Text: Philippians 3:10 NKJV

Further Reading: 1 Corinthians 6:4-10

that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death.

Philippians 3:10 NKJV

MESSAGE

One man who succeeded greatly above his contemporaries was Paul the Apostle. He was the one who also made the claims we read about in our text. This was different from the claim of Peter who said he was willing to die for Christ but when trouble came he fled.  Thank God because after Pentecost Peter was able to stand for Christ even in the face of death.

When looking through the life of this successful Apostle Paul, who made such a great impact on the history of Christianity and the Church. We would see that all that He did came at the cost of great suffering. We hear this man make statements such as:

We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed—
II Corinthians 4:8‭-‬9 NKJV

Paul was no stranger to enjoying the power and blessings of God both in his life and ministry, but he was also not immune to hardship and suffering. In his letter to Timothy, Paul told the young man he must endure hardship as a good soldier of Christ and that those who will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution (2 Timothy 2:4, 3:12).

Paul was a gem with many scars. In recounting his many sufferings, many of us would wonder how and why such a man must have to go through that brutality. Christ suffered, and so we must also suffer.

No one can truly say, I am of Christ and all he enjoys is the fellowship of His provisions and blessings.  We must pray for our Christian brethren who are suffering in different nations of the world, that the Lord would comfort and be with them.

If anyone will do great exploit for God in this life, such must brace up for suffering. We must always remember that with our suffering comes great glory. We are certain that in the end, God will be glorified and His counsel will stand visible for all to see.

Do you want to do great things for God? Then you must be ready to partake in His suffering. Don’t ask God to shield you from suffering but rather ask for the grace required to glorify God in all you go through. 

Paul at the later end of his life was able to share this amazing testimony:

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.
II Timothy 4:7‭-‬8 NKJV

May God help us to endure to the end and finish well in Jesus’ name. Amen.

REFLECTION

It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: if we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us.

1 Timothy 2:11-12 KJV

There is a great reward for those who suffer for and with Christ both on earth and in heaven. Those who deny Him will He also deny before His Father and the holy Angels.

PRAYER

Father, please help me never to deny You when I am faced with suffering so that I may reign with you eternally.