Granted
29 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him, 30 since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.
Philippians 1:29-30
I wonder what you would say to someone who asked, “what has God given you?” There’s a bunch of things we might say. Hope. Love. Confidence. Comfort. Strength. But would you ever reply, “the privilege of suffering for Christ.”
You probably wouldn’t. But that’s exactly what Paul is saying. Just as he himself has been granted this privilege, so have the Philippians. But that leaves us with two questions, how are they suffering and how can this be a privilege?
Well. I don’t think they are in prison like Paul. I rekon instead, they are feeling a more subtle form of suffering. It’s the pain of being and living differently to the community around them. It’s the struggle of being pulled back into ungodly ways.
Today, it might be things like feeling you need to travel like unbelievers travel. Or feeling excluded because you haven’t watched the same TV series as your workmates. Or you keep getting invited to things on Sunday and you're conflicted about whether to miss church or not. Don’t be mistaken - these are all forms of suffering.
But how can this suffering be considered a privilege?
Well, to suffer because you resist the temptations of the world and instead remain steadfast for Christ is to be invited to know Christ more deeply. Just as people who suffer similar trauma are brought closer by their shared experience. When we suffer for Christ, it has been granted to us to know Him who endured such opposition from sinners better.
Additionally, we become stronger. Listen to James, “consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
See suffering differently. See it is God’s grace to you to know Christ better and for an opportunity to know deeper joy because of your perseverance.
For Today:
Pray: Praise the Father that He has granted us the privilege of suffering for Christ. Give thanks that Jesus suffered on our behalf. Ask God for His Holy Spirit to help you and others find joy in suffering and closeness to Christ.
Philippians 1:29-30
I wonder what you would say to someone who asked, “what has God given you?” There’s a bunch of things we might say. Hope. Love. Confidence. Comfort. Strength. But would you ever reply, “the privilege of suffering for Christ.”
You probably wouldn’t. But that’s exactly what Paul is saying. Just as he himself has been granted this privilege, so have the Philippians. But that leaves us with two questions, how are they suffering and how can this be a privilege?
Well. I don’t think they are in prison like Paul. I rekon instead, they are feeling a more subtle form of suffering. It’s the pain of being and living differently to the community around them. It’s the struggle of being pulled back into ungodly ways.
Today, it might be things like feeling you need to travel like unbelievers travel. Or feeling excluded because you haven’t watched the same TV series as your workmates. Or you keep getting invited to things on Sunday and you're conflicted about whether to miss church or not. Don’t be mistaken - these are all forms of suffering.
But how can this suffering be considered a privilege?
Well, to suffer because you resist the temptations of the world and instead remain steadfast for Christ is to be invited to know Christ more deeply. Just as people who suffer similar trauma are brought closer by their shared experience. When we suffer for Christ, it has been granted to us to know Him who endured such opposition from sinners better.
Additionally, we become stronger. Listen to James, “consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
See suffering differently. See it is God’s grace to you to know Christ better and for an opportunity to know deeper joy because of your perseverance.
For Today:
- How are you feeling the pain of following Jesus?
- How do you see suffering for Christ?
- Reflect on your trials and suffering today.
Pray: Praise the Father that He has granted us the privilege of suffering for Christ. Give thanks that Jesus suffered on our behalf. Ask God for His Holy Spirit to help you and others find joy in suffering and closeness to Christ.
Posted in Philippians
No Comments