May 11 – Graciously Granted

“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.  

-194-

October 2 – Granted To Suffer

“For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, experiencing the same conflict which you saw in me, and now hear to be in me.” Philippians 1:29-30 (NASB)

At the time that the Apostle Paul wrote this he knew what suffering for the sake of Jesus Christ was like.  In Philippi, a Roman colony, a decision to follow Christ could bring severe social, economic, and legal consequences.  Paul tells us to remember how he was treated in Philippi (Acts 17). He and Silas were beaten and thrown into the jail.  Paul calls it a conflict and when it happens it is just that. We find our self in conflict between our message of salvation in Christ alone and the evil opposition of the world we live in. Opposition to the message of Jesus is growing and followers of Christ will experience conflict.  We know it has been granted to us with a promise from Jesus that if we are in service to Him, we will encounter suffering. It will be for His sake and the sake of His name.  We know too His promise that He is the one who is working our salvation to its completion. God is with us in all we do for Him. 

# # #

April 5 – Privileged to Suffer

“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)

Which one of us likes the idea of suffering?  Not really, right?  Yet we are in God's family because Jesus suffered for us on the cross and died for the sins of all.  After rising from the dead, as He promised He would, and before He returned to heaven and to His Father, He instructed his followers to spread the Good News about His suffering, death and resurrection.  It is believing in Jesus and what He did that gives us access to becoming children of God.  We are His followers.  Our salvation comes from what Jesus did for us, in our place.  So it is understandable that we are also given the opportunity to experience suffering for our faith in Him.  Some will mock, hate, and even persecute or kill us for doing so.  This is our promise. The experience of suffering has been given to us  when we take the name of Jesus and engage the enemy of God just as the apostle Paul did.  He was eventually killed because of his faith in Christ.  

# # #