Are you willing to suffer for/with Christ?
Only the person that has learned to die to this world knows how to live in it - William Gurnall.
There is a common saying amongst the Christian circle that goes thus: Jesus already suffered it all for my sake, so therefore I do not need to suffer any bit. This saying is unbiblical as it does not agree with the truths expressed in the scriptures. One of the marks of a Christian is in their willingness to suffer for/with Christ. So if you as a Christian are unwilling to suffer for/with Christ, it is either one of these: either you are still are carnal Christian (1 Corinthians 3:1-4), or you have not genuinely experienced salvation. A Christian that is unwilling to go all the way for Christ is limited in enjoying the blessings of the peace of God (Acts 5:41)
Let us examine some truths expressed in the word of God concerning this matter. The first truth that comes to mind is the words of Christ regarding this: And he said to all, If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. Whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. - Luke 9:23-24. Here Jesus clearly shows what it means to be a Christian. First, a Christian has to be washed, sanctified, and justified in the name of Christ Jesus and the Spirit of our Lord and is willing to lay down his will no matter how noble it is before the Lord (1 Corinthians 6:11-12). We have no better example of this than in the person of Jesus (Philippians 2:6-8). He is not calling us to a life he has not lived himself. It is a great encouragement that we have a perfect role model. Secondly, the Christian is the one after denying himself, takes up his cross, which symbolizes the suffering of persecution that would eventually lead to death. In other words, he will lose his life for the sake of Christ (2 Timothy 3:12). Yet the charge does not stop there. The Christian must follow Christ where He leads, the journey along the straight path towards the celestial city (Matthew 7:14). This beloved is what makes up the life of a Christian.
Let us examine another truth. Let us turn to what Apostle Paul says about this matter as inspired by the Holy Spirit. He writes to Timothy, his son in the Lord, admonishes him to be a partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God (2 Timothy1: 7-8). Later encourages him to endure hardness as a good soldier of the Lord (2 Timothy 2:3). No soldier signs himself up for a military regime thinking he would be able to escape suffering some form of hardship that would be ridiculous, and the same thing goes when a believer decides to follow Christ.
Please note that the suffering we are talking about is not sufferings indicted by oneself. It is that which Lord allows for us to go through for righteousness and His namesake (Matthew 5:10-11; Acts 9:15-16). If a soldier enlisted into an army goes about fighting on his term and loses, no one will come to his aid. He might/will get punished for acting outside the command of the captain. The same thing goes for the believer. He does not look for suffering but patiently waits on Christ and is willing to suffer whenever the Lord wills.
Finally, beloved, the only way to endure this suffering and come out victorious is by relying upon the grace that is in Christ Jesus (2 Timothy 2:1). The strength/victory of the soldier is not dependent on him but rather on his commander. Oh, beloved, what other commander is more potent than our Lord Jesus Christ (Psalms 24:7-10)? He already guarantees victory unto the believer even before the suffering begins, and the believer can rest assured as long as he remains in Christ (Colossians 2:14-15).
Are you a believer with the disposition that you will never suffer for the sake of Christ? I admonish you to pray to God to grant you a heart willing to suffer for Christ. Are you a believer with a heart willing to suffer for Christ’s sake glory to God? I only encourage you to continue relying on the grace of Christ Jesus, for that is where your victory lies.
Here is a hymn from Fanny J Crosby:
Thou, my everlasting portion,
More than friend or life to me;
All along my pilgrim journey,
Savior, let me walk with Thee.
Refrain:
Close to Thee, Close to Thee,
Close to Thee, Close to Thee,
All along this tedious journey,
Savior, let me walk with Thee.
Not for ease or worldly pleasure,
Nor for fame my prayer shall be;
Gladly will I toil and suffer,
Only let me walk with Thee.
Lead me through the vale of shadows
Bear me o’er life’s fitful sea
Then the gate of life eternal
May I enter, Lord, with Thee
Then the gate of life eternal
May O enter, Lord with Thee
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