“For it has been given to you on Christ’s behalf not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for Him, having the same struggle that you saw I had and now hear that I have.” [Philippians 1:29-30]
Oh, Paul, really, did you have to add that part about suffering for Christ?
No one likes to talk about nor endure suffering. Still, suffering comes. Few people go through this life without some suffering or difficulties or trying circumstances. Some of the time we create our own suffering by our bad choices. Some of the time suffering is created for us by other’s bad choices. But is that the kind of suffering Paul reminds us of in these verses?
No, it is not. The kind of suffering Paul refers to is specific. It is suffering “for” Christ Jesus. It is a suffering that is linked to our faith and our work for the Gospel. It is unique in its source and nature.
We have an enemy. He is our enemy because we belong to God and he hates God. All the evil aimed at the church and individual Christians is generated by him. He will use anyone or anything to aim his hatred of God against God’s beloved children. He will not succeed, in fact, he is already a vanquished enemy – vanquished by Christ Jesus at the cross.
Still, he knows he is getting closer and closer to that awful lake of fire spoken of in Revelation 20:10 and he is seeking for as many to devour as he can. He has begun a campaign against the church in our nation. We would do well to remember that … and to remember that freedom gained must be diligently kept.