Sharing in His Sufferings
I remember in my university theology classes, one of my first assignments was to write an exegesis- a critical explanation or interpretation of a text, especially in regards to Scripture. Today I want to exegete two verses, one written by the Apostle Paul and the other by the Apostle Peter on the topic of suffering.
“12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. 16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. ”
“12 which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me. ”
For anyone that becomes a Christian, they have been grafted into the family of God AND have been “entrusted” with the Gospel message. We find this word “entrusted” in 1 Timothy 6:20 and 2 Timothy 1:12. Our walk with God boils down to trust- trusting Him with our lives, our loves, our desires, and our sufferings.
We have all been appointed with gifts for the purpose of serving our generation. Paul’s appointed gifts were: preacher, apostle, and teacher (2 Timothy 1:11). As we go through life we will suffer- Christian and non-Christian. But Peter urges us in 1 Peter 4: 12-16 to rejoice as we share in Christ’s sufferings. There are sufferings in this world that are only unique to Christians as followers of Jesus, and there are sufferings that are directly correlated to our appointed gifts that God has called certain people to fill.
Beth Moore’s Thoughts
Best selling author and renowned Bible study teacher Beth Moore explains it like this:
“A measure of your pain and hardship really is in connection to your calling. Some of it is spiritual warfare. Some of it is sociological resistance because the world hates us as it hated Christ (John 15: 18-19). Some of it is ordained by God for our growth, our humility, our compassion, our obedience, our completion, our faith, and read this carefully, our future commendation, joy, and fellowship in His glory. If we have a throw-down fit and refuse to partake in the sufferings of Christ, we will miss partaking in the explosive joy of that measure of His glory.
As we might have to suffer for Christ, or go through other kinds of suffering, may we realize that suffering and hardship may also mean that we got it right. Moore also points out that “sometimes suffering bubbles up form the well of God’s immeasurable affection and devotion to us.” Our human troubles are short and will produce a glory that will be everlasting (2 Corinthians 4:17)
As you walk with God and seek to trust Him in the good and bad seasons, ask yourself: Do I have vision enough to believe He’s planning one of the biggest harvests of my life through the seed of the word I’m sowing through this hard season?
Happy Friday- be blessed and bless someone else!