I Grant You Suffering

For to you it has been granted on behalf of
Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake.

Philippians 1:29

Rory, isn’t it odd how Paul explained to the Philippians why they were suffering?  The reason is it had been granted to them to suffer “for His sake.”  In other words, everyone was not granted this privilege.  Or, more likely, they were not willing to step up (man up) and take the hit for the cause of Jesus Christ.

The same is true today.

Most Christians live such tame and boring lives.  The cost of their faith is rolling out of bed a couple Sundays a month to attend church where they throw a few dollars in the offering plate, mumble through a few hymns or praise songs and nod through a sermon. 

They’re like the men described in the lines of the poem, Dying Inch by Inch:

Some men die by shrapnel.

And some go down in flames.

But most men perish inch by inch.

In play at little games.

But there are a few special chosen Christians that God grants to suffer, to exert themselves, be counted, to do something that really matters – for the cause of Jesus Christ. 

I pray that you will be one of those extraordinary Christians, Rory.

Don’t waste your life playing little games.  Invest your life in advancing and promoting the mission and message of Jesus Christ. 

Be His champion, have courage, speak up, and let your life speak even louder. 

Prayer: Father God, this is a hard prayer for me to pray.  For the Papa in me doesn’t want my grandchildren to suffer. But I know that the way of the Cross is the only way to truly experience abundant life.  All I ask is that You be with them every step of the way and that You will help me to model what I ask of them.