I didn’t sign up to suffer for Christ!

“For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him.” Philippians 1:29

The Holy Spirit told me last night the gift of Jesus is free but the cost is severe.

There is a personal cost to a believer to acquire Jesus. The journey is filled with suffering.

Christianity tends to focus on the benefits of Jesus and minimizes the suffering. This is because suffering is a red flag and would discourage many unbelievers. 

The decision for Jesus is a powerful transformation into a new creature in Christ. The believer inherits all the promises of Jesus and receives the gift of salvation. He lives with Jesus forever.

God created a pathway of suffering for His Son Jesus. Jesus set the pathway for a believer by dying on the Cross. 

Suffering has two spiritual purposes for a believer. 

The transformation into a new creature in Christ is painful and creates suffering.

We have to die to self and live for Jesus. This decision means our life belongs to Jesus and the priority is to seek the perfect will of God.

We were born with an inner nature to live for self and defy God. This has to be broken in every believer and is a painful and suffering experience.

We have to give up our independence and personal goals.

We have to sever our ties to the world and live by faith trusting in Jesus for our every need.

Secondly, the decision for Jesus will bring many troubles and adversity for a believer.

Jesus engineers troubles to strengthen our faith, teach us patience and refine us into His character.

Suffering causes believers to identify closely with Jesus and become powerful witnesses for the Most High!