" Suffering for the sake of the Gospel "
Colossians 1:24
Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh
what is still lacking in regard to Christ's afflictions, for the sake of
his body, which is the church. (NIV)
This verse has often been misunderstood.
Some think it means that that Christ's work on the cross was insufficient to achieve salvation. Not so.
The sacrificial work of the Lord Jesus Christ was complete, perfect and sufficient to pay for all the sin
of the world (Hebrews 10:12-14).
So, what does this verse mean?
Clearly the Apostle Paul had suffered much in proclaiming the gospel (2 Corinthians 11:23-28),
but none of his sufferings added anything to the finished work of Jesus Christ.
So what did Paul mean by saying there was something 'lacking' in what Christ did?
As the redemptive purpose of the cross was complete in itself, the only thing that was lacking
was people knowing about it.
That is why Paul suffered so much.
His suffering came because he proclaimed Christ crucified, preached the gospel and urged people
to repent and submit to Jesus.
However, if he had not done that, people would never have known, they could not be saved
and the church could not grow (Romans 10:13-15).
Sharing the gospel continues to be a hazardous task, simply because those who are in rebellion
against Christ hate to be reminded of the truth that they are fighting against God.
So their easiest solution is to try to get rid of the messengers of the gospel.
That is why Paul was repeatedly attacked.
However, the gospel is such a wonderful message, and salvation is such a wonderful deliverance,
that God's people still want to tell others so that they may also be saved and be a part
of the eternal church of Jesus Christ.
So, if you encounter opposition, hostility or other persecution for the sake of the gospel
you should be encouraged.
It means that the gospel message is starting to be heard and that people are reacting.
Although it may seem that everybody is against you, some people are actively and eagerly
listening to find out how they may be saved.
Then all the suffering will be worthwhile for you and for Christ.
Prayer for the day -
Heavenly Father. I am very grateful for the loving sacrifice of Jesus Christ for me.
Thank You that His death alone has brought me to salvation.
I also thank You for those people who have taught me the gospel, enabling me to come to faith in
the Lord Jesus who laid down His life for me.
Thank You too for the sufferings of men and women through the ages who did not hold back
from proclaiming Christ, even though they may have suffered and, in some cases, lost their lives:
but the church grew because people heard and believed the gospel.
Forgive me when I have kept silent because I have been afraid.
Help me to follow Your lead and learn how to speak boldly about my Lord Jesus Christ,
who is the Saviour of all those who hear and believe the gospel.
In His Name. Amen.
====================================================================
Two
men went fishing.
One man was an experienced fisherman, the other wasn't.
Every time the experienced fisherman caught a big fish, he put it in his ice chest to keep it fresh.
Whenever the inexperienced fisherman caught a big fish, he threw it back.
The experienced fisherman watched this go on all day and finally got tired of seeing this man waste good fish.
"Why do you keep throwing back all the big fish you catch?" he asked.
The inexperienced fisherman replied, "I only have a small frying pan.
Our faith is too small.
We laugh at that fisherman who didn't figure out that all he needed
was a bigger frying pan;
yet how ready are we to increase the size of our faith?
Whether it's a problem or a possibility,
God will never give you anything bigger than you can handle.
That means we can confidently walk into anything God brings our way.
I can do all things through Christ (Philippians 4:13).
It’s never over until God says it’s over.
Leave the punctuation of your life up to God.
Until God puts a period on your adventure with him, faith must rule your days.
Impossible is not in God’s vocabulary, and it shouldn’t be in yours.
This verse has often been misunderstood.
Some think it means that that Christ's work on the cross was insufficient to achieve salvation. Not so.
The sacrificial work of the Lord Jesus Christ was complete, perfect and sufficient to pay for all the sin
of the world (Hebrews 10:12-14).
So, what does this verse mean?
Clearly the Apostle Paul had suffered much in proclaiming the gospel (2 Corinthians 11:23-28),
but none of his sufferings added anything to the finished work of Jesus Christ.
So what did Paul mean by saying there was something 'lacking' in what Christ did?
As the redemptive purpose of the cross was complete in itself, the only thing that was lacking
was people knowing about it.
That is why Paul suffered so much.
His suffering came because he proclaimed Christ crucified, preached the gospel and urged people
to repent and submit to Jesus.
However, if he had not done that, people would never have known, they could not be saved
and the church could not grow (Romans 10:13-15).
Sharing the gospel continues to be a hazardous task, simply because those who are in rebellion
against Christ hate to be reminded of the truth that they are fighting against God.
So their easiest solution is to try to get rid of the messengers of the gospel.
That is why Paul was repeatedly attacked.
However, the gospel is such a wonderful message, and salvation is such a wonderful deliverance,
that God's people still want to tell others so that they may also be saved and be a part
of the eternal church of Jesus Christ.
So, if you encounter opposition, hostility or other persecution for the sake of the gospel
you should be encouraged.
It means that the gospel message is starting to be heard and that people are reacting.
Although it may seem that everybody is against you, some people are actively and eagerly
listening to find out how they may be saved.
Then all the suffering will be worthwhile for you and for Christ.
Prayer for the day -
Heavenly Father. I am very grateful for the loving sacrifice of Jesus Christ for me.
Thank You that His death alone has brought me to salvation.
I also thank You for those people who have taught me the gospel, enabling me to come to faith in
the Lord Jesus who laid down His life for me.
Thank You too for the sufferings of men and women through the ages who did not hold back
from proclaiming Christ, even though they may have suffered and, in some cases, lost their lives:
but the church grew because people heard and believed the gospel.
Forgive me when I have kept silent because I have been afraid.
Help me to follow Your lead and learn how to speak boldly about my Lord Jesus Christ,
who is the Saviour of all those who hear and believe the gospel.
In His Name. Amen.
====================================================================
" Tell Your Problems You Have Got a Big God "
One man was an experienced fisherman, the other wasn't.
Every time the experienced fisherman caught a big fish, he put it in his ice chest to keep it fresh.
Whenever the inexperienced fisherman caught a big fish, he threw it back.
The experienced fisherman watched this go on all day and finally got tired of seeing this man waste good fish.
"Why do you keep throwing back all the big fish you catch?" he asked.
The inexperienced fisherman replied, "I only have a small frying pan.
Sometimes, like that fisherman,
we throw back the big plans, the big dreams, the big jobs and
the big opportunities that God gives us.
we throw back the big plans, the big dreams, the big jobs and
the big opportunities that God gives us.
Our faith is too small.
We laugh at that fisherman who didn't figure out that all he needed
was a bigger frying pan;
yet how ready are we to increase the size of our faith?
Whether it's a problem or a possibility,
God will never give you anything bigger than you can handle.
That means we can confidently walk into anything God brings our way.
I can do all things through Christ (Philippians 4:13).
We are to
believe and place our faith in God
who is the source of our life.
who is the source of our life.
It’s never over until God says it’s over.
Leave the punctuation of your life up to God.
Until God puts a period on your adventure with him, faith must rule your days.
Impossible is not in God’s vocabulary, and it shouldn’t be in yours.
Nothing is
too big for God.
"Stop telling God you have got big problems.
Tell your problems you have got a big God!"
Tell your problems you have got a big God!"
================================================================================
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