Who are YOU? Not your role Not your position Not your relationships You are not your own if you belong to Christ What tells you who you belong to? Suffering Being mocked

Ps 119:49 Remember your word to your servant, for you have given me hope. 50 My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life. 51 The arrogant mock me unmercifully, but I do not turn from your law. 52 I remember, Lord, your ancient laws, and I find comfort in them.

53 Indignation grips me because of the wicked, who have forsaken your law. 54 Your decrees are the theme of my song wherever I lodge. 55 In the night, Lord, I remember your name, that I may keep your law. 56 This has been my practice: I obey your precepts.

1. Staying in the Word takes practice 56 This has been my practice: I obey your precepts. Discipline is the key What do you do every day? Why? Love letters Pour over Allow yourself grace

2. Suffering happens to godly people 50 My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life. Be careful about making suffering evil all the time How can God know the date of our death if illness is not part of His plan? Ps 139:16 Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. NIV

2. Suffering happens to godly people 50 My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life. God sometimes “sends” affliction Sometimes it happens as a result of the fall Aging/suffering will happen to all- our fabric “Be careful not to curse your blessings”

3. Staying in the Word when suffering will become a life theme 54 Your decrees are the theme of my song wherever I lodge. We daily face a plethora of tiny moral decisions What is your basis for right? Daily say “What dos the Bible say about this?” What if your response was the Bible to: a diagnosis A death A loss

4. Unrighteousness makes me mad 53 Indignation grips me because of the wicked, who have forsaken your law. We often look at those who don’t care at all about God, and see: Financial success Material “blessings” Ease Why do they have it good, and I get this? This is a text you can relate to in your anger!

4. Unrighteousness makes me mad 53 Indignation grips me because of the wicked, who have forsaken your law. Following God is not a guarantee of financial success However, following the principles/morals of the Bible means you don’t waste money on unhealthy items that cost a lot. You don’t know if a person’s seeming financial success is a result of unscrupulous actions without the guidance of God’s Word. You don’t know their conscience.

I have a steady hope when people mock me 51 The arrogant mock me unmercifully, but I do not turn from your law. 49 Remember your word to your servant, for you have given me hope. Those who follow the teachings of the Bible are always mocked Mt 10: 22 You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.

Do not seek to bring on persecution Jn 15:18 “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. 20 Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. 21 They will treat you this way because of my name… Do not seek to bring on persecution “Rejoice and be glad”- you are known for Jesus living inside of you

I have a steady hope when people mock me Jesus was mocked by unrighteous people Mt 27:27 Then the governor’s soldiers ... stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, 29 and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said. 30 They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. 31 After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.

So What? Who do you belong to? If you are Christ’s, then the Bible becomes your guidebook for life. Use it to inform every decision Use it for comfort Use it to define “you.” Expect suffering as part of life God didn’t turn His back on you If you are mocked, rejoice in your companion