By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 20 May 2005 08:18:15 +0000

Thanks for the comment, Roger. We don't know these things about ourselves until we're tested.
There's an incredible chapter on suffering in John Piper's book _Desiring God_. That chapter–and that whole book–really affected me.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 20 May 2005 03:40:05 +0000

There is indeed something profound in suffering for Christ. Paul talks about sharing in Christ's sufferings and becoming like him in his death. Almost as though we are to seek out suffering, or perhaps that if we aren't suffering we're not really following Christ. I don't, however, think this is what is meant by suffering for Christ. You're right in putting the question as “what are we willing to suffer” since it's likely that many of us, in America especially aren't doing much suffering so that others may believe.
There is a good analogy to this in Star Wars, but I'll keep it vague so as not to spoil (we'll probably see a few of these analogies in the coming weeks). Many people face decisions about which path to follow- on one side there is a path of fulfilling one's own desires, desires that aren't in themselves wrong, but on the other side there is a path of the bigger picture, and in light of the big picture the first path is wrong. To follow the big picture (God's glory in our case) we will have to sacrifice our own desires, perhaps even self-perceived needs.
What should we be willing to sacrifice and suffer? Paul said he wished he could be cut off from Christ for the sake of unbelievers (Rom 9:3). Obviously that dilemma will not be before us, but the attitude of Paul is a model for us. We should be willing to make every sacrifice possible for the sake of those who do not believe. That can be a hard pill to swallow, but if we claim to follow Christ we must seek His glory and not our own. Hopefully one day I'll be able to swallow it myself.

Comments on: They Suffered For His Glory

By: Anonymous

By: Anonymous