#sufferingforchrist

[youngdisciples]

“For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body.” - 2 Corinthians 4:11

The Christian life is filled with so many mysteries and a paradox of opposite things. If we are truly in Christ, we will suffer and get rejected. However, if we live without Christ, we will have a life without spiritual hardships but will suffer eventually. So, we can really think that Christian life is indeed a life filled with opposites. Sometimes, we will just ask why can’t we have a perfect life? A life with no problems, and no struggles. Other people even thought that being in Christ means having a perfect life, but real Christians know the struggle. 

Again, this is not to discourage us from not accepting Christ as our Lord and Savior, but this is to open our minds that Christian life is not easy. Just like the life of Paul, it is actually an example of the Christian life that is blessed by God, but also an example of how hard it is. It is hard because just as Paul said in our verse today, we are all alive to be always given over to the death of Christ. That is why the Christian life is full of opposites. We have life in Christ, we are fully given a life everlasting in Him, but we are also targets of the enemy. The enemy will always want our deaths and hates us. Just like Jesus, we will be hated by the world. Through the cost of the blood of Christ, we have been bought by the blood of Christ. We will live, but we will die and pass-through this temporary life. 

So, we will really face all of these challenges because we are the bringers of light. The darkness of this world, the evil forces of this world will always try to take us away from the light. Then we will have to die in Christ so that His life will be revealed in us. After all, we died with Christ when He died, and we will also live and resurrect together with Him. So, we must expect to have a lot of struggles in this world. We will be rejected and persecuted, but we must not worry for we will have to be given into the death of Christ, we will have to die in Christ so that we will live in Him, and live through Him. 

Therefore, we must always remember that our sufferings are not wasted. We suffer not because we are being persecuted by God, but we suffer because we are bringing the light of Christ. Let us be encouraged that we are suffering, we are weak here, but we are strengthened in Christ, and we are alive in Christ. May we always put in our minds that we are saved by grace through faith and that we are alive in Christ. We must live our lives in Christ, and offer our lives as living sacrifices to God.

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[youngdisciples]

We are all suffering in this fallen world in our own ways. Either we are suffering because we don’t know God or we are suffering because we know God. That’s why people can ask, “What’s the difference between being a Christian and not?” After all, both are suffering. We can really not see any difference between the two. Either way, the bottom point is that we are suffering here in our fallen world. 

However, Peter ushers us into a different mindset and truth. As much as Paul reminded us to rejoice always even if we are suffering, it is indeed hard for us to understand this. So, as we read our verse today coming from the writings of Peter, we now understand the difference between the unbelievers and believers. Although all of us are suffering in this fallen world, at least we know that what we are suffering is for Christ and that there will be the glory that will be revealed to us in the future. 

As Christians, we are suffering for Christ, and amidst suffering, God has given us this hope and we are looking forward to being overjoyed when His glory will be revealed. We Christians are suffering in this world but we have the assurance of salvation and that we will not suffer anymore once we have eternal life. Unlike the unbelievers, they are blinded by the truth. Thus, they are hopeless and they are just suffering because of the sins they are doing and that even after they die, they will continue to suffer. 

Now, we must remember that our eternal life rests only on Christ. We have no other means to receive it but only through Him. Therefore, as we look forward to life without ending in the presence of God, we will feel unexplainable joy. So we must rejoice while we are suffering right now because we know we will be overjoyed in the future. Now we know that even if we are like the unbelievers who are still suffering in this world, at least we are suffering for the sake of Christ, not for the sake of our sins. 

May we always understand that God encourages us to suffer for Christ not because He wants to see us suffering but because we can’t help it. We are living in a world that despises Christ, and if we are following Him, we are despised too. Now, the only thing that we can do, instead of dwelling on our sufferings, let us rejoice in it. Let us learn to rejoice even if we are suffering because we are not suffering for anything but we are suffering for Christ. Therefore, whatever we do, let us rejoice always for the sake of Christ. Let us look forward to the joy that is coming which can only be found in Christ.

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[youngdisciples]

Have you seen a soldier in training? Have you heard that soldiers are trained to always put their mission first before their personal needs? Did you know that a soldier’s duty is to uphold his mission before his life? Service to the country and to the public before self? Well, most of us know this and most of us can relate to this. 

In our verse today, we are once again reminded by Paul about suffering. Indeed, the word ‘suffering’ is such a scary and heavy word. There will be so many questions in our head that will really pop up, “Why do we need to suffer?”, “I don’t want to suffer, I cannot even suffer for my parents so why would I do it for someone else?”. However, Paul wrote this to remind Timothy to suffer with him. 

At this time, Paul is at the prison held captive. However, we can see that even if he is at the prison, captive, he still had the courage and the strength to encourage Timothy to join him in suffering. Funny thing is that, if Paul said those words in today’s generation, he would get a bold answer of “no way!” because young people nowadays, like Timothy's age will not willingly suffer for anything for the sake of anyone. Yet, Paul still encourages Timothy to suffer with him and metaphorically say that they will be like soldiers but for Christ. 

Why do you think Paul confidently asked Timothy to do this? How can someone ask someone to suffer with them? Well, it is because Paul knew that Timothy knew it was for whom they would be suffering for. Paul knew that Timothy understands the depth of this suffering and the joy they will reap soon. They both knew that the suffering they will be enduring was nothing compared to the suffering Christ has endured for them. However, Paul also knew that Timothy is young and young people tend to be swayed and always driven by their emotions, so he had to always remind Timothy about the suffering they will be enduring but the rejoicing they will be having after it. 

