Suffering for...

Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. 

Colossians 1:24 NIV

I participate in a Precepts Bible Study class at my church on Sunday mornings and we are studying the book of Colossians. I made a comment about these verses and the person who was leading asked me to review these verses next week when I lead the study. The guy next to me looked at me and said, "Good luck with that."

I'm not going to get into the "Why do good people suffer?" topic. I'm just going to point out that like Paul, we sometimes suffer and God uses that suffering to strengthen his body, the church. Paul taught the Corinthians that "just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ" (II Corinthians 1:5). Now, we usually just hear the previous verses about God comforting us so we can comfort others, but we tend to overlook the suffering that needs comfort component. The point is that God uses our suffering for the sake of his body, the church. 

Remember we are the body of Christ, the living, visible, and active extension of Christ hear on earth. I don't know if someone needs to necessarily see us suffering so much as God uses our suffering. Not everyone saw Paul get forty lashes minus one, beaten with rods, pelted with rocks or shipwrecked ( see II Corinthians 11:23ff). He was beaten and pelted because he was preaching Christ crucified and shipwrecked and imprisoned because the enemy did not want the truth of Christ to be heard. So, if you suffer, look to Christ for comfort and press on to serve the Lord with all you heart, mind and soul.    

Counted Worthy

The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.

Acts 5:41-42 NIV

Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 

1 Peter 4:12-14 NIV

Be Faithful, Not Afraid

“To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again. I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! I know about the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.

I wish I could tell you that as soon as you decide to follow Jesus everything goes perfectly. It would be lovely it that was so. It's just not the reality of life as a Christian. We do have trials. We still don't see the end from the beginning. Painful things happen.

Yesterday, one of my best friends, who was the best man at my wedding, went to be with the Lord. He had been in a terrible accident several years ago that resulted in the loss of a lung and the use of one arm, not to mention nearly the loss of his own life. He was in constant pain. Before I got married we used to go to Rudy's Diner for breakfast on Saturday mornings. I remember many a conversation around why God would allow suffering. Eventually he healed enough where he could get around. He volunteered as a greeter in church. He learned to be faithful, even in the struggle. Now, he is part of that great cloud of witnesses. 

Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who is victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death.

Revelation 2:8-11 NIV

Why Suffer?

Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. 

1 Peter 4:1-2 NIV

What do you live for? What's your attitude? I worked with a guy who lived to fish. His attitude was "work hard, play hard". Even though fishing was definitely more meaningful to him them work, his attitude made him a good person to work with. 

As Christians, aliens in this world, our attitude, based upon what we know is true about God and his will for us and this world, our attitude can help us deal with the temptations, trials and sufferings we will encounter. 

Christ suffered for the joy that was set before him (Hebrews 12:2). We are not told that he enjoyed the suffering.  The joy was knowing that we would become children of God, the sheep of his pasture. As Christian we will at times endure suffering. That means pain. That means you would rather not. That means God has counted you worthy to share in his sufferings. Paul, at his conversion, was told how much he would suffer for Christ's Name (Acts 9:16). He wasn't told he would write a huge portion of the New Testament. He wasn't told he would be one of the central figures in early church history. He was told he would suffer. 

The deal is this: suffering gets our eyes off of earthly desires. Maybe it's because when we are truly suffering we wish to be rid of these bodies and their pain. In some way God uses that pain to focus our attention off ourselves and he brings our focus around to realizing that we must live for the will of God. It's not the pain of the moment, it's the promise that gives up hope, courage and strength. 

What I Need to Hear, Not What I Want to Hear

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.

Philippians 1:29-30 NIV

Let's face it, sometimes we only hear what we want to hear. We'll listen to a sermon and "critique" it. Not because it wasn't the truth, but, it just wasn't what we "needed" to hear. Maybe it was but, we just weren't willing to hear it. 

Suffering is never what we really want to hear is part of the plan. But, it is. Barry McGuire wrote a song (From a poem by Robert Browning Hamilton) entitled Walked a Mile and the chorus was

Walked a mile with pleasureShe chattered all the wayLeft me none the wiserWith all she had to sayWalked a mile with sorrowNever a word said sheBut oh the things I learned from herWhen sorrow walked with me

Hearing that suffering is what we need may not be the best news we can hear, but knowing that in all things God works for the good of those who love him (Romans 8:28) is what we need to know. God uses trials and suffering to mold us into the image of Christ Jesus our Savior and Lord. Remember Christ suffered for you. 

