For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake,
Philippians 1:29 ESV
When I read verses like today's submission from Philippians, I often feel a twinge of guilt with a surge of thankfulness. My guilt comes from realizing that in a country where I am free to preach, teach, and proclaim the Gospel, I have done a minimal amount of any. Jail is not a threat. Beatings are not a danger. Loss of property is not a consideration. But still the proclamtion of God's love and Jesus' salvation remain behind the safe doors of Ridgecrest or within the confines of like-minded social groups. The surge of thankfulness comes from the fact that I do live in a country where, if I chose, I could freely proclaim God's love and Jesus' salvation.
This morning as I prayed over today's verse, I realize that even though beheadings and jailings do not happen in the United States for preaching the Word of God or living a Christian life, we do suffer for our beliefs. Not being a part of the "in" group at work because we won't go that after-work happy hour. Losing a business contact because Sunday morning is spent at church rather than on the golf course. Not taking that extra vacation because 10% of our earnings are tithed each month. Not having that ice-cold beer after work because the Holy Spirit's conviction about drinking. While these do not in any equate with the social, emotional, and physical persecution so many Christians suffer in other countries, they are forfeitures even American Christians make.
Suffering happens at many levels. Perhaps suffering is not the correct work for what takes place to American Christians, maybe inconvenience is a better word. But at the end of the day, all Christians are asked to make sacrifices for His name sake.
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