RESOURCES — SHORT ARTICLES

 

SHORT ARTICLES BY TOM ELSEROAD
	2020-07-07	Is Suffering a Privilege? (Ph.1:29)
		Php 1:29 For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, Paul tells us two things have been granted to us. (1) believing in Christ; (2) suffering for Christ's sake. These are not things we can do on our own. We may understand salvation as a work of Christ, but we do not usually think of suffering as something granted to us by God. We rarely think of suffering as something that is given to us as a gift from God. Think about when we are at a prayer meeting. Someone would ask if anyone has a prayer request. What are most of the prayer requests for? Most are about someone who is sick, having surgery, or in the hospital. Or maybe someone is going through hard times, or financial hardships. Almost all the prayer requests are dealing with suffering, and the desire for the alleviation of the associated suffering. We certainly should pray for one another including physical healing, difficult situations, and trials (Ga.6:2; Ja.5:16). There is nothing wrong with asking to bring relief from the suffering. We should ask God in His kind providence, if He would bring healing. Maybe instead of asking if God would remove suffering, pray giving thanks to Him for the difficulties (2Co.4:17-18). When was the last time you said thank you Lord for this trial that I am going through? Thank you for this suffering that you granted to me. This is harder to do than to ask for the removal of the difficulty. So if suffering has been granted to us by God, what should be our view of the situation? Paul says that we suffer “For Christ's sake”. Everything God does, He does for His own glory. Salvation, though we are the beneficiaries of it, is to the praise of the glory of God (Ep.1). Suffering, though we do not typically like it, is to the praise of the glory of God. Everything God does is for His glory. We have a tendency to think when things are going well, our bodies are healthy, we have job security, etc. that God is most glorified. Sometimes God is most glorified in us when we are suffering, sick, or being persecuted. Yet through the suffering, sickness, persecutions, trials, etc., we remain faithful to Christ and we carry His name well. Maybe we should spend more time asking to be used by God in the lives of others. “Lord, use this suffering in my life to conform me more into the image of Christ.” “Lord, use this suffering to bring me to the end of myself, that I would lean harder on You.” “Lord, use this suffering in my life that I would grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus.” Charles Spurgeon said: “I am certain that I never did grow in grace one-half so much anywhere as I have upon the bed of pain.” Oftentimes, God grants to us suffering to grow us in Christ. These are opportunities for us to carry the name of Christ well. There are those who suffer greatly, but are full of joy. They speak well of Christ. This does not mean they always enjoy their suffering. But they can have joy in the midst of suffering. They carry the name of Christ well. They remain faithful to Christ all the time. God is glorified in that. So when we go through suffering, maybe instead of praying for God to REMOVE it, we should pray for God to USE it. Help me to see this as an opportunity to suffer well for Christ's sake. Pastor Tom Elseroad

 

An Evangelical Free Church of America

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