THURSDAY May 29, 2025
Sharing in Sufferings
Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God....
2 Timothy 1:8
Paul did not want Timothy to be ashamed of the Gospel or of the fact that, as an Apostle, he was a prisoner of Christ. Timothy was already facing trials in his own personal life, and it would be difficult for him in times to come. We see a unifying of soul and spirit in the call to suffer together––share with me the sufferings for the Gospel.
Paul suffered persecution and suffered many trials. We find a description of what he went through in his life in 2 Corinthians 6.
...in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness— besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches (2 Corinthians 11:23-28).
I do not know what you are going through as a Christian, but despite persecutions, trials and suffering, we all share together in them for the sake of the Gospel. The main thing to know is you are not alone. Foremost, God is with you! Your brothers and sisters in Christ are here to support you. The pastors at the Chapel are available to pray for you.
If we can trust the sufferings of Christ for our sake then we can trust Christ when we suffer for His sake.
~A.W. Tozer~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!
