Signpost Suffering

[Joseph Gill]

Read 2 Corinthians 4:6–11

The Apostle Paul held his suffering up as a proof of his ministry: he “boasted” to the Corinthians of his abundant labors, stripes above measure, frequent jail terms, and brushes with death (2 Cor. 11:23). He gloried in his weaknesses, because they were the opportunities for the power of God to rest upon him (2 Cor. 12:9b). By means of his trials, the apostle Paul became a billboard for the grace of God. People everywhere heard about and marveled at how he was delivered repeatedly from deadly situations.

The example Paul left may be unfamiliar to the Western church in these days of considerable religious freedom, but it has real urgency for our persecuted brethren in the Middle East and Asia today. I remember the reaction of one Chinese Christian to the concern voiced by an American interviewer. The dissident responded to the mawkish tone of the TV correspondent, making it clear that the Chinese church is not despondent over its condition. They were, in fact, “honored” to suffer for the name of Jesus Christ.

When Christians suffer persecution, God has an opportunity to show forth His power of deliverance. And while we await that deliverance, our dogged optimism and confidence in God can open a door of witness to unbelievers (consider the encouragement of 1 Peter 3:15). We are not called to be masochistic—to seek suffering for its own sake. We are to turn suffering into a signpost pointing others to Jesus.

[Joseph Gill]

Jesus manifests Himself in the life of His most committed witnesses through longsuffering. As a perfect example, it was proclaimed of Saul of Tarsus that he was a chosen vessel to suffer greatly for the cause of Christ (Acts 9:16). From the earliest moments of his saved life, Saul began to fulfill that prophecy.

 Soon after his conversion, Saul was sharing the gospel throughout Damascus (Acts 9:20). His remarkable transformation from a committed enemy to a witness for Jesus gave him real credibility: the power of Christ was evidenced by the radical change it made in his life. That is also why there immediately arose a plot to kill him. He rather dramatically escaped the assassins lying wait at the city gate with the help of some believers who lowered him in a basket out a window on the wall (Acts 9:23–25)!

 

 Saul eventually made his way back to Jerusalem, and after Barnabas interceded for him with the local disciples, the new convert began sharing his testimony in that city. In a short time, he was facing death threats there too (Acts 9:29). The record reveals how the Lord warned him to flee Jerusalem (Acts 22:18); he was again running for his very life!

 

 Saul had begun in earnest to suffer for his testimony. He would, in time, be able to hold his suffering up as a proof of his ministry.  Paul was able to say from experience that by facing death for Jesus’ sake, the believer “manifests”—that is, shows—Jesus to the world (2 Cor. 4:11). The apostle not only preached about Jesus, but he also exhibited the characteristics of “the Suffering Servant” in his own life.

 

In this day of prosperity preaching, the example left by Paul may be unfamiliar to the church. But if we deny the necessity of suffering, we are rejecting a major tenet of Christianity. God expects us to endure the persecution our godly lifestyle attracts. May the Lord help us to learn that in our endurance we are living declarations of His matchless, abounding grace.