Do you think of suffering as an opportunity to become more fruitful? If we do, then we can more easily embrace suffering. If we embrace suffering then we will “know Christ” better in this life (Phil. 3:10, NIV) and receive “praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed” (1 Pet. 1:6-7, NIV). If we resist or respond poorly to suffering, then those blessings will be lost.
The Father wants to make us fruitful (Gen. 1:28; John 15:1-8) and Jesus promised: “every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful” (John 15:2, NIV). This painful pruning produces blessing for others just as Jesus’ suffering did. Our “death” produces life in others; it destroys the work of Satan.
Paul viewed his suffering as something he accepted so that he could bless believers:
Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church.
Col. 1:24, (ESV)
Paul understood that his sufferings were necessary to edify the body of Christ, and so he rejoiced in them! He was living proof of the paradox that the death he experienced in suffering produced a manifestation, or radiation, or Christ’s life to those around him. He suffered because he wholeheartedly embraced the way of Jesus.
Paul rejoiced when the Thessalonians imitated him and became a model to other congregations by accepting suffering well.
You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia
1 Thess. 1:6-7 (NIV)
As we embrace suffering because of faithfulness to Christ we too will display Christ and edify others. Much of our suffering may be in the form of crucifying the flesh or responding with faith and peace to our trials, but this suffering is just as valuable as any other. This suffering burns away the impurities in our hearts and allows God’s golden virtues to shine through us. All of our suffering tells others that Christ is worth suffering for; it invites them to explore the treasure in our hearts.
You have a desire to be fruitful in this life and to please God with your life. Whether you are suffering in the form of persecution (or neglect) on the job or in the form of putting to death your destructive desires, all your suffering is a doorway to fruitfulness. Thus, you can rejoice in your suffering!
Which suffering in your life can you rejoice in, knowing that it will make you more fruitful?
