The Fellowship Of His Sufferings

by J. Bowman | Category: Fellowship And Unity: | Dec 1950

Fellowship is sw~eet. It is something in which the participants find pleasure The thought of suffering, however, is generally associated with pain. We view it as being unpleasant and a~ something from which we recoil. Yet the Scriptures teach that t6 suffer for Christ's sake is a privilege and that frrthermore it is a joyful experience. Paul showed this to be so for when writmg to the Philippians who were enduring a conflict of sufferings, he expressed himself thus:

"Because to you it hath been granted in the behalf of Chris~, not only to believe on Him, bat also to suffer in His behalf (Phihppians ~ 29)

He did not exhort others unto something which was not his own experience. Although he had suffered much as a servant of Christ previous to this and was, at the time of writing, bound as a prisoner in Rome, yet his deep longing was to know the fellowship of Christ's sufferings (Philippians 3.10). He was so fully devoted to Christ that for him nothing less than complete identification with Christ would suffice to show his deep gratitude. Suffering for Christ's sake was a privilege which he valued very highly and in which he found inexpressible j6y. In his writings Paul makes many referencei to his sufferings and his joy in such

"I take pleasure in persecution, in distresses for Christ 5 sake

(2 Corinthians i2 10)

"I overflow with joy in all our ~iction (2 Connthians 7 4)

"I rejoice in my sufferings (Colosslan' 1 24)

Why such joy? Surely it was because he was allowed to share such sufferings in comnion with Christ.

Paul was an outstanding man, and p6ssibly no one else has evidenced such devotion or such self-surrender, or has attained unto such a full understanding of the purposes of God for the individual, yet nevertheless the enjoyment of this aspect of fellowship is possible to each believer.

It is helpful to see how others had fellowship with Christ in this way. Of the early disciples who experienced persecution because of their loyalty in preaching the Gospel it is recorded

"They r~oiced tha~ they were counted worthy to suffer dishonour for the Name" (Acts 5.41)

Of those same persons, we are told that they took joyftilly the spoilmg of their possessions (Hebrews 10 84) The believer whose heart is #ea.ned away from the world with its ambitions and vain pleasures and who is living in the enjoyment o~ fellowship with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ (1 John 1 3) will indeed know a pecuhar' joy as he realizes that the world hates him for Christs sake

The Apostle Peter, who was also a man of experience in sufferAng used by the Spfrit to teach concerning this very matter Wliexi

writing unto those persecuted ones already mentioned he speaks of

the sufferings of Christ. In each of the five chapters of his first epistle he makes particular mention of such suffer'ings. The principal thought in chapters two, three and four is the believer's sufferings for Christ's sake. The perfect behaviour of Christ in suffering is described for us that all who would have fell6wship with Him in suffering and find a joy in so doing might emulate His blessed example.

"Who, when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered, threatened not; but committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously"

(1 Peter 2.28).

Suffering will be the lot of the Christ-like believer. It is not an 'mfortunate consequence of following Him, but it is that unto which God has called us (1 Peter 2.21). Seeing God has so called us should we not in obedience respond, knowing that this will be for our present and eternal blessing?

It is made very clear that all suffering cannot be viewed as being for Christ's sake. This is a solemn consideration. In some instances, perhaps in many, we experience suffering and reproach because of our own failures and foolishness, and so the warning is given

"For let oone of you suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or an evil-doer, or as a meddler in other men's matters" (1 Peter 4.15).

The present suffering is inseparably linked with the future glory.

"But insomuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings, rejoice; that at the revelation of His glory also ye may rejoice with esceeding joy"

(1 Peter 4.18; see also Romans 8.18).

A most wonderful moment awaits us when the Blessed One with whom we are presently privileged to enjoy fellowship in suffering shall be revealed to us. It would be well to keep this always before us as our earnest expectation, for then indeed we shall account that to see Him and to be with Him will be more than adequate reward for anything we may have suffered.

Oh, how will recompense His smile The sufferings of this little while I"

Of Moses it is said that he accounted the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt for he looked unto the recompense of reward (Hebrews 11.26). He had remarkable opportunities and wonderful prospects in the land of Egypt, yet he renounced everything to become associated with the despised Israelites, knowing that from this people would arise the Promised One in whom would be fulfilled God's wonderful purposes in blessing.

If we are not having fellowship with Christ in His sufferings we are denying ourselves one of the greatest joys that He has provid~d for us as His followers, and we shall be unable to have that full deg?ee of joy which He desires us to have when at last we see Him.

"Wherefore, take thy part in suffering hardehip as a good soldier of Christ Jesus" (2 Timothy 2.8, R.V.M.).

The outcome of our being in the Fellowship of God's Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, should be our readiness to respond to His desires for us. It is good if we appreciate highly the wonderful trnth which has

been revealed and taught us concerning our being a people for God's own possession upon our obedience to His will, but it is not good if we should consider that our responsibility to respond to God's will ends there. He has other privileges which He extends to us and of which He is very desirous we should avail ourselves. Fellowship and intimate union with our Blessed Lord in His sufferings is that which God offers to us. When we share in such sufferings we become united to our Lord in a very special and intimate way. Such fellowship and union are very dear to Him and should be dear to us. We can know and enjoy the intimacy of union with Him both in thought and experience when we suffer in His behalf. Suffering for Christ's sake marks out a man or woman as being Christ-like. Should not such men and women be found in the Fellowship or, is it so that in our desire to shun reproach and suffering we are quite indifferent as to where such Christ-like ones shall be found? Surely none will deny God's right to expect that those whom He has privileged most shall be the most prepared to respond to His will in this matter.

<Author:J. Bowman>

J. Bowman | Dec 1950
Fellowship And Unity: