Let us read from Colossians 1:24, “Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions.” .Here it talks about the body of Christ and the role that we have to play as God has planted us in this body. We came to this part of the world to earn our living, but God had mercy and allowed us to be part of his family here. We have to give our contribution to the body of Christ.
Epaphras was a member of the church of Ephesus which Paul spent around 3 years building up the church there. Epaphras heard from Paul and came to Colossi and was a reason for the formation of the church in Colossi. We are all here as a body also – God is building us up together as a church. If any of us has to move to another place, will be able to plant a seed in the place that we are from what we have learnt from the church here. In the Colossian church there was some wrong doctrines being taught and some members didn’t believe that Christ came in the flesh. Epaphras made this known to Paul and this was the reason why Paul wrote this letter to the Colossians. We read of the warning that Paul gives against these wrong doctrines in chapter 2. In chapter 1 we see how Paul is grateful for all Colossian Christians. Paul’s prayer for the Colossians can be seen in verse 9-12. “For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light.” In the rest of chapter 1, Paul talks of the incomparable Christ who is the head of the church, the beginning, and the first born from the dead. He talks about how although we were alienated and hostile in mind, through Christ’s death we have been reconciled.
After this we read verse 24 which we first read. Paul says that he rejoices in his sufferings for the sake of the Colossians. Paul had to face various afflictions in his work for the Lord. In Mathew 5:11 we read, “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.” We may not face afflictions like the ones that Paul faced. In the place that God has placed us, are we able to stand for the truth? If we compromise, we can’t take part in the sufferings of Christ. In Acts 5 we read of the time when the apostles were released from prison and strictly instructed not to preach anymore. But we see that the apostles went out and obeyed God and continued preaching. The apostles stood firm for God. The Pharisees were furious with the apostles. Gamaliel gave advice to the Pharisees that if these people were not appointed by God, this movement would die over time and also that if they were from God, it was better to leave them alone rather than fight against God. The apostles were flogged and warned not to speak in the name of Jesus. In verse 41 we read, “So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name.” We may not face such strong consequences, but in our homes, in front of our relatives and friends are we able to stand for the truth and share in the sufferings of Christ? In Romans 5:3 we read, “And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance”. These tribulations will bring perseverance in our lives. In 2 Corinthians 1:4 we read, “who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” God has promised us comfort when we go through these afflictions and sufferings. When the sufferings increase, God will comfort us also in abundance. With God we won’t be discouraged through the afflictions. In the following verses Paul says how through his afflictions and comfort, the believers are also comforted. We know how sugarcane juice is made. The sugarcane is pressed repeatedly till all the juice has been extracted and what is left of the sugarcane is thrown away. Similarly we are to give up ourselves for the comfort of our brothers. The juice is enjoyed by another person and the sugarcane is thrown away.
In the life of Jesus, he had an inner suffering. We read about it in Hebrews 4. He was tempted in all things, yet He didn’t sin. He lived with loud cries and supplications and learnt obedience up to death on the cross. Jesus said on the cross “It is finished”. He had faced all temptations and had victory over it all. Paul says in Colossians 1 that he had his share for the church in filling up what was lacking in Christ’s afflictions. Paul also wanted to complete his share of sufferings while he was on this earth. In the body of Christ, each of us has our share of suffering for the others so that others can be comforted. Are we ready to take our share? In 1 Peter 4:1 we read, “Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin”. When we say no to sin, no to our desires and wills we are also suffering in the flesh.
Paul gave his life for the church. Am I able to do my part to share in the afflictions? If we try on our own to partake in this suffering, we will be discouraged. We need to take part in this suffering, we need God with us. In Colossians 3:1,2 we read, “Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.” If we are concentrating on the pleasures of this world, we can’t set our minds on things above. We have to consider the members of our earthly body as death. In Galatians 5:24 we read, “Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” All of this is not possible with our own strength. We need the Holy Spirit to put to death our fleshly desires and have Christ’s nature within us.
