3 Jun 2011
Philippians 1:29
Philippians 1:29: “For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;”
Suffering for the sake of Christ is a blessing, not a curse, although it is often painful and may cost us everything we have. This is a necessary part of the Christian walk. It won’t always be this way, but the same world that hated Jesus also hates His servants. We cannot expect to be treated well when our Master was despised.
Christ is greatly honored when we suffer for His name. It is also a powerful testimony to the lost, and the Lord often uses it to bring many to salvation. It is also a test for us – is our love for God real? Will we have faith in the Lord even in our darkest moments? Do we love Him even unto death? Just how far does our love and commitment really go? Will we sacrifice everything rather than deny Jesus, or are we willing to abandon Him in order to save our skin?