Link http://lyrics.wikia.com/Barry_McGuire:Walked_A_Mile

utube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilBRJ70LRXs

You Can't Follow From Ahead

Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.  If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take them into your house or welcome them. Anyone who welcomes them shares in their wicked work.

2 John 1:9-11 (NIV)

Have you ever walked with someone who does not know where they are going but they walk ahead and you have to catch up to them and then get them back in the right direction? In a way that is what the Apostle John is talking about. 

Back in eighties one budding group of churches started to really explore the depths of the movement of the Holy Spirit. I think their intent (to know Christ in a deeper way) was good, but, they ended up doing a lot of questionable stuff. They went from "singing in the spirit" to "laughing in the spirit" to being "slain in the spirit". When people started to say things like, "If you read something in the Bible yet sense the Spirit telling you something different, go with the Spirit," then I knew for sure they had gone to far ahead. 

It is good to want to know Christ in a deeper way, but remember God is not the author of confusion so he won't give you conflicting directives. Paul said he wanted "to know Christ in the and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death," (Philippians 3:10).

Remember, you can't follow Christ if you try to run ahead of him. 

Father, help us to follow you and not get ahead and off track. Praise be to you in us today. 

WHO ME? SUFFER?

Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. 

I Peter 4:1-2

I think one of our normal impulses is to avoid bodily suffering. Also, physical or maybe corporal punishment kind of went out of vogue in the sixties and seventies. That may be part of the reason why these verses can seem so foreign to us. Early Christians who suffered for their faith in Christ, often suffered physically. Peter and John were threatened before the Sanhedrin (Acts 4) and later flogged (Acts 5:40). Although I believe Christianity is under attack here in the United States, we generally don't suffer physically for our faith. 

The suffering of Christ, not just on the cross, but leading up to the cross is so radical because he chose to suffer for our sins. Suffering is to remind us that Christ suffered for our sins. Life is not really about fulfilling all our desires. True life can only be found in knowing Christ. Knowing Christ is knowing his death and resurrection. That is why Paul spoke of "the fellowship of sharing in his suffering, becoming like him in his death" (Philippians 3:10-11). 

The point is that in whatever form suffering comes, let it remind you of the death Christ bore on the cross for you. 

Father, thank you for counting us worthy to suffer in any way for you. Praise be to you in us today!

ARE YOU AFRAID OF DOING GOOD?

"Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear what they fear, do not be frightened." But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord." I Peter 3:13-15a

Sometimes we are afraid to live by faith. Afraid of what people might think. Afraid of having to explain ourselves. Afraid of being different. Afraid of failing. Afraid that God might let us down. 

Job said, "Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him" (Job 13:15a). Sometimes faith seem foolish. Sometimes doing what we know is right in Christ may seem odd to those around us. It may even seem odd to us! But what others may think is not what is most important. Knowing that we are doing what God says is right is most important. How God views us is what counts and he sees us through the righteousness of Christ. That is why we should seek to please Christ, as our Lord. 

The wonderful truth is if we do what is right we will be blessed. even if we suffer for doing what is right, we will be blessed. 

Father, thank you for being Sovereign over all. Thank you that if we seek to live by faith and do what is right, in the end you will work all things for our good. Praise be to you in us today!

MURDERERS AREN'T MARTYRS

For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God. But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.

I Peter 2:19-21

There is a big difference between suffering for doing what is right and suffering the consequences for doing something wrong.  If you do what is right, trying to love others with the love of Christ and people oppose you that is different than committing a crime, ending up in prison and complaining that you don't get to see your family. 

I recently finished reading the book 7 Men and the Secret of Their Greatness by Eric Metaxes. One of the men was Dietrich Bonhoeffer. He was a pastor and dissident anti-Nazi. He ended up in prison and killed for his beliefs and stand against Hitler. The apostle Peter describes that a commendable. 

Dennis "Macho" Colon was convicted of murder and sentenced to life and prison in June of 2012. He complained to the judge that the sentence was too harsh because he would not be able to see his family. That is not commendable. 

So, what is the point? If I live to please God I will try to do what is loving and serve others. That is commendable. That is what I should seek to do. Go back to verse 16 which tells us to use our freedom to live as a servants of God, not as a cover-up for evil. Honestly, it's not that complicated. I remember my mom once saying, "If you don't break the law, you won't get chased by the police and you won't have to worry about how hard they  tackle you." 

Father, help us to enjoy our freedom in Christ and to live lives of love, serving others. Praise be to you in us today!

