If you take a look at Jeremiah chapter 20 (take a few minutes and read through it) you'll see that Jeremiah is in a place of frustration. Jeremiah prophesies the destruction of Judah and Jerusalem because of sins that they have committed and false gods that they worship. His prophecies weren't popular, and he continually endured beatings, imprisonment, and persecution for speaking God's truth.

In verse 9 Jeremiahs says that the word of God is in his heart like a fire and that he is so consumed that he cannot hold it in. Despite his suffering and persecution, God's word has impacted him so that there is no way he could stop from preaching it.

Jeremiah 20:9 But if I say, "I will not mention him or speak any more in his name." his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot.

In Acts chapter 5 the apostles are going around healing and preaching that Jesus was the son of God and has risen from the dead. Although many of the people accepted their message and came to believe in Jesus Christ, the Sanhedrin (an appointed council of judges) did not like the message that the apostles were preaching so the put them in jail. During the night an angle of God opened the jail gates and let them out telling them to return and preach in the temple courts. When the Sanhedrin were told that their prisoners had miraculously escaped and were preaching in the courts they weren't please. In fact they wanted to put them to death for continuing to preach in the name of Jesus after being commanded not to. God intervened, and used the wise words of a Pharisee named Gamaliel to persuade the Sanhedrin not to kill the apostles. Instead, they were beaten and told again not to preach in the name of Jesus. Acts 5:41-42 shows us the apostles' response and it makes me smile when I think about it. After they had been flogged they were overjoyed because they were counted worthy to suffer with Christ! Not only that but they continued to preach the gospel shamelessly to everyone they could!

Acts 5:41-42 The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ."

What would we look like if we were so consumed with God that we couldn't hold him in? If tonight you were arrested for your faith in Jesus Christ and beaten, what would be your response?

Following Jesus isn't easy, the road is narrow and few are those who will find it. But understand that suffering for the sake of Christ is an honor and we should rejoice at every sign of hardship that we endure for the name of Jesus.

Understanding identity in Jesus Christ is an important step in the life of a Christian. As a follower of Jesus Christ you are a child of God.

Romans 8:17 If we are children, then we are heirs-heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

But even as a co-heir with Christ we are not called into being pampered and wearing shiny crowns-not here on earth. Being a co-heir with Christ means sharing in his sufferings so that one day in Heaven we can also share in his glory!

I pray that as a body we are not afraid to share in his sufferings, but that we rejoice in the mist of persecution!

What is your attitude about suffering for the cross?