This Spring Break has been a wonderful time to catch up on some sermons. Today my hour-long walk was to the tune of Francis Chan, during his Breakout Session at Passion2010 in Atlanta. What began as a Q & A time turned into a couple of very interesting sermons--one on humility, and the other on suffering.
Both topics were very striking to me and inextricably linked to each other. Interestingly, Francis brought up the same passage in Romans 8 about suffering that Louie brought up in my sermon from earlier in the week, and that I came across in a random reading just yesterday. Maybe there's a reason that keeps getting set before me, eh? :) Francis also became intensely and passionately engrossed in a description of "the fellowship of suffering" after citing Philippians 3:10~
"that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death;"
It was pretty powerful. I mean, sure, it's easy to say, "Yeah, I want to know Him! Yeah! I want to know the POWER of His RESURRECTION!" But... wouldn't life be easier if it just stopped there?! What Christian doesn't want to know Jesus more? And who wouldn't want to really experience the POWER of His resurrection? That's exciting stuff! Jesus, God in the flesh, rising triumphant from the grave!
Instead, Paul continues, saying that he wants to know the fellowship of His SUFFERINGS too. That's where we may wanna slam on the mental brakes here and say, "What?!" What kind of fellowship is there in suffering? At this point, Francis went on to imagine what it would be like to suffer through the whippings, beatings, walk, and ultimately the crucifixtion right there with Jesus, and what kind of bond would be formed there.
Now, after this he said something that practically knocked the wind out of me: Christians are often not at peace when they're in their comfort, because they know that this is not the New Testament. They know that sliding in their cushy affluence is not how the New Testament is lived out, and they know deep down inside that there is a much closer place to Jesus. And then, when they're suffering--whether it be persecution or just gritting their teeth and performing whatever task Jesus has for them--they can be more at peace than ever because they are identifying with Christ's sufferings. When they come to the place that all they want is to be near Jesus, no matter what people think of them, regardless of persecution or lack of gratification, there is a more complete peace inside than any amount of upper-class life and money could grant.
What a challenge this was to me! I knew right then and there what this meant to me for this week, and although I am not being persecuted or rejected for my faith I know I need to identify with Jesus's sufferings in my own, seemingly smaller way with my schoolwork. And I know that until that happens, I won't have peace; but when I follow that call for God's sake, there will be peace more complete than I can imagine. I leave this challenge for you as well, to find where you are too comfortable, or too selfish with your time, or whatever, and to seek God and pursue peace.
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