The Fellowship of Christ’s Suffering (QL)
THE FELLOWSHIP OF CHRIST’S SUFFERING
In this world,” Jesus said, “you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33 NIV). None of us likes pain. All of us wish at times that we need not “go through all this stuff.” Let’s settle it once and for all: We cannot know Christ and the power of His resurrection without the fellowship of His suffering.
Often with that thought arises another: Can my sufferings have anything to do with His? Because my fickle feelings bring turmoil and sorrow in my life, can I nevertheless hope for some small share in that divine fellowship? The apostle Paul helps us here. He had known many kinds of severe suffering that were directly related to his work for God (and few of our afflictions, I suppose, would fall into that category), yet even he says, “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:13-14 NIV).
By the grace of God, we can will to do His will. Forget the past. Press toward the goal.