Philippians 1:29
29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;
-The Bible speaks of wonderful gifts made available to believers; the gift of salvation, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and many others. These gifts are given directly by the Lord and are worthy of celebration. There is another gift spoken of in scripture, however, that is not typically included among these others- the gift of suffering for Christ’s sake. Notice the text here; unto us “it is given”. Suffering for Christ’s sake is not a punishment to be endured or a storm to be weathered; it is a gift directly from the Lord and worthy of celebration. It may not always feel like a gift and you may not always want to celebrate it, but “if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.” (1 Peter 4:16)
