We’ve been noting Philippians 3:10. Let’s continue with the next phrase:
Philippians 3:10
10 that I may know
Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings,
being conformed to His death;
As you continue to grow spiritually, you will continually face suffering. It’s one of my two guarantees for believers (besides going to heaven):
Job 14:1
1 "Man, who is
born of woman,
Is
short-lived and full of trouble.
This suffering has nothing to do with divine discipline or reaping what you sow, but refers to suffering that is totally undeserved. It doesn’t mean that if you rob a bank and go to jail, you are participating in the fellowship of His sufferings! Jesus did not suffer under discipline or reaping what he sowed! This is speaking of things that happen to you that you are not responsible for.
Look at Paul’s example.
2 Timothy 3:11-12
11 persecutions, and
sufferings, such as happened to me at
12 Indeed, all who
desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
In these 3 cities, the Judaizers followed Paul and organized conspiracies against him; in Lystra they actually stoned him to death! But God delivered and rescued him out of them all. Paul says the same is in store for every one of us, if we desire to live godly in Jesus Christ. As you continue to stick with the plan of God, and take in His word and grow, you will come to the point where you share God’s happiness completely independent of your circumstances. You can be content no matter what! Whether in adversity or prosperity, it will make no difference.
Remember that as a believer, you are going to live for all of eternity in heaven. So by living your life in the light of eternity, your relationship with God will be your first priority. Then you will realize that our time on earth is very short (even if you live to be 120). Look at it like a teardrop in the ocean. When you have that perspective on things that happen to you here on earth, you will realize what suffering now can do for you later:
2 Corinthians 4:17-18
17 For
momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight
of glory far beyond all comparison,
18 while we look not
at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the
things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are
eternal.
You will also realize this fact:
Romans 8:18
18 For I consider
that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the
glory that is to be revealed to us.
Certainly you will have adversities, difficulties, and problems here on earth. The objective is to advance spiritually, so that these difficulties become a blessing because you see them as participating in His sufferings. God gives us the power to be content in any circumstance, even suffering that we don’t deserve.
God always has a plan in mind for us. He knows exactly what it takes to get us to the place He wants us to be. Allowing suffering in our life is designed to deplete our human resources and self-reliance, and bring us to realization of our total dependence on God.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10
9 And He has said to
me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in
weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my
weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.
10 Therefore I am
well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions,
with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then
I am strong.
Yes, it can be very difficult to go through suffering. But realize this: your short time on earth is the only time you will ever be able to go through suffering, and share the fellowship of the suffering of Jesus Christ.