Suffering for the gospel is not an elective class in the school of discipleship, but a required course.
Dr. Stephen J Lawson
It’s also the main tool God uses to grow our character and to teach us to live out the Grace we have been given. Adversity is the forge of our character. Ryan Russell ( on Twitter)!
God gave you the honor not only of believing in Christ but also of suffering for him, both of which bring glory to Christ. Philippians 1:29
Mary and Joseph experienced suffering in being invited into knowledge of and acquiescing to participation in God’s extraordinary plan to save the world. Whether it’s the mind- blowing experience of angelic visitations, prospect of shame in family and community and having things misunderstood, or reputations called into question. They also experienced physical hardships and confusing pronouncements by prophets and priests, flights into exile at night, and more. They may have thought they knew what to expect, but year by year they likely became less and less confident as they witnessed the unfolding of things they didn’t expect and couldn’t reconcile what their eyes saw with what their faith and culture had trained them to believe. Shall one trust the seen or the unseen? Are some things hidden or are eyes simply unable to see? But God was with them……. as He is with us……. God didn’t change the world into which Christ came, at least not immediately. He is still moving creatively, redemptively, and with timely kairos intention to bring about His will on earth as it is in heaven. And He continues to do it through people who will experience suffering and still say “yes”.
Hebrews 5:8–10 says, “Son though he was, [Jesus] learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.”
if we would serve in the order of priesthood of all believers as members of the Body of Christ in ministry to one another and all the world in the name of Christ, we, too, will learn obedience through suffering. Suffering is the entry point of The Way defined by Christ in the Beatitudes and it is final mile revealed in the persecuted life perfected through suffering along The Way.
Jesus reveals the truth of suffering’s purpose, function and form…… and is revealed as He comes to comfort us in our suffering, as well.