The Fellowship of Christ's Sufferings

“We commend ourselves as ministers of God:

In much patience,
In tribulations,
In needs,
In distresses,
In stripes,
In imprisonments,
In tumults,
In labors,
In sleeplessness,
In fasting;

By purity,
By knowledge,
By long-suffering,
By kindness,
By the Holy Spirit,
By sincere love,
By the word of truth,
By the power of God,
By the armor of righteousness...
By honor and dishonor,
By evil report and good report;

As deceivers, and yet true;
As unknown, and yet well known;
As dying, and behold we live;
As chastened, and yet not killed;
As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing;
As poor, yet making many rich;
As having nothing, and yet possessing all things.” [1]

Paul the Apostle wrote of a different kind of divine validation from which to speak for Christ to the world. His credentials to speak for God included a long list of sufferings that he incurred while sharing the Good News of Christ with others. He told the Philippians that he wanted to fellowship in Christ’s sufferings and be conformed to Messiah’s death. [2]

I thank God for all who paid a great price to bring me to Christ.

“Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for Your servants who go through so much to keep Your light, Your love, Your joy, and Your peace flowing in this cruel world. Please continue to grace our world with such servants as these. And please grant us the grace to join in this unique fellowship. It is in the Name of Your Son Jesus that I pray. Amen.”

[1] 2 Corinthians 6:5-10
[2] Philippians 3:10