Our Share of Suffering

Most of us know next to nothing about real persecution or what it’s like to be in chains. When Paul wrote his letter to the Philippians, they were being severely persecuted, and he himself was actually chained between two guards in a Roman prison, somewhere between 61 and 63 A.D. Even though we may not know the first thing about that kind of suffering, what the apostle has to say about the subject applies to our kind, too, whatever it may be. For, you see, we have been given two gifts: the privilege of believing in Christ, and (here’s that mystery again) the privilege of suffering. Amy Carmichael, missionary to India, told of how God had impressed on her mind those two phrases from Philippians 1:29, “not only… but also.” She was in anguish over some matter which she did not reveal, but she was given eyes to see this truth: that everyone who believes must also suffer for Christ.

“For Him?” you say, “But this thing I’m going through –what has that got to do with what Paul meant? I’m not in prison for speaking the truth. I’m not being ‘persecuted for Christ’s sake.’” Not all are given those privileges, of course, but it seems to me that any kind of suffering, if accepted for Christ and from Christ, may be seen as our share. In Colossians 1:24 there is a hint that there is some sort of “quota” of suffering that must be endured, and each of us may bear a part of that if we’re willing to take it from Christ’s hand.” It is now my happiness to suffer for you,” Paul wrote. “This is my way of helping to complete, in my poor human flesh, the full tale of Christ’s afflictions still to be endured, for the sake of His body which is the Church.” It isn’t that we add to the redemptive work of Christ. Not that at all. But in some unexplained way we are allowed to “fill up” His suffering on behalf of His Body. I don’t pretend to understand it. It’s enough for me to know that suffering is a part of belonging to Christ, part of what it means to be a true believer, and a high privilege to be received with joy because, in ways we can’t even imagine now, it matters to all the rest of the glorious company of God’s people.