By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo
Philippians 3:10-11 "I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead."
Jesus categorically told His disciples that they would face tribulation in this world(John 16:33). This emanates from the spiritual forces between the kingdom of God and the devil’s resistance to the gospel and attempt to sway people away from God. As one goes through these battles, they face human agents of the devil. Paul didn’t look at sufferings for Christ as something to be shunned or merely endured, but rejoiced in them.
If one is suffering for standing for truth, righteousness and justice, and for seeking to glorify God through the gospel, they can count it as sharing in the sufferings of Christ. That’s what Paul calls fellowship with Christ through suffering. To this we have been called. But Peter says no one should suffer for doing wrong and claim to suffer for God.
This kind of fellowship carries along the promise of participating in His resurrection, partaking of God’s kingdom and receiving the crown of life(Rev 2:10). It is the way to maturity in the faith, to glory and exceeding joy with God forever. He gives us grace to go through it all with Him as did the early church rejoice that they were counted worthy to suffer for the Lord. Hear Jesus’ words;
"Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."(Matthew 5:10-12)
Shalom children of God