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Glory · Suffering & God's Will
To suffer for Christ is, in Scripture, a blessing and a privilege, because it is suffering for His sake and in union with Him. God's promises to those who suffer for Him are sure: He is with them, He will never leave them, He will work it for their good and glory, He gives present grace and endurance, and He has stored up a reward and a future where every tear is wiped away.
https://glorystudy.com/questions/what-does-god-promise-those-who-suffer-for-him · Scripture quoted from the World English Bible
Matthew 5:1-12
As you read: Blessed are those persecuted for righteousness, for great is their reward in heaven.
1Seeing the multitudes, he went up onto the mountain. When he had sat down, his disciples came to him.
2He opened his mouth and taught them, saying,
3“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
4Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
5Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.
6Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled.
7Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
8Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
9Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.
10Blessed are those who have been persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
11“Blessed are you when people reproach you, persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
12Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
1 Peter 4:12-19
As you read: Do not be surprised at the fiery trial; rejoice and share in Christ's suffering, and the Spirit of glory rests on you.
12Beloved, don’t be astonished at the fiery trial which has come upon you, to test you, as though a strange thing happened to you.
13But because you are partakers of Christ’s sufferings, rejoice; that at the revelation of his glory you also may rejoice with exceeding joy.
14If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed; because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. On their part he is blasphemed, but on your part he is glorified.
15For let none of you suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or an evil doer, or a meddler in other men’s matters.
16But if one of you suffers for being a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God in this matter.
17For the time has come for judgment to begin with the household of God. If it begins first with us, what will happen to those who don’t obey the Good News of God?
18“If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will happen to the ungodly and the sinner?”
19Therefore let them also who suffer according to the will of God in doing good entrust their souls to him, as to a faithful Creator.
Romans 8:17-30
As you read: If we suffer with him, we may be glorified with him; present suffering is not worth comparing with that glory.
17and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ; if indeed we suffer with him, that we may also be glorified with him.
18For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which will be revealed toward us.
19For the creation waits with eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.
20For the creation was subjected to vanity, not of its own will, but because of him who subjected it, in hope
21that the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of decay into the liberty of the glory of the children of God.
22For we know that the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now.
23Not only so, but ourselves also, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for adoption, the redemption of our body.
24For we were saved in hope, but hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for that which he sees?
25But if we hope for that which we don’t see, we wait for it with patience.
26In the same way, the Spirit also helps our weaknesses, for we don’t know how to pray as we ought. But the Spirit himself makes intercession for us with groanings which can’t be uttered.
27He who searches the hearts knows what is on the Spirit’s mind, because he makes intercession for the saints according to God.
28We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose.
29For whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
30Whom he predestined, those he also called. Whom he called, those he also justified. Whom he justified, those he also glorified.
2 Timothy 4:6-8
As you read: I have fought the good fight; there is stored up for me the crown of righteousness.
6For I am already being offered, and the time of my departure has come.
7I have fought the good fight. I have finished the course. I have kept the faith.
8From now on, there is stored up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me on that day; and not to me only, but also to all those who have loved his appearing.
Jesus flips our instinct: 'Blessed are those who have been persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven,' and 'Blessed are you when people reproach you, persecute you... for my sake... for great is your reward in heaven.' Paul calls it a gift: 'it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in him, but also to suffer on his behalf.' The earliest church rejoiced that its members 'were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for Jesus' name.' To suffer for Him is to share His lot and to be honored by Him.
“Blessed are those who have been persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. “Blessed are you when people reproach you, persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”Matthew 5:10-12
“Because it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in him, but also to suffer on his behalf,”Philippians 1:29
“They therefore departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for Jesus’ name.”Acts 5:41
“Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”Matthew 5:12
The promise at the heart of suffering is presence. 'When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you.' For the sake of Christ we may be 'pressed on every side, yet not crushed; perplexed, yet not to despair; pursued, yet not forsaken; struck down, yet not destroyed.' Peter urges, 'casting all your worries on him, because he cares for you,' and God has said, 'I will in no way leave you.' The deepest comfort is not that the suffering is removed but that He is with you in it.
“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned, and flame will not scorch you.”Isaiah 43:2
“We are pressed on every side, yet not crushed; perplexed, yet not to despair; pursued, yet not forsaken; struck down, yet not destroyed;”2 Corinthians 4:8-9
“casting all your worries on him, because he cares for you.”1 Peter 5:7
“Be free from the love of money, content with such things as you have, for he has said, “I will in no way leave you, neither will I in any way forsake you.””Hebrews 13:5
Paul weighs present suffering against the future and finds it light: 'I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which will be revealed toward us.' And suffering for Christ is union with Him: 'if indeed we suffer with him, that we may also be glorified with him,' and our light affliction 'works for us more and more exceedingly an eternal weight of glory.' To suffer for Him is not wasted; it is joined to His story and turned into glory by His hand.
“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which will be revealed toward us.”Romans 8:18
“and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ; if indeed we suffer with him, that we may also be glorified with him.”Romans 8:17
“For our light affliction, which is for the moment, works for us more and more exceedingly an eternal weight of glory;”2 Corinthians 4:17
“We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose.”Romans 8:28
God does not only promise a future; He gives strength for the present. When Paul cried out under his thorn, the Lord answered, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' And He promises a reward: 'Blessed is the man who endures temptation, for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life.' Paul's testimony near the end is full of it: 'I have fought the good fight... there is stored up for me the crown of righteousness,' which the Lord will give to all who love His appearing. Grace now, crown then.
“He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Most gladly therefore I will rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest on me.”2 Corinthians 12:9
“Blessed is the man who endures temptation, for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord promised to those who love him.”James 1:12
“I have fought the good fight. I have finished the course. I have kept the faith. From now on, there is stored up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me on that day; and not to me only, but also to all those who have loved his appearing.”2 Timothy 4:7-8
“From now on, there is stored up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me on that day; and not to me only, but also to all those who have loved his appearing.”2 Timothy 4:8
God's promise to those who suffer for Him ends not in endurance alone but in resurrection joy. 'May the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a little while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.' And the saints who come 'out of the great tribulation' stand before the throne, where 'God will wipe away every tear from their eyes,' and where 'death will be no more; neither will there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, any more.' The suffering is for a little while; the glory is forever.
“But may the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a little while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.”1 Peter 5:10
“I told him, “My lord, you know.” He said to me, “These are those who came out of the great tribulation. They washed their robes, and made them white in the Lamb’s blood. Therefore they are before the throne of God, they serve him day and night in his temple. He who sits on the throne will spread his tabernacle over them. They will never be hungry, neither thirsty any more; neither will the sun beat on them, nor any heat; for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne shepherds them, and leads them to springs of waters of life. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.””Revelation 7:14-17
“He will wipe away from them every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; neither will there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, any more. The first things have passed away.””Revelation 21:4
“Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”Matthew 5:12