ORACLES: Lesson 66

More and more I’m hearing well-meaning Christians interpret the consequences of bad behavior as suffering for Christ. The truth is, suffering as believers is to take up our cross to follow Christ.

Meaning, if you are suffering because of selfish ambition, a bruised ego or because your plans have gone awry, that is not suffering for Christ! If you are struggling in relationships or because of financial challenge, that is not suffering for Christ! If you are denied an opportunity, face a challenge or find yourself rejected in life that does not automatically mean you are suffering for Christ!

The Biblical concept of suffering has a redemptive component that benefits others. Paul admonishes Timothy to share with him in suffering for the sake of the Gospel (2 Timothy 1:8). He does not espouse suffering from his own personal agenda or ego, but because he came face to face with Jesus, and in response, he modeled suffering as he was beaten for His conviction, jailed for his boldness, and scorned for his tenacity.

In like manner, Jesus is the reason why the Body of Christ is called to suffer—not because we have a position or opinion—but because we have a mandate to tell the world that Jesus lives and that He saves. And, from a posture of humility, we, too, will suffer persecution; we will suffer scorn and derision. We will suffer because we’re asked to lay down our lives, our agenda, and our will to the will of our heavenly Father, just as Jesus did, so that people will experience the hope of the Gospel.

And for this cause, not our own, we suffer.