Conversation Conversations

Conversation:

Jesus: Paul prayed to know how to suffer according to the pattern of My death. You pray to get out of suffering. Have you ever prayed to get into it? I know many sufferings are useless. I will heal and remove that kind of suffering. However, suffering in the pattern of My death is precious and powerful.
Disciple: Jesus, I have been following this book for 38 weeks. You have revealed much to me. But I can't handle suffering.
Jesus: Lay down your life and take up your cross.

Response:

Suffer in the flesh, as Jesus did. "Therefore arm yourselves with His same mentality. He Who has suffered in the flesh has broken with sin" (1 Pt 4:1).

Conversation:

Jesus: Suffering and joy are not contradictions. In fact, the more you accept My kind of suffering, the more joy you can receive (1 Pt 4:13). Your sufferings can be meaningful rather than useless. I left room for your sufferings in My plan of salvation.
Disciple: Jesus, I know I am an heir with You if only I suffer with You so as to be glorified (Rm 8:17).
Jesus: Will you pray for redemptive suffering?
Disciple: No.

Response:

Suffer for being a Christian (1 Pt 4:16).

Conversation:

Jesus: I want to heal you from useless suffering and for meaningful, redemptive suffering. Then you'll pray with Paul to share in My sufferings.
Disciple: Jesus, I'm contradicting myself. I say I believe what the Bible says about the redeeming power of suffering. Nevertheless, I won't pray for suffering, even using the words of the Bible. I'm afraid. Jesus, free me from this paralyzing fear.

Response:

Suffer for righteousness' sake (Mt 5:10).

Conversation:

Jesus: When you get serious about building My kingdom, you'll be interested in praying for redemptive suffering. I work through this kind of suffering.
Disciple: Jesus, how do I know whether a suffering is good or bad?
Jesus: Is it in the pattern of My death? (Phil 3:10) And does it build the Church? (Col 1:24)

Response:

Suffer as a privilege (Phil 1:29).

Conversation:

Jesus: I told you there's joy in suffering. There's also peace in suffering or more precisely in Me. I will give you peace beyond understanding (Phil 4:7). Will you pray for suffering like Mine?
Disciple: Jesus, I don't even take up my daily cross (Lk 9:23), much less pray for any more suffering.

Response:

Suffer like Jesus.

Conversation:

Jesus: We're not primarily talking about suffering but relationship. No one likes to suffer, but we do it to be with someone we love. Why does a wife sit at the bedside of a sick husband? To share in his sufferings.
Disciple: Jesus, I notice that Paul first prayed to know You personally and then to share in Your sufferings (Phil 3:10). May my relationship with You be deep and more personal so I would want to share with You in everything, even in suffering.

Response:

Suffer for Jesus.

Conversation:

Jesus: Calvary for you is not a hill in the Middle East. Calvary will probably be at home and work. There you will suffer redemptively. There you will be persecuted. The agony in the garden will come in a parking lot or the backyard. The crucifixion will be at the office, living room, or bedroom.
Disciple: Jesus, I pray to suffer in the pattern of Your death. Thank You for giving me the grace to make this act of faith. Thank You for the sufferings of Your life, a 33-year Calvary.

Response:

Suffer at work because you are not ashamed of Jesus.