April 26, 2026
Suffering for Others
I now rejoice in my suffering for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His Body, which is the Church.
Colossians 1:24
Ministry is costly. When the heavenly Father wanted to save His creation from sin, He could find no other way except the sacrifice of His Son (Romans 5:8). Scripture gives a stark picture of the price our Savior paid to obtain our salvation: “He is despised and rejected by men; a Man of Sorrows and acquainted with grief” (Isaiah 53:3).
If Christ is your model for ministry, you cannot avoid going to the cross for the sake of others. Salvation comes with a great price, and if we are going to “take up our cross” and follow Jesus, then we must be prepared to go with Him to the place of suffering if that’s what it takes to bring salvation to those around us and around the globe.
If our goal is to bring others to Christ, we must be willing, as He was, to risk despise and rejection. People may disappoint us, misunderstand our motives, such as family, friends, co-laborers, pastors, and may even despise and persecute us. Our Savior did not let suffering prevent Him from being used by God to bring salvation to those He loved.
Are you like the prophet Hosea with a special assignment from God? When the Lord began to speak to him, the Lord said to him: “Go, take yourself a wife of harlotry and children of harlotry, for the land has committed great harlotry by departing from the Lord.” Are you willing to obey God to bring salvation to nations? Hosea 1:2
Love for His Father provided all the motivation that was necessary. Then the Lord said to Hosea, “Go again, love a woman who is loved by a lover and is committing adultery, just like the love of the Lord for the children of Israel, who look to other gods and love the raisin cakes of the pagans.” So I bought her for myself for fifteen shekels of silver, and one and one-half homers of barley. And I said to her, “You shall stay with me many days; you shall not play the harlot, nor shall you have a man—so, too, will I be toward you.” Hosea 3:1–3
Are you presently experiencing hardship because of the ministry to which God has called you? Have you begun to wonder if the price God was willing to pay in order to bring salvation to you? Are you glad He was willing to do what was necessary? Will you not join Him in whatever is necessary to bring salvation to those around you?
Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, fill me up with the great gift and anointing to love others wholeheartedly to fulfill and complete the assignments here on the earth that will lead millions of souls to You every day, in Jesus Name. (Colossians 2:2)
In His Garden
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