Jesus Rocks: How to Make Your Suffering Count

Today's message title is How to Make Your Suffering Count! It's based on the first nine words of Colossians 1:24: "Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you..." This morning's message will unpack the passage at hand phrase-by-phrase (Colossians 1:24-27), but for this bulletin blurb I want to highlight Peter's wise words regarding suffering:

Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God. But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in his steps. (1 Peter 2:18-21)

Peter makes three points very clear:

First, if one is suffering, one should make sure one is suffering for a just cause. People suffer for a variety of reasons. Some suffering is the direct result of our own stupidity and some is the result of living in a fallen world. But Peter makes clear that if one wants to make their suffering count make sure one's suffering is for a noble cause. Peter is writing about suffering that comes as a result of doing good.

Second, Peter applies this "good suffering" in the context of our working environment. Many Christians were household slaves when Peter penned these words, some 2,000 years ago. It would be easy for them to submit to masters who were gentle and kind. But Peter encouraged loyalty and perseverance even in the face of unjust treatment and suffering. In the same way, we should submit to our employers, whether they are considerate or harsh. By doing so, we may win them to Christ by our good example.

Third, Since Christ suffered, Christians should expect to suffer. In other words, if the Head was banged up and eventually crucified, certainly the Body of Christ (the church) will be bruised. Of all three points, this one is the hardest to swallow for some, especially those who've been taught that the faithful Christians should never suffer from diseases and attacks. But just the opposite is true. The more one follows the way of Jesus, the more one suffers (see Mark 8:34-35). In the end, when life as we know it is over, those who've suffered for doing good, will be richly rewarded. To God be the Glory!

On the Victory Side,

Dave