Suffering

We live in a fallen world.  When our Savior entered into humanity, he subjected himself to (and conquered) the same pressures, temptations, and challenges we deal with each day.  He instructed his followers that following Him would cost them something. For each of us, that “something” is something different but we know that suffering will assuredly be part of our life and part of our journey.  The role of suffering should not be understated because it is one of the things that lets others see how we respond to suffering and how we lean on Him during good and bad times. 

 

In his blog entitled Counterfactuals, Convulsion, and Conquest, Pastor Doug Wilson states “a great reformation and revival…will happen the same way the early Christians conquered Rome. Their program of conquest consisted largely of two elements – gospel preaching and being eaten by lions – a strategy that has not yet captured the imagination of the contemporary church.”

 

If you subscribe, as I do, to Pastor Wilson’s thinking in the quote above then you’ll have to grapple with the idea that the suffering of Christians is likely going to increase.  How much will it increase?  Perhaps as much as those in the early church where suffering was a common occurrence. 

 

This side of heaven, life is not promised to be easy.  As much as I’d love to think you won’t suffer in your lifetime, I know that you will.  When  you are in the midst of suffering also remember that God’s glory is further revealed through your response.  Not many are willing to endure the suffering that it requires to be a follower of Christ but as Paul says, finish the race and finish strong.  As counterintuitive as this may seem, suffering for Jesus is a blessing!