Rejoice in my suffering

Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. For the same reason you also be glad and rejoice with me. – Philippians 2.17-18

Paul knew what it was like to live a life of trials and suffering. He was certainly no stranger to a hard life. He had  seem jail and beatings and whippings and shipwreck and opposition and riots. If anyone had a right to gripe it was Paul and his missions team. He knew that he might very well be on his way to a death sentence for the cause of Christ.

And yet, instead of cowering in fear at what might happen he was full of joy. He saw it as joy to be able to suffer for Christ.

We western Christians have not had to deal with this for a long, long time. We have been kind of coasting along, many of us with a 'most favoured religion' status. Laws have gone our way. Politicians have sought our support and speak in our churches in some countries.

But trials could always be just around the corner. We need to ask ourselves what we are going to do when they come. If the pattern is being established now it looks like there is going to be a lot of crying and complaining. So far we don't handle the little opposition we face very well.

But Paul knew how to rejoice in his trials. He was happy to be 'poured out' for Christ and for the Philippian believers. He didn't ask for their pity and sympathy. He wanted them to rejoice with him because his sufferings were working out for the cause of Christ and that is all that really mattered.

Rejoice in my trials was Paul’s message because I am overjoyed. What a challenge to my weak faith with opposition way out on the horizon.