Building 429 - UnashamedSample

## Earth Shaker “Because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that we might suffer too...” Ouch! Sometimes there are parts of the gospel that are hard for us to hear. As we walk through this life, the cuts and scars that will always hurt the most will come from those who we hold the closest. Is it possible that our reaction to this pain is meant to be a mirror of Jesus’ reaction to the cross? Is it possible, that your response to the verbal assault ofothers is meant to mirror the reaction of Jesus during his trial? Wherever you are today, whatever fire you may feel like you are coming under remember that you bear witness to all that Christ has done in this world. Remember that an “eye for an eye” has been replaced with “love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, and spirit, and love your neighbor as yourself.”GIVE GRACE to the undeserving, for you were undeserving. BE PATIENT when it would be easy to be angry. BE KIND when it would be easy to strike back. REMEMBER: to this we have been called, and in the end we will see God’s mighty hand at work all around us when we choose to live out His love for the world. Suffering is sure to come, but no one ever changes the world without challenges, without being broken first. When I was writing “Earth Shaker” the one thing I could not get around, was that most of the people who shake the foundations of the world have to ENDURE great struggle first. Let us find strength to endure today. And let us give grace, be patient, and show kindness as Christ has before us.