Suffering for Christ

Christ’s mission on earth was very clear to Him. He knew that He didn’t just come to exist and walk the face of the earth aimlessly; He was here to fulfill a divine assignment. He also knew that rejection, opposition and suffering was going to be a part of His ministry and it was not going to be easy, yet He wasn’t afraid. He set Himself up to accomplish His God given assignment, and He did. Knowing your mission in life gives you the courage to press on even when things are not right or not working. Your mission in life will keep you grounded no matter what comes your way.

Look at Nehemiah for example, he was called to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, yet there were so many people who were against it. Nehemiah did not lose hope; he kept working despite opposition, intimidation and discouragement from the enemy, and he put his trust in the Lord his God. When God called Jeremiah, he commanded him saying;

“Get yourself ready! Stand up and say to them whatever I command you. Do not be terrified by them, or I will terrify you before them. Today I have made you a fortified city, an iron pillar and a bronze wall to stand against the whole land— against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests and the people of the land. They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord ~ Jeremiah 1:17-19 NIV

God has called us to serve Him with complete devotion and without fear because He will deliver us from all our enemies. He has called us out of the world, but since we live in the world, Jesus says that the world hates us (John 15:19). Understanding this will help us to focus more on what we have been called to do and to put our confidence in God knowing that no matter how much rejection or opposition we face, He will deliver us.

…being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus ~ Philippians 1:6 NIV

With that said, I believe that I am justified to say that working for Christ is not a walk in the park. It demands sacrifice, endurance and perseverance. Of course it’s not limited to these three. God, who chose you, chose you for His own purpose, and therefore you must know that your divine assignment here on earth will attract a lot of opposition, rejection and suffering. This is inevitable.

So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God ~ 2 Timothy 1:8 NIV

Paul, one of the greatest apostles who has ever lived, suffered more than any of us ever will. Willingly and joyfully, he suffered on behalf of others and for the sake of the gospel.

I have spoken to you with great frankness; I take great pride in you. I am greatly encouraged; in all our troubles my joy knows no bounds ~ 2 Corinthians 7:4 NIV

Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches ~ 2 Corinthians 11:23-28 NIV

Before he was converted, he used to persecute, kill the believers and inflict suffering upon them, but when God called him, He promised him that he will have to suffer for the sake of His name (Acts 9:16). It should go without saying then that suffering is part of the job description of serving Christ.

Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear ~ Philippians 1:12-14 NIV

Through his sufferings, the believers gained courage to face persecution. The church is the body of Christ and so this means that when Paul suffered, Christ also suffered. What Jesus began as suffering with his persecution and rejection on earth, believers complete in His continuing body on earth. As such, we should not be surprised when we go through tough times. For us to be able to serve effectively, we should expect persecution and suffering. In order to share the gospel, it’s necessary for us to share in Christ’s afflictions. For us to be able to endure and suffer joyfully, we must understand that suffering is part of discipleship. As someone has said, Christ’s followers are recognized by the trials they endure because they follow a suffering Savior.

I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death… ~ Philippians 3:10 NIV