1 Peter 4:19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

Here as Christmas draws close I do not find myself in a festive state of mind. It is difficult to focus on a season of celebration while a loved one suffer. Rather than looking to scriptures about joy, celebration and this advent we are about to remember, I find myself search for scriptures about suffering.

As I read about the sufferings of John Bunyan, the author of Pilgrim’s Promise, I found his scripture of comfort. That was his place of comfort, not mine. Yet seeing that he could find comfort in this scripture when his affliction was so much more than my own gave me pause to ask why.

The keeping of his soul acknowledges that he was already in a good place that he was not willing to surrender to his circumstances. It is easy to get down and surrender to pain, whether physical or emotional. The soul, the mind, will and emotions, has no strength in itself to stand except the character upon which God has built up in you by experience. This commitment to God in these times is a test of character, not faith.

Suffering seems like a lonely place, but it is not. Letting go and surrendering to it is not a lack of faith but a lack of character. All we have to do to remember that is acknowledge that Jesus Christ is the faithful one and since He abides in me, the only thing that binds my actions to my faith in these times is my character.

Job 10:15-16 If I be wicked, woe unto me; and if I be righteous, yet will I not lift up my head. I am full of confusion; therefore see thou mine affliction; For it increaseth. Thou huntest me as a fierce lion: and again thou shewest thyself marvellous upon me.

Luke 2:7d because there was no room for them in the inn.

All that have heard the nativity story over and over again may have come to a point where they are so familiar with this line that they overlook the importance of this one line of scripture.

Matthew 10:14 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.

Jesus sent out His disciples by twos so that in whatsoever houses received them, the gospel was delivered. This delivery of the good news is tied back to the delivery of Christ into this world.

If you have your heart filled with things of this world and you turn away those that have come to deliver Christ into your heart, you have endangered your life.

Matthew 10:15 Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.

Why two disciples? Two issues are required, to receive the gospel as in receive them into your home and to hear the gospel which means to ponder and allow for the possibility that you have heard the truth.

Having witnesses before you is only part of the formula. If you reject offhand their witness, without giving it reasonable consideration, it is no different than slamming the door in their faces.

Witnesses are not salesmen, they are not trying to sell you a bill of goods. They offer truth and life.

“I am sorry, I don’t have time for this!”

Those words may well echo in eternity as a torment of a lost opportunity for salvation.

Is it worth the risk?