Now, as for us, either young or adult we must also be reminded that we are all soldiers of Christ. As believers and followers of Christ, we are all soldiers who should not think of our own self but who always look ahead, focused on the mission. We should not forget that this suffering we will be enduring is not only for anyone but for Christ. This suffering is present because the world hates Jesus Christ and as followers of him, we are too hated by the world. 

Therefore, let us also be encouraged by Paul and join with him in suffering. After all, we are not just suffering for anyone but we are suffering for the Gospel. It is better to lose the world than to lose our soul to the world. It is always great to know that even if we suffer, we will have eternal life waiting for us. We should understand that Jesus Christ did not enable this suffering to test us or to make ourselves worthy of the salvation because nothing in our power can make us worthy of it but only because of His grace. Yet again, this suffering is present because everything around us is imputed with sin. Sin has been controlling the world and God is holy. Sin and holiness can never be friends or equated together, so it has always been the complete opposition. 

Sin will always hate holiness, and holiness will always hate sin. Therefore, as people who are already covered in Christ’s perfect righteousness and holiness, we are given a new nature. That nature hates sin already and because of that, the world will hate us and that is why there is suffering for those people who follow Christ. However, this encouragement from Paul should also be our encouragement. He is at the prison held captive but he still rejoices with his suffering. So, we must do this too everytime we are persecuted because of Christ because we are soldiers of Christ. 

May we always focus on our mission like soldiers and rejoice in our suffering. Let us always remember that our present sufferings are nothing compared to the suffering Jesus Christ underwent for all of us. We should put in our minds and in our hearts the true understanding of suffering and we should always hold on to the promise of God. After all, this is just a temporary world and our life really belongs to Christ who made everything possible even the salvation of the worst sinners.

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[aclayjar]

Standing the Test - Romans 16:10a

Standing the Test - Romans 16:10a Greet Apelles, whose fidelity to Christ has stood the test.Romans 16:10a NIVThe sixteenth chapter of Romans is primarily one of greetings. Paul started with a series of greetings to people in the Roman church, followed by passing on greetings from those with him. One of those he greeted was Apelles. We know nothing about this man apart from this simple greeting. But it is a greeting that contains the highest compliment. He had stood the test.What test Apelles faced is unknown. Was it a single test? Or something that persisted over time? We don't know. All we know is that he faced a significant challenge to his faith. And he passed the test with flying colors. He remained faithful to the Lord amid whatever challenge(s) he faced.We face tests of our faith in various ways each day, although likely nothing that matched what Apelles faced. Will I be faithful to make spending time with my Lord a priority?

[aclayjar]

Overcome Evil with Good - Romans 12:21

Overcome Evil with Good - Romans 12:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.Romans 12:21 NIVDo not be overcome by evil! You might look at this statement and understand it to mean that we should not allow the evil in this world to defeat us. And while that is true, it is not what Paul refers to here. Romans 12:17 tells us not to repay evil with evil. And that is what this verse is referring to. Don't be overcome by my own evil response to other people. Responding negatively when someone does something I don't care for is tempting. But, when I do, I have been overcome by evil.Instead, Paul tells us, overcome evil with good. Don't allow evil to rule in my life. Even when I think someone may deserve my negative response to them, choose instead to respond positively. If your enemy is hungry or thirsty, rather than be happy about their condition, give them something to eat or drink. When you do, you have defeated the evil impulse in your own life.

[aclayjar]

More Than Conquerors - Romans 8:37

More Than Conquerors - Romans 8:37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.Romans 8:37 NIVIn the latter half of the eighth chapter of Romans, Paul has some very encouraging things to say to those who are living in the realm of the Spirit (Rom. 8:9). He tells us that in everything that happens, God is working for our good (Rom. 8:28) and that God is for us (Rom. 8:31)? And, he asks, if God is for us, what can separate us from the love of Christ (Rom. 8:35)? Trouble? Hardship? Persecution? Danger? Or anything else?We may indeed face all of these and more, including death, for the sake of our Lord. But none of them will be able to separate us from the love of Christ. In all these things, we are more than conquerors through the one who loves us.This promise of overcoming is made to those who live according to the Spirit rather than their old nature (Rom. 8:4).

[aclayjar]

Like the Face of an Angel - Acts 6:15

Like the Face of an Angel - Acts 6:15 All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.Acts 6:15 NIVStephen is described as a man full of God's grace and power who performed great wonders and signs among the people. But he also faced serious opposition from a group of Jews who engaged him in debate. And who, unable to prevail in debate, turned to more extreme measures. They hired false witnesses and took him to court, accusing him of blasphemy against Moses and God—very serious charges which could result in the death penalty in a Jewish court.As Stephen stood before the court and his accusers, "they saw that his face was like the face of an angel." I do not know what an angel's face looks like. But I am sure it does not reflect worry, anger, or concern. Instead, it likely reflects serenity, peace, and joy. Did Stephen know what would happen to him at the end of this trial?

[aclayjar]

Responding to Insults: Follow Jesus' Example - 1 Peter 2:21-23

Responding to Insults: Follow Jesus' Example - 1 Peter 2:21-23 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.”When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.1 Peter 2:21-23 NIVHow do you respond when you are insulted? Especially when insulted for being a follower of Jesus? Our natural tendency is to insult back. And all too often, we give in to that desire, responding to an insult with an insult. But Peter tells us that there is a better way to respond.Jesus suffered on my behalf. And as he did so, he left me an example. An example that I should follow. When he was insulted, he did not respond with insult. Nor did he threaten those who beat him and hung him on a cross.