To Fellowship in the Suffering of Christ
Many may say they want to know Jesus, to walk like Him and be in fellowship with Him, but they have not come to the realization of what that really means, which is a fellowship of His suffering. As Christ followers we must change the way we evaluate the things that are happening to us and around us. We must change the way we view life and our expectations in life.
1 Peter 5:10-11 But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. NKJ
1 Peter 4:16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.
God’s purpose is for us to reveal His love and His glory in the earth, which we see through the life of Christ. God’s glory and love is revealed in the earth when we are obedient to His word and by obedience our faith is displayed to those who are lostand in darkness so that they too may come to the Light.
All humanity knows how to be mean, prideful, hateful and to want revenge for the evil that is done to us, it is a natural part of fallen mankind. But the love of God is seen when we show, forgiveness, mercy and love to others.
2 Corinthians 4:6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:18-19 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
God’s goal for our lives is that we walk in love and obedience in hard and difficult times, just as Jesus did. Through this we will reveal God’s love to a lost world and this will show our faith and trust in Him. Through the Holy Spirit we can gothrough hurt, pain, agony and persecution without hurting others in return, and this is God’s purpose for our lives. Some people may call getting to the end of the trial their goal, but forGod it is the going through the trial, with love and mercy, this is His purpose. It is the trying or testing of our faith in Him.
What some may call the process; God calls the purpose. What some may call the end; God calls a spin-off or the result of the faith that was shown during the time of the testing of our faith
1 Peter 4:12-14 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. NKJ
Many people struggle just to get through their hardships and trials, so they can be blessed and that they may see goodness and rest in the end. But actually, the blessings are byproducts of us accomplishing God’s goal. Which is us being patience and being light in dark places and by showing of His mercy and forgiveness in difficult situations. God’s purpose and plan for our lives is to show His compassion and love in these hard and difficult times. It is in these situations that we demonstrate our faith and the likeness of Christ in the face of adversity.
2 Corinthians 1:3-5 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ.
2 Corinthians 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. NKJ
Though Jesus was the Son of God, He suffered many things at the hands of evil men and because of this sinful world system. It was through this very process of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection that He obtained salvation for all humanity.
If Jesus’ life is being formed in us then we too will experience challenges of our own, so that we too may have opportunities to forgive the wrong that we have experienced. In this we willreveal, reflect and resemble the likeness of Christ in our homes, families and community.
Revelation 1:9 I, John, am your brother and your partner in suffering and in God’s Kingdom and in the patient endurance to which Jesus calls us. I was exiled to the island of Patmos for preaching the word of God and for my testimony about Jesus. NLT
1 Peter 4:19 Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.
The world will tell us that we should expect to receive only the good from God and should feel deprived or mistreated when we go through challenges and difficulties. When our faith or sonship as children of God is challenged, by Satan or this world, we are to stand firm in who we are in Christ.
It is in these challenges of life that stretch us and grow us into the image of Christ. Though we enjoy and rejoice in God’s blessing and favor, we will learn patience and perseverance through the things we suffer and the challenges we experience.
Paul was ready to put aside his comfort and to be broken bread and poured out wine for those around him that they might see God’s light in him and believe in the risen Christ through his life.
2 Corinthians 4: 7-10 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed— always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.
We are to be reminded of our God given goal, purpose and intent, which is to know who we are in Christ and to display His power, light and love in a dark and hopeless world.
Self-pity is from the devil and we fall into his trap when we focus on ourselves and become disheartened because of the things we go through.
We are to be God’s light and share His hope through the power of the Holy Spirit who encourages us and gives us the endurance we need. Then we can have the same attitude and mindset as Christ and we too can say, Father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.
2 Corinthians 4:11-12 For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So then death is working in us, but life in you. NKJ
Luke 23:34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” And they divided His garments and cast lots.
Again, we must change the way we think about the things we go through as an opportunity to show God’s love and the light of His glory in a dark and hopeless world.
Every act of kindness can have at least three touch points, the joy as the one who gives, the thankfulness as the one who receives and the pleasure of one who witnesses the mercy, grace and compassion of God. When we are generous we show God’s love and others receives His love through our generosity, while others may also witness this love of God.
Romans 15:5-7 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. NKJ
Integrity- People of God 