God’s Training School…

 

“We are heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ if indeed we suffer with Him.” —Romans 8:17. 

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Ben-Hur tells the story of a Jewish aristocrat betrayed by his best friend and condemned to serve as a galley slave in the Roman navy. On a forced march to the ship, Judah Ben-Hur meets Jesus of Nazareth, whose compassion fills him with hope. 

Eventually, Ben-Hur saves the Roman commander during battle. In gratitude, the commander adopts Ben-Hur as his son, instantly elevating him from slave to heir. 

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We all know the rest of the story. 

That’s what happens to us when God adopts us into His family. But great privilege brings great responsibility. Paul said that we become “heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer from Him” (Rom. 8:17). 

The gospel does not say, “Come to Jesus and live happily ever after.” God’s syllabus for His children’s education includes training through hardships. 

Ben-Hur’s years of enduring hardship as a Roman slave strengthened him and increased his endurance. He eventually defeated his “friend-turned-enemy” in a chariot race. 

As endurance and training were key to Ben-Hur’s victory, so are they vital to victory in the Christian’s war with sin and evil. The hard times we endure are God’s way to prepare us for greater service for His glory. 

“So, send I you to hearts made hard by hatred,
To eyes made blind because they will not see,
To spend though it be blood – to spend and spare not,
So send I you to taste of Calvary.” 

“Even youths will faint and be weary, and the young will fall exhausted; but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” – Isaiah 40:30-31 

We conquer by continuing… 

Stay Blessed!