Suffering for Christ? What is he worth to me? - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing,
majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of
him and what came to my mind and heart in Philippians 1:29,

"For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to
believe in him, but also to suffer for him, since you are going
through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still
have."

Not only have we been given opportunity to believe in Jesus Christ
through the gospel message, we have also been given the opportunity to
suffer for him. This is not a message that is heard in all quarters of
the church today. Prospective believers are told they can experience
God's perfect plan for their lives, they are told they can escape the
difficulties of this life, they can experience what can only be
thought of as a blissful life in a peace that transcends all
understanding, Philippians 4:7. Some are even told they can experience
financial blessings and good health if they place their faith in Jesus
Christ - an escape from whatever seems to be troubling.

Paul points to a different experience here for believers. He speaks of
suffering "for him [Christ]." Certainly, many blessings come to those
who embrace Jesus Christ in faith. This is the same letter where Paul
tells us we can in fact have our hearts and minds guarded by the peace
of God - a peace that does transcend our understanding. But
nevertheless, there is suffering that accompanies our salvation. A
suffering with purpose and a suffering managed carefully by our God
who loves us so much that he gave his Son to suffer an horrific death
on that cross to secure our right standing in his court.

The immediate suffering in the occasion of Paul's Philippian letter
was his imprisonment. He says it was to "advance the gospel."
Philippians 1:12. His imprisonment had lead to an impact on the "whole
palace guard and to everyone else". As such he was in chains for
Christ, 1:13. Later in this letter, Paul points to the suffering of
Epaphroditus, the man the Philippian church sent to care for Paul's
needs while imprisoned. Epaphroditus almost died, risking his life
"for the work of Christ." 2:30.

We read of other purposes suffering plays in the lives of believers.
Paul says, "Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because
we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character;
and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God's
love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who
has been given to us." Romans 5:3-5. Suffering plays an important role
in our spiritual maturity. Paul also speaks of the reality of
suffering in the lives of believers in Romans 8:17-18, "Now if we are
children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if
indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in
his glory. I consider that our present sufferings are not worth
comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us."

James reminds his readers of the example of the prophets when faced
with suffering, "Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in
the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the
Lord. As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You
have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally
brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy." James
5:10-11. Peter points to suffering as that which proves faith, "In all
this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have
had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that
the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which
perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and
honor when Jesus Christ is revealed." 1 Peter 1:6-7.

In 2 Corinthians 1:3-7, Paul tells us of a wonderful outcome of the
suffering God has designed for us, "Praise be to the God and Father of
our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all
comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort
those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.
For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also
our comfort abounds through Christ. If we are distressed, it is for
your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your
comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same
sufferings we suffer. And our hope for you is firm, because we know
that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our
comfort." Our suffering equips us to bring comfort to others.

Paul tells us of the suffering those in the early church experienced,
"For you, brothers and sisters, became imitators of God's churches in
Judea, which are in Christ Jesus: You suffered from your own people
the same things those churches suffered from the Jews who killed the
Lord Jesus and the prophets and also drove us out." 1 Thessalonians
2:14-15. The writer of Hebrews speaks of the suffering of his readers,
"Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when
you endured in a great conflict full of suffering. Sometimes you were
publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood
side by side with those who were so treated. You suffered along with
those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your
property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting
possessions."

I'd like to think I have suffered for the cause of Jesus Christ on
occasion. While I'm sure that has happened, I suspect what suffering I
have experienced has often been at the cause of my own
thick-headedness. We might call that suffering for "other than the
cause of Christ." But when it comes to real legitimate suffering for
the cause of Christ, I am persuaded of Paul's words, "I consider that
our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that
will be revealed in us." Romans 8:18. Of this I am greatly excited!

Contemplating what I am willingly eager to suffer in behalf of Jesus
Christ establishes my own measure of his worth to me.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share
what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to
hear from you!

Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com