How Our Suffering Glorifies the Greatness of the Grace of God
John Piper - A video entitled "How Our Suffering Glorifies the Greatness of the Grace of God."
A few notes:
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.
Piper says an application of Colossians 1:24 (speaking to Christian students on campus at Illinois where he gave the sermon) is this: - - That through their sufferings, the sufferings of Christ will arrive to the unreached people of the worlds on the Illinois campus......
Piper asks, "how did we get to 1.3 Billion people professing Christ today from the 12 apostles that began preaching Christ? - - the answer? The sufferings of the people for Christ! There has never been a breakthrough to an unreached people without suffering.... So, "don't think it some strange thing" when suffering comes......
Why? Because that's what Christ did for us - - He suffered and died on the cross...
And Paul says "I rejoice in my sufferings"; Therefore, Paul's saying "I am not summoning you to a miserable life, but I am summoning you to a painful life."
The aim of God in creating us was to display the greatness of the glory of His grace supremely through the suffering of His Son...... Then the Son said, "take up your cross and follow Me."..... and Paul says, "I rejoice in my sufferings".....
Image via desiringgod.com
