Why Suffer?
In Philippians 3:8-11 the Apostle Paul wrote, “Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.”
Paul wrote these words by inspiration and revelation from a prison cell. He was speaking both literally and figuratively when he said “I have lost all things for the excellency of the knowledge of Jesus Christ my Lord.” Our question for today is, “am I living for this life or the next?” Paul had his priorities in order and understood about the primary importance of our resurrection from the dead. This topic is the theme of 1 Corinthians 15. The judgement in Romans 14:10 is about the judgement seat of rewards for Christians… those who have been born again of God’s spirt. When we leave this earthly life, the next thing we know is that we are ushered into the presence of the Lord. Our bodies will be changed in an instant at the return of Jesus Christ.
The common English word “martyr” is translated directly from the Greek word “martys.” However, this word is normally translated “witness” in the King James version of the bible. The biblical meaning of the word “martyr” isn’t “one who dies for his cause.” According to the bible, the witness, or martyr, has died to self in order to live as a witness… as a living testimony for Christ. For I was crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I but Christ liveth in me and the life that I now live I live in the flesh I live by the faith of Jesus Christ who loved me and gave himself for me. If we’re not living in Christ and for Christ, it’s impossible to be a witness… To be martyrs giving up our lives in service to him. To understand what it means to “take up thy cross and follow him” means to know what it means to be a “disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ” and a “witness of his resurrection.”
What does it mean to be a “living sacrifice” in Romans 12:1? It means that we give our lives gladly in service to our Lord. It means, “take my life and let it be consecrated Lord to Thee.” If he’s Lord, then “thy wish is my command.” We live to do according to the “good pleasure of His will” when we delight ourselves in the Lord. Giving in service to our Lord becomes a pleasure and a privilege and not a duty or obligation. With this attitude of awe and gratitude we can have the boldness and audacity to follow in our Lord’s footsteps.
David in the Old Testament had boldness to follow his Lord God Jehovah. David was “a man after God’s own heart” and ran to the battle lines according to the will of his Commander in Chief. He did not hesitate to follow his Lord. He was not concerned about “suffering” for his cause. David knew that the battle belonged to the Lord. When he confronted Goliath, David’s battle cry was, “Who art thou to defy the armies of the Living God?” He rejoiced at the opportunity to gladly run to the battle in service to his Lord.
“Suffering” according to the Word of God is a positive rather than a negative term. Jesus himself was “made perfect through suffering.” Through the fellowship of his suffering we are also made perfect according to the will of God. Romans 5 says that we glory in tribulation also. For tribulation worketh patience, and patience experience, and experience hope, and hope maketh not ashamed because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit which is given to us. James says that when trials that produce patience have their perfect work, we will be perfect and complete, wanting nothing. We have been called as Christ’s “witnesses” that we may know by experience the fellowship of his suffering… that we may know that the Lord our God is our SOUL provider and our SOLE provider. God is the source of our sufficiency and not the things of earth. Suffering is our greatest opportunity in life to advance God’s kingdom, to become strong in the faith, and to show the world the greatness of our God. Through suffering we can rejoice like Paul did when God revealed to him, “My strength is made perfect in your weakness, My grace is sufficient for thee.”
Through suffering we learn to “seek the “Blessor” and not the blessing. Psalm 136 repeats the theme: “the Lord is good and his mercy endures forever.” The blessing is not in the things of this world but rather in walking in fellowship with Him. When we turn our eyes upon Jesus we can rejoice in him and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.
May God richly bless you!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael