“For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.” - Philippians 1:29-30 (ESV)
Desiring or being thankful for the suffering we experience is not a natural reaction for us. Suffering is something that is not enjoyable. But here is the promise we have in the verses today; the Apostle Paul tells us that we have been given (promised) suffering in our lives. We are granted, for the sake of Christ, to believe in God. He also graciously gives his people suffering and faith so that we might enjoy magnifying Christ to the adversaries of our faith through a trust that is fearless and humility to love each other. That is the point of this promise. Perhaps we have a greater opportunity to understand this these days. When most things in our lives are going well without significant difficulty, we may not have a cause to reflect that our Lord Jesus suffered for us. Suffering the fear and anxiety which we have and see in others, is a reminder that God is here for us. We have comfort and guidance from the Holy Spirit. Today let us stand firm in our faith and trust God to fulfill all the promises He has given to us in Christ Jesus.
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