AM I PATIENT YET?

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 (NIV)

I don't know about you, but for me, patience in any situation is hard, let alone in the face of suffering. I think it's hard because we can't see the end. All we can see is the here and now. God works from eternity. 

In the book of Job we start out with a view from eternity seeing behind the scenes that Jobs sufferings were not because he was sinful but because he was  a righteous man and the devil was trying to prove that he could make him turn from God if the right amount of suffering was applied. After it all God blessed Job more than before. 

The bottom line is that no matter what we are feeling or experiencing, God is full of compassion and mercy. God longs to be gracious to us and will rise up to show us compassion (see Isaiah 30:18). 

We can't see the end from the beginning, but we know that God does and he is working all things out for the good for those who love him. You are loved by him.

Father, thank you for your love for us. Open our eyes to see you in our lives. Praise be to you in us today!

IS IT OK TO ASK GOD WHY?

"If I have sinned, what have I done to you,
     O watcher of men?
 Why have you made me your target?
     Have I become a burden to you?
 Why do you not pardon my offenses and forgive my sins?
 For I will soon lie down in the dust;
     you will search for me, but I will be no more."
 Job 7:20-21

Job loses his entire fortune and his family, except his wife, whose advice was to curse God and die (Job 2:9). His best friends come and sit with him for seven days and wait for him to speak. Then Eliphaze basically says you get what you deserve (3:7-8) and you reap what you sow. Pretty much saying, "You had to do something to deserve this, so, check yourself." 

In chapter 1:5 we are told that Job offered sacrifices for his children. I think we can safely assume he offered them for himself because in 7:21 he asks God, "Why do you not pardon my offenses and forgive my sins?" Job did not think he was sinless, that is why he looked to God to pardon and forgive him. 

The lesson is that it is OK to ask God why? Asking God why is different than demanding, "How dare you?" Job knew God to be just and forgiving, Sovereign and compassionate. The prevailing theology of the day, that if you suffered you suffered because you sinned, did not make sense to Job because he knew his relationship with God was good. We can see from the context of the book that he was suffering because Satan just hates people who love God and his desire is to ruin their faith (read our faith if you will).

If you are suffering it is OK to ask God why. Maybe you do need to check yourself (I often suffer self-inflicted wounds), maybe not. Whatever the reason, God reigns and God loves you. 

Father, thank you that we can seek you in our suffering. Comfort us and reveal yourself to us as we wait on you. Praise be to you in us today!  

OBEDIENCE, SUFFERING, PERFECTION

"Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him and was designed by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek." Hebrews 5:10

Think about that, Christ learned obedience. He learned it from what he suffered. His obedience has brought us salvation. This perfection, this completeness of Christ's obedience and suffering results in our perfect salvation. 

Our obedience is our acceptance of his salvation. We obey because we do believe. We accept that we our sinners in need of forgiveness, mercy and grace. We look to him to intercede on our behalf. He does so perfectly. He is the source we continually look to for our salvation. He forever is our High Priest. 

Father, help us to obey. Thank you for our perfect Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Praise be to you in us today! 

TROUBLE? GOD IS PRESENT/ Psalm 46:1-3

"God is our refuge and strength,
     and ever-present help in trouble.
 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
  and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
 though its waters roar and foam
     and the mountains quake with their surging." 
 Psalm 46:1-3

What's your trouble? God is present. Is the earth giving way? Are the mountains falling into the depth of the sea? Is your life falling apart all around you? God is "ever-present". 

As much as I don't like to be in the midst of chaos and a life crisis, I have know the presence of God there. Sometimes after everything is stripped away, only God remains. In the silence. In the aloneness. Only God remains...

Father, help us to see you and hear you when things seem to fall apart all around us. Praise be to you in us today! 

GET LIFE TO THE FULL: II Timothy 1:10

"But it has now been revealed through the appearance of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel." II Timothy 1:10

Jesus proclaimed, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full" (John 10:10). 

Here is the bottom line: to be truly alive you have to be in Christ, everything else is just prolonged death. All joy, all sorrow, all life finds its' reality in Christ. From the fellowship of his sufferings to the hope of the place he is preparing for us in heaven, there is life, true life. If you think you understand suffering, think about the cross. If you think you understand being let down by your closest friends, think about all the disciples deserting Christ. If you want to know giving, Christ gave his very life. If you want to know life, it is found in Christ.

Father, open our eyes to see life, life to the full, that you have given us in Christ! Praise be to you in us today!