May 7 | Colossians 1:24-2:4

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DAILY READING

Colossians 1:24-29, 2:1-4

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REFLECTION

Rejoicing in... Suffering?

By Katie Borden

What stirs within you when you read Paul’s words about rejoicing in suffering? 

Be honest. 

Do you read it and say “of course, that’s the Christian thing to do” and move on without much thought? (Really–be honest, it’s okay.)

Do you read it and find a sense of deep peace in the knowledge of Christ’s sufferings?

Do you read it and have a little bit of an internal cringe at the thought of rejoicing in suffering? (Since we’re being honest…there are still times that I do.)

In our modern Western world, we don’t know what to do with suffering. Not really.

We know that the Bible talks about rejoicing in suffering, and yet we can’t stand the thought of looking around at all the oppression, injustice, and abuse in our world and claiming that it’s a good thing. (And, to be clear, we shouldn’t. These things grieve God’s heart.) We can’t look at the internal turmoil of our hearts and souls and claim that that is a good thing, either.

So what is Paul talking about when he says that he rejoices in what he is suffering (1:24)? 

Let’s back up a couple of weeks to Resurrection Sunday. 

As we continue to celebrate the Easter season, we rejoice in the resurrection of Christ. We rejoice that he defeated death, that he lives, and that he reigns over this world. He will one day restore all wholeness and goodness to his beloved creation–which includes you and me. In this we rejoice!

And.

There cannot be a resurrection from the dead without… a death. Jesus did not defeat death by avoiding confrontation with death. Jesus, in his earthly body, for the sake of the creation he loves, overwhelmed the power of death by... dying. And then being raised to life. We rejoice in his resurrection, and we also know that his death is part of why we get to rejoice in the resurrection. By the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus lived for the sake of others, and then died for the sake of others, and then was raised to life for the sake of others. 

Now that’s love. Jesus’ suffering is a suffering born of a deep and powerful love.

This Spirit-empowered love, which has more power and authority than any other power in the universe, is what Paul is pointing to both in himself and in us (2:2). By the work of the Holy Spirit in us, we will lovingly labor for the good of those around us. Sometimes we will suffer for them and for the sake of the gospel. This is part of our “dying and rising” with Christ. In this, we know that Jesus is with us–or, perhaps more accurately, we are with Jesus. We know that we are being made more like Jesus, and that eventually Jesus’ glory will fully reign in us and in the world. Jesus has already won. The end of the story is already written, and in the end, the whole universe will be rightly ordered to this reality.

The knowledge of this truth can give us hope and endurance–and yes, even joy–in suffering.

PRAYER

God, may your self-sacrificial love reign in us–in me–today. Make me more like you, Jesus. Remind me, even in the face of suffering, that your love is greater than this. Holy Spirit, empower me to labor for a love-shaped world, knowing that I am always held by your all-powerful, all-loving hand. Amen.

Find additional "Dying to Live" study materials designed for small groups or individual use here.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

KATIE BORDEN

I’m a lifelong member of UALC and have had the privilege of serving our community in both volunteer and staff roles over the years. I love learning, OSU football, good conversations, chocolate croissants, laughter, and sharing about the good news of Jesus in whatever capacity I can.

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