Suffering – not a subject many like to talk about, but one I have thought about lately.
If we know we are going to suffer for Christ as it says in Philippians 1:29 “For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him” (New Living Translation) how do we consider it a privilege?
I think we first have to define suffering. According to dictionary.com to suffer is “to undergo, be subjected to, or endure (pain, distress, injury, loss, or anything unpleasant).” Whatever suffering I am called to I can share in the hope that Paul told the church in Corinth “Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
So again, how do we look at suffering as a privilege?
For me I have to continually see my identity in Christ and how very much He loves me – “how great is the love the Father has lavished on us..” 1 John 3:1 NIV (emphasis added). One Sunday our pastor went over this verse and said the word lavish reminded him of how his wife will lavish frosting onto her homemade cinnamon rolls! That’s the love the Father has for us: lavish/abundant/bountiful/extravagant/splendid!
I find my identity in Christ through scripture and…
Prayer – the Holy Spirit guides me through my trials and reminds me not to ask out of selfish motivation. James 4:3 says “When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives...” Am I asking for the suffering to be removed just so I can continue on the same path? Perhaps through suffering I and others may see God’s glory.
Rejoicing – in all circumstances as the apostles did in Acts 5. After being flogged and ordered not to “speak in the name of Jesus…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.” I must also continue to rejoice while proclaiming the Good News even, and especially in, situations where it may be uncomfortable to do so.
Doing – being obedient to the Father’s commands of loving God with my whole heart, soul and mind and loving my neighbor as myself. I love using the inspired words of God (scripture) to emphasize a point because they are living, able to change attitudes, convict hearts and can give life, so as James (from the book of James) says: “What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” I don’t want to be a “resounding gong or a clanging cymbal” in my faith walk, but a living example of Christ’s love and salvation to those around me.
Each time for Christ’s name I am mocked, laughed at, insulted, put through hardships, or my weaknesses are shown is the time I count it a privilege and will boast in the power and grace of Christ.
I want to hear “well done, good and faithful servant” as I stand next to Him at the gates of Heaven.