#14 Suffering: the Ugly Side of Faith (3 of 3)

Suffering by Association
2) help others do the works of faith

Kawaihae Harbor-photo credit Clever Smyth 2012

Christians suffer according to our association with the Triune God [See: #14 Suffering: the Ugly Side of Faith (1 of 3) and (2 of 3)].

While we might suffer in our spirit or soul, bodily suffering is difficult. Thus, we are asked to “arm” ourselves with the same mind that Jesus had when he physically suffered. This mind (ĕnnŏia, en’-noy-ah, thinking that expresses purpose, intent, and moral understanding) is what helped Jesus endure his sufferings. Therefore, the changed mind is crucial for Christians who suffer greatly in their physical body: 

·        “Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God” (1 Peter 4:1, 2). 

·        Therefore, since Christ pathō experienced painful sensations for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same ĕnnŏia thinking that expresses purpose, intent, and moral understanding, for he who has pathō experienced painful sensations in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. 

Physical suffering connects us to God and indicates we have stopped sinning! Thus, we live according to God’s will and not to our lusts. The exception is the innocents who are pure yet still suffer. Without sin, they beam forth God’s will through their peaceful, trusting behavior while we who remain in our lusts are puzzled, wracked with helplessness, and burdened with guilt.  

This Christmas and New Year, may all Christians who suffer—in spirit, soul, or body—by association with the Trinity, receive the reality of Christ’s abounding consolation as our own, “For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ” (2 Cor. 1: 5).

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Scripture quotations from New King James Version (NKJV); Greek definitions from Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible and Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words.