In II Timothy 2:3 Paul wrote, "Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus." Suffer hardship. Are you kidding? All of us have bought into the idea that if we are just good enough, just godly enough, faithful in our quiet time, diligent in our good works, kind enough and gentle enough, if we just love enough that God will be so pleased with us that He will open up heaven and pour out continual blessings. We refuse to accept the fact that suffering could be a part of God's plan. We are His sheep. Surely we are His favorite sheep. Surely He will keep us from ever having to suffer any serious inconveniences in this life. Surely He will ordain that we never have to suffer. Suffering does not fit into our concept of 21st century Christianity. Yet, Paul said, "Suffer hardship with me." Paul, who was the greatest Christian who ever lived, equated suffering with the Christian experience. Not only did he want us to expect to suffer for the cause of Christ, he wanted us to suffer well. To do it like a true solider of the Cross! How is it, then, that we have bought into the idea that we will never be called upon to suffer for Christ? Even worse, how is it that we are pretty sure that if suffering befalls you, it is your fault? Unconfessed sin or carnality must be at the root of all suffering. Truthfully, isn't that what we think? Consequently, we tend to fall apart when life gets hard and the winds of suffering blow our way. We weren't expecting that! We thought it would be "all good" if we just loved God. Yet, Paul was convinced otherwise and urged us to be a good solider of the Cross and suffer well for the cause of Christ.
Paul, who paid for his testimony for Christ with his own life, accepted both the undeserved blessings and the undeserved suffering of this life in order to gain the glories of Jesus Christ. Just how deep is your faith? Are you willing to suffer well for the cause of Christ? Are you willing to serve the Lord even when life is very hard? Are you committed to walking by faith through the valleys as well as the mountaintop experiences? Suffering reveals the reality of faith. Suffering well reveals the depth of the reality of faith. Think about it.
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