tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9748383.post5522544267318284623..comments2023-06-24T06:54:23.141-04:00Comments on The Chestnut Tree Cafe: The Word for Wednesday, 10 June EditionJim Wetzelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07358539074647113747noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9748383.post-20171231308680986642009-06-11T15:57:53.874-04:002009-06-11T15:57:53.874-04:00I'm gonna argue with you today, my friend - bu...I'm gonna argue with you today, my friend - but only because you touched on something that the Holy Spirit opened up for me a few months ago.<br /><br />I agree that God promises us trouble, and he keeps all His promises. But I can't go here with you:<br /><br />"trouble is something that you suffer, not celebrate."<br /><br />In the Beatitudes, Jesus told us to "rejoice and be glad" when we are persecuted and insulted and lied about because of Jesus. (Matt 5:10-12)<br /><br />The best actual example of this, I think, is in Acts 5:40-1:<br /><br />"... after calling the apostles in, they [the council] flogged them and ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and then released them. So they [the apostles] went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name." <br /><br />I won't pretend that I rejoice in suffering for His name, but I hope to someday.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com