Philippians 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,

Application:

Paul claims that our suffering is a sign of God’s favor. Suffering might seem like a strange gift, but it isn’t. Suffering for the sake of Christ has a purpose, not aimlessness. He allows it for our good and His glory—and that makes all the difference.*

Jesus said, “A servant is not greater than his master.” If the world hated Him, they would also hate us (John 15:18-25).

Suffering is a gift of grace. It is the marriage gift when we are espoused to Christ, the bounty when we enlist in His service. Becoming one with Him, we entered into the fellowship of His suffering (ch. 3:10). The gift was not suffering as such. Its meaning and value lie in its being for His sake. The Macedonian churches, and the Philippian church especially, were preeminently suffering churches.^

The first-century church faced persecution when they abandoned the gods of the Romans and other false deities. Early Christians would not bow their knees to any lord but the Lord Jesus Christ, for this many suffered for Christ’s sake (Hebrews 11:35-38).

Following Christ in the past meant becoming an enemy of the state and risking one’s life. Some countries today execute Christians for their belief. Today, in our society, when we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior and obey Him, some will label us as non-conformists, even bigots, for not adhering to the pattern of this world (Romans 12:2). We will even lose close relationships, including sons and daughters, for His sake (Matthew 19:29).

*Ref: Tony Evans, The Tony Evans Bible Commentary (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2019), 1339.
^Ref: Marvin Richardson Vincent, Word Studies in the New Testament, vol. 3 (New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1887), 427–428.

To God be the glory!

Our Lord Jesus Christ created everything! By Him, For Him!

“The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” Numbers 6:24-26

Disclaimer

When God inspires me, I write or post articles that glorify God. I invite you to view this post as a Bible study. Like the Bereans in Acts 17:11, I encourage you to search the Scriptures to determine whether what I have posted is true. Always consult your church ministers regarding biblical matters. I am not a professional writer, so there may be grammatical or spelling errors. I strive to write as clearly and efficiently as possible. Your brother in Christ, Ricardo.

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