As I read the word on the page, a question forms in my mind. Even before I look up the word in my lexicon, I’m pretty sure I know what the answer’s going to be. Sure enough, the origin of the word is what I thought it would be. Not the answer I really wanted, but the answer I fully expected. So, while I might be able to accept it’s a privilege to suffer for the sake of Christ, I’m chewing on Paul’s assertion that it’s also a gift.

Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God. For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in Him but also suffer for His sake, engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.

(Philippians 1:27-30 ESV)

When Paul wrote to the Philippians from a Roman jail around 60 A.D. it had been about ten years since he had brought the gospel to them and ended up in a Philippi jail himself because of it (Acts 16). Ten years later, and apparently the gospel was still actively and fiercely being opposed in the city. So, writes Paul, “Stand firm. Strive side by side. Don’t be frightened in any way by your opponents.” Ten years! That’s a long time to be swimming upstream, especially when swimming upstream too often feels like running the gauntlet. That’s something to noodle on itself.

But here’s what really has me thinking . . . The ongoing sufferings, the perpetual persecutions, the relentless tide of troubles they experienced, the way Paul saw it — the way the Spirit stirred Paul to express it — it had all been granted to these band of believers, just like the gift of faith in Christ had been granted to them. Their sufferings for Christ’s sake had been gifted to them. Gifted freely to them. Gifted graciously to them. For ten years! Talk about the gift that keeps on giving.

If I’m honest with myself, while I so want to share in the King’s crown, I’m not exactly thrilled with the idea of sharing in the Lamb’s cross. While I want to live in the shadow of the cross, the idea of carrying one takes a little more help.

How many of us who would reject the “prosperity gospel” would still tend to think of the gospel life as somehow being marked more by the good life rather than being associated with a grinding life? Would tend towards wanting to distance trusting from troubles? But Paul reminds me this morning that “there’s far more to this life than trusting in Christ. There’s also suffering for Him. And the suffering is as much a gift as the trusting” (Php. 1:29 MSG).

A gift? Really? Yup. And guess what?

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

(James 1:17 ESV)

Suffering for His sake. Not just a gift, but a good gift.

Buckle up — stand firm — ’cause it’s a gift that keeps on giving.

That’s why we need His grace. It’s how we can live for His glory.

Amen?