Do you enjoy suffering? Is suffering for the gospel of Christ on your prayer list of things you want to do? I am not referring to suffering because of sickness or financial distress. I'm referring to suffering for a grander cause. I am speaking of the kind of suffering that comes from being put in prison for sharing the gospel of Christ. I am talking about suffering vicious attacks against your reputation because you are a Christian.
Suffering for Christ comes in various forms - it could be ridicule, imprisonment, and even death. Which one are you willing to go through? Countless people are suffering across the world for the sake of the call. Some live in the most remote places despite the potential danger they may endure. Even here in America, many face ridicule because of their faith.
I am reading a book, When Faith is Forbidden, by Todd Nettleton, which tells the most amazing stories of those in various countries fighting the good faith of Christ despite the horrific consequences. That choice resulted in some of them being imprisoned for years. Some suffered beatings and unimaginable harm all because they chose to serve Jesus. The courageous acts of others resulted in them losing their life. What should we do when our faith is forbidden or challenged?
It is easy to say you are a Christian, but living that out daily when you are persecuted for your faith can be challenging. Would you have the courage to stay faithful when others expect you to accept their personal preferences when you know God calls you to a higher standard? Can you stand for what is right when other Christians feel it is all right to do things that they say are not harming anyone? In other words, they know it is wrong, but they defend their actions. They even ridicule and dismiss you.
How far are you willing to go for your righteousness to exceed that of the Pharisees? They were sticklers when it came down to making people feel guilty for not obeying the law. Yet, they did not practice what they taught. That is why Christ called them hypocrites. (Matthew 5:7-20).
Beloved, suffering is something you might have to endure to serve the Lord. The Bible assures us that none of us are exempted from such seasons. (Romans 8:17). If this happened to Jesus, it can happen to us. What does the Lord expect us to do when this happens? To stay faithful as He did. Allow His example to empower you. One thing is for sure! We can take a stand when others oppose us and do so with grace and dignity. God will fight our battles so we do not have to get angry, fight back, and defend ourselves. (1 Peter 4:12).
Embrace the possibility of suffering for Christ because He already equipped you with His Holy Spirit to keep you. His Word will strengthen you to endure what you thought was impossible. Some of these humble servants of God even saw prison as a wonderful experience because God was there with them. You might think such sufferings would have hardened their hearts and made them abandon their faith. Not so with these brave souls. They saw it as an appointment from the Lord. (1 Timothy 1:12-15). They understood what it meant to rejoice and be glad when others persecuted and insulted them. (Matthew 5:11-12). That's a spectacular attitude to take.
Never be ashamed of your commitment to suffer for the cause of Christ. My Friend, your sacrifice and experience will impact others. Dear One, your persecution is not in vain because something good will come from it.
I pray the song, For The Sake of The Call by Steven Curtis Chapman stirs your heart to accept the call God has on your life. He can use you to do great things!
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