...all for Christ...

“27 Only live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that, whether I come and see you or am absent and hear about you, I will know that you are standing firm in one spirit, striving side by side with one mind for the faith of the gospel 28 and in no way frightened by those opposing you. For them, this is evidence of their destruction but of your salvation. And this is God’s doing. 29 For He has graciously granted you the privilege not only of believing in Christ but of suffering for him as well, 30 since you are having the same struggle that you saw I had and now hear that I still have” Philippians 1:27-30.

Surely you agree that there are few more beautiful words of advice, words of truth in your life, than these words Paul wrote at the end of chapter 1 in his letter to the Philippians:

“Only live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ…standing firm in one Spirit, striving side by side with one mind for the faith of the gospel…For God has graciously granted you the privilege not only of believing in Christ but of suffering for Him as well” Philippians 1:27 & 29.

It’s not enough to try to live your life just putting your faith in Christ, nor is it merely enough to trust in Jesus Christ. Believe in Christ — yes, for sure. But Paul says you must also be willing to suffer for Christ as well. The Christian life is about both believing and suffering.

One of the things we all share as human beings is that we all go through experiences and periods in life when we hurt, when we suffer. Paul is telling us that the only way to move through such pain and suffering is to see our suffering as an experience we “do for Him.” You have to think this through and pray for the grace to join your suffering with the suffering of Christ. We don’t intuitively think about suffering as something good. But for Paul suffering is a good thing when we suffer for Christ.

So pray that your current difficulties and hurts and sufferings are experiences you wish to experience for Christ! Pray for this particular grace.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy ion me a sinner.

Today’s Prayer

Oh Lord, I come to you in faith and trust

to give You the struggles and pain I am feeling in my life.

I want to experience these difficult times for You.

I know my suffering doesn’t compare

with Your suffering on the cross and in the tomb.

But I still wish to join my suffering with Yours.

Help me to turn to You in these difficult times,

just as You turned to your Father in heaven,

while you were dying on the Cross.

I love You and so I wish to do this for You.

This I pray in Your Name, Amen!