Joy in Suffering
“ . . . that I may know Him in the power of His resurrection, and in the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death.” (Philippians 3:10) Christians who are rooted in Christ are spiritual lights in this dark world, and Satan hates the light, because his deeds are evil. The opposition we face in the spiritual realm is fierce, as Satan, his demons, and people used by them look to extinguish every vestige of Jesus Christ from the earth. As ambassadors of Christ, we stand for the perfection of the Kingdom of Heaven on this fallen and dying planet. The world’s attitude toward us is the same as it was toward Christ –- violent and oppositional. Thus, we share in the sufferings of Christ, and we do so joyfully! In Christ, we find the example of a heavenly visionary, who looks beyond today's test and sees eternity's gain. It is of the utmost importance for every saint to develop the same gift of spiritual foresight. That means being able to look beyond the mome...