"For to you it has been granted for Christ's sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake..." ~Philippians 1:29a~
Suffering, trials and testings, just as our salvation, are granted to us by the grace of our loving Father, as a gift. These things are for Christ's sake, because of the Father's great love for the Son; that we as Christ's body, His chosen Bride, might fill up the afflictions of our Lord (Colossians 1:24), and so bring praise to the glory of His grace. It is a privilege and a gift to be called to suffer with Jesus; in this way we learn to know Him and are prepared to sing with pure and grateful hearts, "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!". (Revelation 5:11b)
We cannot at present fully understand the why, but we know the End, we know the One who knows. Let us as little children, be content to trust our Father's good and perfect wisdom. And on that day, when we stand before Him, clothed with the imperishable (Romans 15:50-58), we will truly know that He has done all things for our good and for our eternal joy in Him! (Romans 8:28)
These truths put to music... really makes it sink in.
