The Saints and the Witness

Continued 👇🏾 The saints and the witness of suffering The saints who believed in God and set an example of faith endured the same suffering. Saint Paul speaks of them, saying: “Saint Paul writes: “What more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets  who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in battle, and put foreign armies to flight. Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Others suffered mockings and scourgings, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, they were slain with the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, afflicted, mistreated wandering in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth of whom the world was not worthy.” (Hebrews 11:32–38) This passage speaks of those who were exiled and afflicted for righteousness’ sake men and women whose faith made them strangers in the world, yet heirs of a kingdom that cannot be shaken. Their suffering was not defeat but testimony, and through their endurance the glory of righteousness was revealed. The apostles themselves fought this good fight and taught us to do the same. Paul exhorted Timothy, saying: “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were called… keep the commandment without spot or reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which He will display in His own time the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords.” (1 Timothy 6:12–15) When our Lord carried His cross toward Calvary, He said to the women who wept for Him, “If they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?” (Luke 23:31) By this He meant that if such suffering was laid upon the sinless Son of God, how much more will His followers endure who are themselves frail and sinful. Therefore, He told them to weep not for Him, but for themselves and their children. Thus, the Christian life is not separated from suffering; it is purified by it. To endure trials for righteousness is to imitate Christ Himself, for through the cross we are made worthy of His glory. part 5 Continues ... May the name of the Holy God be praised forever and ever in every tongue that He has created, today and always. May the blessings of God's mother, the virgin, and the cross be upon us. Amen. © John's Repentance Reach out to us on our social media platforms and share it with your friends:https://linktr.ee/johnsrepentance