Dearly Beloved,

"ME I NO GO SUFFER..."

"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, NIV).

There is a popular chorus in pidgin English in my part of the world
that goes thus: "Me I no go suffer, I no go beg for bread. God of
miracle, na my Papa o. God of miracle, na my papa o." The literal
meaning in the conventional English is, "I will not suffer; I will not
beg for bread. God of miracle is my Father. God of miracle is my
Father." The song is a positive confession of who a Christian is in
the Lord and what would happen to him. However, the song is partly one
of such false hopes that make many Christians to lose the essence of
being a Christian.

The Bible in many places teaches about the Christian suffering.
Consider these verses:
"I have told you this so that you will have peace by being united to
me. The world will make you suffer. But be brave! I have defeated the
world!" (John 16:33, TEV).
"In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will
be persecuted" (2 Timothy 3:12, NIV).
"For even when we were with you, [you know] we warned you plainly
beforehand that we were to be pressed with difficulties and made to
suffer affliction, just as to your own knowledge it has [since]
happened" (1 Thessalonians 3:4, AMP).
"I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the
fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his
death" (Philippians 3:10, NIV).
"Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are
suffering, as though something strange were happening to you" (1 Peter
4:12, NIV).

Nevertheless, this suffering is not suffering for wrongdoing but
suffering for being a Christian (see 1 Peter 4:12-16; Philippians
1:29), and it is certain that the Lord will see the Christian through
the suffering and make him/her come out of it like a purified gold
(see Psalm 23:4; 66:10; Zechariah 13:9; Malachi 3:3; 1 Peter 4:12-13).

The implication of this is that the Christian should be prepared for
suffering all the time. However, he should "not lose heart. [Because]
outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day
by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an
eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on
what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary,
but what is unseen is eternal" (2 Corinthians 4:16-18, NIV).

It is indeed good to positively confess that we will not suffer.
However, we should always remember that Christian life involves
suffering in this world. The good news is that God has given Christian
victory over the suffering, and He will be with the Christian to go
through the suffering successfully.

In His service,

Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

NB
I have just created a weblog http://thewordthruthenet.blogspot.com/.
You can follow my weekly messages there and give your comments. God
bless you!


--
_________________________
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).
+234 805 515 9591
http://www.thewordthruthenet.org/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/spiritualdigest2003/

"I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will
have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted
in my body, whether by life or by death. FOR TO ME, TO LIVE IS CHRIST
AND TO DIE IS GAIN" (Philippians 1:20-21, NIV).