“And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood. Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore. For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.” — Hebrews 13:12-14
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The spotlight is a familiar place for many athletes. They typically have thousands of social media followers, people buying their jerseys, loud applause when their name is announced before a game in a full stadium or arena, and more cheers when they score or make a big defensive play.
Nevertheless, a career-ending injury could make the clapping and the demand for weekly media interviews stop instantly. Our biggest challenges often happen when we lose our independence or our ability to do what we want to do.
It may seem better to live in the spotlight, receive applause, eat at fine restaurants, wear nice clothes, ride in luxury, and have people pay money to come watch you play in a game than it is to sit at home while waiting. But life is full of changes, and spiritual growth happens when we adapt to all the potholes and rough patches of life. It’s easy to smile when people are telling us how great we are, but it takes someone with a Christlike spirit and a strong dose of wisdom to keep a positive attitude when we are in the midst of troubles and loneliness.
As Jesus observed the ways of the Pharisees, he saw men who adored attention but couldn’t deal with becoming less important when Christ came on the scene. Their jealousy of Jesus wouldn’t allow them to see His greatness while He lived humbly in front of them, and they refused to admit that He is God. Jesus saw them clearly and told us not to be like them: “They love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; they love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by others. But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers” (Matthew 23:6-8).
The Christian life is wonderful and worthwhile, but it is not easy. It doesn’t keep us from illness, financial loss and other setbacks that could happen at any moment. We saw this when Christ went from popularity to disgrace in one day as He suffered the humiliation of the cross. But when we see Heaven with spiritual eyes, our current suffering is made more bearable. “And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood. Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore. For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come” (Hebrews 13:12-14).
When your heart is anchored in the eternal instead of temporal “happy” circumstances, you will endure hardships with more peace and grow in character.
— Bill Kent, Pastor of Memorial Baptist Church, Sylvania, Georgia
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