Your True ReflectionSample

You Share in Christ’s Suffering:
The Greek phrase “share in suffering” is κοινωνεῖτε τοῖς παθήμασιν (koinōneite tois pathēmasin). It means to share with another or have fellowship in undergoing an ordeal, hardship, pain, or suffering.

I am sure you are thinking, Hmmm. I’m not sure I like this one—sharing in Christ’s suffering. What is so great about that blessing? Well, it’s important that we address this and understand how important it is. It is part of the deal, so let’s investigate its true meaning and purpose. It starts out by saying we should rejoice—so there is something good for us in there somewhere.

Identifying with Christ is super important. My daughter Jamie works for a ministry in the world of human trafficking—the sickest, most evil thing that I believe is going on today. She shares in the suffering of the ladies who were abducted or deceived, forcing them into a horrible situation they could not control. The stories would break your heart, but the victories would make you rejoice, as many of the women are found, rescued, cared for, loved, and healed.

God is calling us to enter into His sufferings and the suffering of the world. It is in the suffering where He is most present. Let’s look at this in two different ways.

First, we suffer as He suffered. This identifies us with Christ, who suffered beyond our human ability to conceive. I love how The Message paraphrase of John 1:14 tells the story:

The Word became flesh and blood and moved into the neighborhood. We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like Son. Generous inside and out, true from start to finish.

He left heaven, put skin on, and moved into a neighborhood that was full of pain. So, it is part of our calling to identify with all He endured on earth and at the cross. God suffers all the time. He grieves at the pain of a rebellious world that will not come to Him. He is heartbroken at the millions of souls who are lost and need Him.

We should be just as heartbroken as God and desire to help the hurting people of this world, but that carries a price: pain, sorrow, and grief. It is our calling as believers to get into the mess of this world and bring hope, but that will bring suffering, as well:

But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be in dread, but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, but with gentleness and respect. —1 Peter 3:14-15 (NASB)

Our suffering identifies us with the brokenness of this world:

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ, we share abundantly in comfort, too. If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort. —2 Corinthians 1:3-7 (ESV)

You were once broken, so God redeems that suffering by using it to create your own ministry. It is how He heals you. Go find those who have suffered in the same manner you have, and you will find your calling. They will listen to you because you understand. Because you can identify with their pain, God will use that to bring healing to both them and you. In fact, it actually frees you from your own suffering. It is one of the greatest blessings He gives us.

I hope you embrace the reality of the great things that God can do through pain and suffering. He wants you to identify with Him so that you may be healed because He has chosen to use you in the lives of others who need you.

Congratulations! You’ve made it to the end of the Your True Reflection Plan. I pray that over the past 12 days, you’ve come to terms with your identity in Christ. If you’re hungry for more, you can check out my book this devotional is taken from, Your True Reflection, for 60 biblical truths about your identity in God – get your copy by going to LINK.

Sincerely,

Don Ankenbrandt