Daily Devotionals

Php 1:29-30, 29 For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, 30 engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.

Faith in Christ is the gift of God, so is “the fellowship of His sufferings.“, Phil 3:10. It is not a burden, but a privilege if you grasp His special grace for endurance for His namesake, Act 5:40-41 “40 and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name“

Paul encouraged Timothy to picture himself as a good SOLDIER of Christ, 2Tim 2:3 “Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.” Timothy’s mission, “Share in suffering”, his call “a good soldier”, his Commander is Jesus Christ. A soldier equipped and commissioned counts the cost. He is at war which may mean wounds and suffering but he endures. Paul further writes, “I have endured hardness, now you endure it with me.”(1Cor 11:1). At the finish line Paul writes, 2Ti 4:7-8 “7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.”