Rejoicing in suffering for Christ

(Colossians 1:24-26)

There are not too many people in this world who would rejoice in suffering. Even among Christians, it’s hard to find many who would be rejoicing in suffering for Christ.

But in these few verses we see that Paul was rejoicing in suffering for Christ. And the types and ways Paul suffered were not small things. His sufferings were life and death experiences.

Paul did not become despondent. In spite of his sufferings he found reasons to rejoice. So let us look at this situation to see what we can learn.

Rejoicing in suffering for Christ

The more you consider these words, the greater the dichotomy it presents.

Who would even consider sufferings a reason for rejoicing? Surely Paul must have been mad?

Not so. As we will see there was good reasons why Paul was rejoicing in suffering for Christ.

First, let us consider the broad issue presented here.

When we consider “rejoicing” the word lends itself to a reason for joy or happiness. The word suggests good times and good things. Rejoicing suggests images of smiling, happy people or getting together to celebrate a wonderful occasions.

By contrast, suffering suggests pain. It suggests images of sorrow, pain and those things that would be the polar opposite of a reason to rejoice.

So for someone to be rejoicing in suffering for Christ tells us there is something strange going on. Something is either amiss in this situation, or there is information we don’t know. But as we read the scriptures and review the life of Paul we gain an insight into how he could be rejoicing in suffering for Christ.

Paul’s call to serve

The first thing we must understand is that Paul was called by the Lord to serve as a minister and instrument of the Lord to spread the gospel. Paul was fearless in his ministry and the work he did carrying the truth of the gospel to the known world in his time.

And he was told right from the beginning that he would suffer for the sake of Christ. Immediately after his time in Damascus when Ananias laid hands on Paul to receive his sight and to receive the Holy Spirit, he was told that he would suffer for the sake of his call.

15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; 16 for I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” 17 So Anani’as departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came, has sent me that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 19:15-17)

Suffering was going to be part of Paul’s call to serve. He was made aware right from the beginning that he would suffer for the name of Jesus Christ.

When we consider Paul’s life, we see just how greatly he did suffer for the sake of his call to serve Christ. He was stoned, shipwrecked, beaten with rods, scourged several times with the lash, often in hunger and want, and imprisoned on several occasions. The walk he walked with Christ was hard and beset with dangers constantly as the religious authorities also sought his life on many occasions.

So it seems strange that he would even talk about rejoicing in suffering for Christ. And yet that is exactly what he did.

How could Paul rejoice in suffering?

As we read the scriptures today we get an inkling into why and how it was that Paul could be rejoicing in suffering for Christ.

24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I complete what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, 25 of which I became a minister according to the divine office which was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, 26 the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now made manifest to his saints. (Colossians 1:24-26)

Paul rejoiced because he knew in advance that this was to be his lot. He understood that he would suffer and it didn’t greatly affect him because he had a job to do for the Lord.

Furthermore, he understood that the reward he was to receive was vastly greater than anything the world or his former life offered. The value of the promises of the Lord so far outstripped the suffering he was to suffer that they became meaningless to him. He fully trusted that the Lord would carry him through anything that was to come and eventually bring him home to the Lord. Look at what Paul said about himself regarding these things.

7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as refuse, in order that I may gain Christ. (Philippians 3:7-8)

Paul felt that the surpassing worth of knowing Christ outstripped anything and everything he had or could ever receive through his former life. Everything that went before was of no value and he counted them as refuse or garbage.

Paul also understood that the work he was doing for the Lord was to the benefit of those who received his ministry. He worked tirelessly to preach, teach, exhort and support the new churches as he travelled the known world. He understood that the benefits of what he was doing for the people of the Lord was more important than the suffering he had to go through. And he realised that suffering was to be his lot as a servant of the Lord.

That is why he was rejoicing in suffering for Christ.

What this means for us

As Paul suffered for his call to Christ, so too we can expect to suffer also.

The path we have chosen as Christians is in direct opposition to the ways of this world. The world is ruled by evil and we have chosen to reject evil, to reject sin, and to seek the Lord and do what is right.

Since we are opposed to the ways of the world, then it stands to reason that suffering and persecution is to be expected. That is what the scriptures tell us will be the case too.

Indeed all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted (2 Timothy 3:12)

And;

12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal which comes upon you to prove you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice in so far as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are reproached for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. (1 Peter 4:12-14)

These are just two of many scriptures that warn us of the persecutions and sufferings that will follow those who seek to live a godly life in Christ Jesus. And the second verse above tells us to rejoice and be glad when we do suffer because we are blessed. We are to follow the example of Paul and look to the Lord in our sufferings, knowing that through these things we are learning to endure and grow stronger in Christ.

So as Paul learned to rejoice in his suffering for Jesus Christ, let us do likewise. Look to his example and the examples of others in the Bible and rejoice in all circumstances, including when you are suffering for the name of Jesus Christ.

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