Recently I was thinking about the privilege we have of ministering for Christ Jesus in every season of our life. As I thought about that privilege, I remembered another Scripture about a different kind of privilege. It’s not one we embrace as readily.
“For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him, since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.” [Phil 1:29-30]
It has been given, or granted, to us on behalf of Christ the privilege to not just believe but also to suffer. Ah, privilege is not necessarily the word I would have chosen. The word Paul chose was charizomai and it comes from the word we usually see translated as grace. Charizomai means to grant as a favor, or we might say privilege.
Suffering is a universal experience. Everyone at some point will likely suffer from something. But the kind of suffering mentioned here is not the common suffering of mankind, it is a special suffering done “on behalf of Christ.” The privilege of believing on Him means we might also be called to suffer for Him.
Jesus reminded his disciples multiple time that a student is not greater than his teacher, nor a servant greater than his master. “Remember the words I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also.” [John 15:20]
Jesus’ suffering was unique in that He suffered and died for our sins … that is finished. Our suffering for Him is because we now testify that He is Savior and LORD. We testify that there is one way to the Father. There are many in this world who welcome that testimony, and there are many who do not. When our testimony of Christ is rejected, that rejection may also be accompanied by ridicule, denunciation, discrimination, and yes, even persecution.
When those things happen, it is wise to remember what Paul wrote, that while it is not something we seek, it is a privilege to suffer on behalf of our Master.
