Matt. 24:42-44; 25:1-13), or shirking our duties (Matt. 24:45-51; 25:14-46).

God doesn’t tell us exactly what’s going to happen or when in our lives, but He doesn’t leave us in the dark about his overarching plan. We won’t know the specifics of trials we face before they happen, but He warns us they will happen and promises He’ll be there through them. He wants us to join His family, and sets us up for success.

“You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I am.I have told you now before it happens, so that when it happens you may believe.”
John 14:28-29

When we see God follow through on His promises, it strengthens our faith. He’s given us many insights into how the world works, what we can expect, and what we’re looking forward to so that we can develop a deep, strong faith and trust in Him. We can have confidence and peace, knowing that God has already assured us of His good plans and purposes related to us and the world. We can also trust Him through trials, knowing we’ve been warned of them in advance and having the perspective that God will use them to refine us and that He’ll be with us no matter what comes.

Featured image by Pexels from Pixabay

Song Recommendation: “Sparrows” by Jason Gray

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I’m borrowing the title for this post from a sermon I heard last month. The speaker said “Does my personal example matter?” was a question Google didn’t have an answer for, and he was right — searching this phrase only turns up results on “personal matters” and “personal opinions.” Searching for “Why is it important to set a good example?”, though, turns up some interesting results. On the first page, you’ll see articles on parents setting a good example for children, leading by example in the workplace, and the importance of role models. Clearly, there are those who believe your personal example does matter.

Most of the articles I saw connected setting an example with leadership. Indeed, this is inherent to the English definition of the word “example” (as found on Merriam-Webster.com):

: a person or way of behaving that is seen as a model that should be followed

: one that serves as a pattern to be imitated or not to be imitated

: one that is representative of all of a group or type

In the Greek, we have several words translated “example,” but they build a similar picture to our English idea. Tupos (G5179) means a print, prototype, pattern or model. Hupogrammos (G5261) is something that’s written down so it can be copied. Hupodeigma (G5262) refers to an example, pattern, or representative of a type. Deigma (G1164) means an example, specimen, or sample.

A Model To Follow

As Christians, we’re called both to follow an example and to be an example.

For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps (1 Pet. 2:21)

This verse is the only time hupogrammos is used in scripture. The word comes from hupo (before/under) and grapho (to write). It paints a picture of a teacher writing out letters and phrases for a student to copy. In effect, Peter is telling us to study and “trace over” the lines of Christ’s life exactly.

We can also learn from the examples of our fellow believers. James tells us to “take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience,” and mentions Job as a specific example (James 5:10-11). These and others, like the people in the faith chapter, are positive examples modeling Godly life.

Other examples show us what not to do. Israel’s history was “written for our admonition” and “these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted” (1 Cor. 10:11, 6). Ananias and Sapphira are another example of how we ought not to act. Such examples serve as a model of what happens when we stray from God.

Jesus Christ is the key to knowing which examples to follow. Paul writes, “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ” (1 Cor. 11:1). We need to know the example of Christ, follow Him, and check our role models against the pattern He set. Only then will be be able to tell which examples are worth imitating.

Being An Example

I mentioned earlier that setting a good example is connected with being a leader. Everyone in the church has leadership and ministerial responsibilities, though to different extents and in different roles. We’re all part of “a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you” (1 Pet. 2:9). Part of this calling involves Jesus Christ making “us kings and priests to His God and Father” (Rev. 1:6). Those are roles of responsibility, roles that people look to for an example.

As we follow the Lord, we can inspire and reach others by our examples, as the Thessalonians did. Paul wrote to them, saying, “you became examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe. For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth,” and not just locally. Their faith in God “has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything” (1 Thes. 1:7-8). Their example was more effective at preaching than words.

Indeed, we teach by what we do equally (if no more) effectively than by what we say. Writing to a young minister, Paul told him to teach “sound doctrine,” yes, but also to lead by example — “showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility” (Tit. 2:1, 7).

Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock (1 Pet. 5:2-3)

Representatives

In addition to patterning an example for other believers, we’re also supposed to be examples of what a Christ-follower looks like.

Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. (1 Tim. 4:12, KJV)

No matter our age, ability, gift, or role in the church, we can serve as a representative of the Christian type. We are “the epistle of Christ … written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.” (2 Cor. 3:3). We can be seen, “known and read of all men” (2 Cor. 3:2). Indeed, as some have said, you may be the only Bible some people ever read.

Our example doesn’t just “matter.” It’s powerful. We have the amazing opportunity, and responsibility, to show the world how God’s people are supposed to live — to be Christ’s body as we model His love for our brethren and for everyone on the planet.

Tag: example

Don’t Be Surprised