29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake; Philippians 4:29 KJV
There’s far
more to this life than trusting in Christ. There’s also suffering for
him. And the suffering is as much a gift as the trusting. Philippians 4:29 The Message
On May 5, I will celebrate my 52nd birthday. Leading up to that day, I will be asked a couple of times, "What do you want for your birthday." Each year my list of birthday wants shift more from stuff to things like "a good night's sleep", "this pain in my lower back to go away", "the regrowth of hair", etc. But I can remember the days of yore when my list would be filled with bicycles, bb guns, or stereo systems. After reading today's verse from Philippians, I had to wonder about God's idea of a gift--suffering.
"Okay, let's see. For my birthday I would like a new pair of running shoes, a Kindle Paperwhite e-reader, and some suffering. Not sure what size I need in the suffering, or the style, but I really would like some hardship this year."
According to Paul, we cannot expect to have just the good stuff from our relationship with Christ. Peace- "I'll take two." Joy- "Load me up." Eternal life- "Give me an extra large." Suffering-- (cue chirping crickets)
Suffering is a guarantee for Christ's followers.
12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 2 Timothy 3:12 ESV
2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, (note "when" not "if")
James 1:2 ESV
How we choose to view suffering places it in the gift or curse category. (One caveat: We need to be sure our suffering is for the good we are doing for Christ. If we are living a life of sin, the suffering allowed into our lives is not what is being referenced in these passages. God can take that suffering and use it for good, but there is a difference between being persecuted for righteousness sake, and the bad things that befall us for our bonehead actions.)
--Suffering allows us to comfort others who are suffering. It provides us with the needed empathy.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who
comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort
those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we
ourselves are comforted by God.
2 Corinthians 1:3-5 ESV
--Suffering is proof of our connection to God.
14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. I Peter 4:14 ESV
--Suffering for good is pleases the Father.
But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.
2 Peter 2:19 ESV
Is suffering a gift or a curse? It's all about perception.
No comments:
Post a Comment