The Daily Fountain Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 11 May 2024 – Suffering In Christ
TOPIC: Suffering In Christ
READ: Philippians 1:12-18 (NKJV)
- But I want you to know, brethren, that the things [which happened] to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel,
- so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ;
- and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
- Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from good will:
1:16. The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains; - but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel.
- What then? Only [that] in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice.
THE MESSAGE:
In our passage yesterday, Paul referred to his suffering as grace, in Philippians 1:7. In our text today, Paul declares that all the afflictions he passed through actually led to the expansion of the gospel of Christ. He notes that some preached the Gospel for negative reasons and to make worse his chains, yet it was Christ they preached. Though such preachers may end up suffering, they will not be regarded as doing so for Christ. “But let none of you suffer as a murderer or as a thief or as an evildoer or as busybody in other men’s matter (1 Peter 4: 15). The kind of suffering Paul talks about here is the one encountered by those who have genuine birth in Christ, either for preaching the Gospel or for righteousness sake, “For it is better if the will of God be so, that you suffer for well doing, than for evil doing (1 Peter 3: 17).
Suffering for Christ’s sake is not a curse for Christians, but a blessing. Whoever passes through such suffering is encouraged to keep the faith in all joy for the manifestation of the Gospel. It should be the yearning of every Christian to share in the suffering of Christ. “But rejoice, in as much as you are partakers of Christ sufferings, that when his glory shall be revealed, you may be glad also with exceeding joy. If any man suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed. But let him glorify God on this behalf. Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful creator” (1 Peter 4: 13, verse 16, verse 19.)
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Suffering in Christ does not end in shame but in fame.
